My Shadow

乔典运Henan Literature and Art Publishing House · ChinaJul 2025

3.8

Word count: 147K words
Chapters: 81

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Summary

The Complete Works of Qiao Dianyun

Editor's review

As part of The Complete Works of Qiao Dianyun, My Shadow concentrates this Henan writer's sustained gaze on rural society and the subtle recesses of human nature. Qiao Dianyun's writing is known for its plainness; it does not rely on startling plots but polishes chewable meaning from the cracks of daily life. This book follows the same approach: restrained narration, solid detail, and characters who often reveal complex inner feelings in seemingly ordinary circumstances. For readers unfamiliar with Qiao Dianyun, this work is a suitable entry into his literary world, with neither length nor tone setting a high threshold; for readers already acquainted with his work, it offers recognition of his enduring concerns—ordinary people's hesitation, self-respect, and compromise between the times and rural ethics. When reading, there is no need to rush after plot; it is better to pause between paragraphs and appreciate the sense of measure behind the plain description. It suits being kept on a desk or bedside table and read in short, slow sessions; after finishing a piece, leave a little time to savor it—this captures the lingering resonance of the writing better than reading it all in one go.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers who enjoy rural themes and realist fiction
Literature enthusiasts who want to understand the literary landscape of contemporary Henan writers
Readers who prefer plain description and slow-paced narrative
Office workers who need a complete reading experience in short sessions

Not a good fit for

Readers of popular fiction who seek strong plots, fast pacing, and twists
Readers who prefer genre fiction such as fantasy and science fiction

Reading tips

Read in installments of one or two pieces, pausing briefly after each before continuing.
Slow down at dialogue and pay attention to character information in dialect and tone.
Keep a pen handy to mark sentences that make you pause, and revisit these marks after finishing the book.
Read alongside Qiao Dianyun's other works to observe his consistent themes and technique.

About the publisher

Henan Literature and Art Publishing House China · Founded in 1996

Founded in 1996, Henan Literature and Art Publishing House mainly publishes books on literature and art, social sciences and broadly cultural subjects, and also edits and publishes the journal Celebrity Biography, gradually forming a publishing style characterized by full-length historical novels and biographical literature. Judging from the 269 titles in the database, its publishing scope also covers mystery and detective fiction, foreign literature, classic works and world classics. Representative books include Ellery Queen's four tragedies, Slaughterhouse-Five, Blindness, The Siege of Lisbon, The History of the Siege of Lisbon, the ten-volume Collected Works of Wang Zengqi, Old Tales Retold and the two-volume Classic Short Stories of Stanisław Lem, the God of Science Fiction. In terms of authors, it includes foreign masters such as Kurt Vonnegut, José Saramago and Ellery Queen, as well as translators such as Yang Xi, Yu Jianhua and Fan Weixin.

版权信息
辑一世说
耳朵
想
伪祸
争爱
从文化心态说起
西峡，在哪里
妈妈
友情战胜癌症
莫忘了自己
自祭
书祸
砸笔
忘不了那个漆黑的夜
答《名家人生》十问
辑二脚印
长命百岁
梦游桃花洞
香严寺，快了！到了！
魂归五龙潭
看山
天赐
这山，这人
辑三创作谈
我的小传
《小院恩仇》自序
真心话
伟大的背良心
生活的恩赐——兼谈短篇小说《村魂》《满票》的创作
别了，昨天——关于短篇小说《村魂》和《满票》
没洞的洞
生活笑了
小城今天没话说
又抄一篇
《金斗纪事》后记
互助组
黑发，白发
难在于发现
读书与创作
做生活的有情人
路边的话
我的小井
走深入生活的路
坐井观天，坐天观井
这条路
没有一二三
感觉不良
从小说到故事
乱弹一通
小草
想起“狼来了”——关于《笑城》的回信
创作与生活——给朋友的一封信
辑四为人为文
苏联文学鼓舞我们前进，引导我重新走向生活
解放思想，努力学习
热爱生活，认识生活
兴奋之余
心宽了，劲来了
别忘了脚下的热土
笑脸常开
从头学
活水长流
一点倡议
我的影子
《康熙大帝》和书记
心在文中
独特的发现
圆了的梦
大山之子
好人兰建堂
这片肥土
南阳人
辑五战地歌
磨盘山上红旗飘
千山万山红花开
水利大军向前进
绿树成荫果满园
西峡游记
红心
打猎记

FAQ

I have never read Qiao Dianyun's work. Can I start directly with this book?

Yes. The language is plain and accessible, and it does not depend on prior reading experience. It is suitable as a starting point for encountering Qiao Dianyun's work; afterward you can decide whether to read other parts of the complete works.

Is this book suitable for reading in one sitting?

Not really. The work emphasizes detail and lingering resonance, and continuous reading can easily cause one to miss the sense of measure in the writing. Reading in installments, pausing briefly after each part, better matches its narrative rhythm.

Do I need to understand a specific historical background to read it?

Basic familiarity with rural society is enough to enter the text. If you are interested in the relevant historical background, you can supplement with some social history materials before or after reading, but extensive preparation in advance is unnecessary.

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About the author

乔典运 Author

Qiao Dianyun is a Chinese author with a varied body of work, though publicly available information about him is limited, and basic details such as his nationality and dates of birth and death remain unclear. The library holds nine of his works, spanning essay collections, social novels, and folk literature. Judging from titles such as Village Soul, The Story of Jindou, Full Votes, Black Hole, and My Little Well, much of his writing focuses on rural society and grassroots human relations, showing a strong sense of social concern, while essay collections such as My Shadow lean toward personal reflection. The Complete Works of Qiao Dianyun among his representative titles indicates that his writing has already been gathered into a substantial collected edition. Overall, Qiao Dianyun's work moves between fiction and essays, presenting village life and folk experience in plain, concrete prose; readers can turn to his social novels and folk literature to appreciate his sustained attention to rural reality.