The Abandoned Rat

Name: The Abandoned Rat
ISBN: 9781631819421

高飞Feb 2020

2.5

Word count: 57K words
Chapters: 16
ISBN: 9781631819421

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Summary

At 12, Qishu's mother took her own life; at 17, Qishu was on the same path. Told through a child's eyes, the novel recounts the events and inner life of Qishu from her mother's suicide to her own. It focuses on Qishu's inner struggle, from an early longing for a beautiful world to the extinguishing of her will to live. The inferiority born of losing her mother and of poverty, a backward education, and the influence of family, school, and everyone around her all drive Qishu toward death.

Editor's review

Abandoned Mouse is a literary work that examines the predicaments of modern urban existence from a unique perspective. With delicate strokes, author Gao Fei constructs a narrative space rich in symbol and metaphor. This is not an animal fable in the traditional sense; through the image of the "mouse," it profoundly explores the sense of alienation, marginalization, and eternal search for belonging of the individual in contemporary society. The protagonist's struggles and choices mirror the hidden anxieties and longings in many urban hearts.

In literary terms, Gao Fei's writing is both austere and poetic, with a narrative rhythm that is well paced. He excels at accumulating everyday details to build toward moments of explosive emotional intensity. The structure is also ingenious: the interweaving of reality and memory, the dialogue between past and present, together propel readers toward deeper reflection on themes such as "abandoning" and "being abandoned," "survival" and "dignity." This is not a light, pleasurable book, but the intellectual provocation and emotional resonance it offers may be lasting and profound.

Readers familiar with modernist or existentialist literature will find much intertextuality and allusion to savor. For general readers, it is more like a mirror, forcing you to confront life questions you ordinarily prefer not to dwell on. The reading experience is like a journey diving into a dark deep sea—it requires patience and courage, but when you finally surface, you may gain a clearer understanding of life.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in exploring the existential state and spiritual predicaments of modern urban people
Literary enthusiasts who appreciate austere, delicate, and richly metaphorical literary styles
Thinkers who wish to examine the complexities of society and human nature through non-traditional narrative perspectives
Readers looking for serious literary works that provoke deep resonance and discussion

Not a good fit for

Casual readers seeking light entertainment and fast-paced plots
Readers uncomfortable with literary works that have a repressed, heavy tone

Reading tips

It is recommended to read in a relatively quiet environment conducive to deep immersion, so as to appreciate the subtleties of the writing
While reading, pay attention to how the image of the "mouse" evolves with the plot and to the multiplicity of its symbolic meanings
After finishing, you might close the book and ask yourself: if I were the protagonist, how would I choose in a similar situation?

版权信息
第一章
第二章
第三章
第四章
第五章
第六章
第七章
第八章
第九章
第十章
第十一章
第十二章
第十三章
第十四章
第十五章

FAQ

What is the book mainly about?

The book tells a story about marginality, survival, and the search for identity, using a unique metaphorical core to explore modern people's loneliness, alienation, and longing for connection.

What is the author's writing style like?

Gao Fei's style is characterized by austerity, delicacy, strong literary quality, and metaphor; the narrative pace is relatively slow but the tension is internal, with emphasis on psychological portrayal and atmosphere.

Is this book suitable as a book club discussion selection?

Very suitable. The themes of existential predicament, ethical choice, and symbolism can stimulate deep discussion at multiple levels and from multiple angles.

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About the author

高飞 Author

Gao Fei's publicly available information is limited, yet his writing and editorial work spans the humanities and social sciences, medicine, art, programming, and popular science. The library holds eight of his works, including New Dialectics and Marx's Capital, Collected Annotations on the Treatise on Cold Damage by Masters of Successive Dynasties, A Thousand Excellent Prescriptions, Oil Painting Basics: Flowers, Oil Painting Basics: Forest Scenes, Building AI Products Step by Step: A Product Manager's Practical AI Handbook, Research and Practice in Innovative Physics Experiments for Secondary Schools, and Abandoned Mouse. Judging from this range, Gao Fei is equally at home with theoretical and textual subjects such as Marxist philosophy and classical Chinese medicine as he is with introductory tutorials on oil-painting techniques and practical handbooks on AI product development for general readers and beginners. His approach is pragmatic and clearly organized, with an emphasis on turning specialized knowledge into workable, readable content, so that his books serve a variety of needs across philosophical research, medical health, art education, technical practice, and science popularization.