Old Times
Tags
Summary
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers curious about or nostalgic for life in northern Chinese villages and towns in the mid-to-late twentieth century
- Essay lovers who prefer the plain and evocative, with attention to detail and atmosphere
- Readers seeking moments of calm and retrospection amid a fast-paced life
- Beginning writers who can learn how to observe life and draw writing material from ordinary things
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking strong plot, fast pacing, or deep philosophical speculation
- Readers hoping for systematic historical knowledge or social analysis
Reading tips
- Reading in 'fragments' is recommended—no need to finish in one sitting; one or two pieces at a time better savor the flavor
- While reading, try connecting with your own childhood or hometown memories for comparison and reflection
- Notice how the author uses concrete details—objects, smells, sounds—to carry abstract emotions and the sense of time
About the publisher
The China Federation of Literary and Art Circles Publishing House ("Wenlian Press") focuses on literature, art, history and social sciences, while also covering computer science, popular science, mystery and detective fiction, and politics, reflecting a publishing profile that combines literary research with the dissemination of knowledge. Among the 91 titles in its catalogue are specialized studies on online literature and "female-oriented" internet culture by scholars such as Shao Yanjun, Gao Hanning and Wang Yujue; literary and historical essays such as The Four Zhang Sisters of Jiuru Lane and A Drinker Talks Wine; and popular science translations such as Henri Poincaré's A Brief History of Science. The press emphasizes contemporary literary criticism and original theories of online literature, while also attending to classic works and general reading, drawing on authors that include university researchers, translators and writers of literary history.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 序：普通的教师不普通的作文
- 过去年节
- 寒食清明
- 诗意端午
- 端午与伍员及西施
- 古镇端午节
- 过去的中秋
- 走人户
- 大年元宵节
- 年节拾童趣
- 婚俗与年俗
- 戏曲情缘
- 川剧缘
- 大戏曲小走笔
- “二度梅”陈巧茹
- 附庸风雅闲话茶
- 冬日，那暖暖柔柔的“七彩阳光”
- 铭记恩义
- 无福老父亲
- 老娘亲
- 难得陈校长
- 那年，那园，那老师
- 天谷写意
- 舅妈
- 保姆“七婆婆”
- 大漠知青
- 上河
- 小班长叫周村
- “健脾膏”李次仁
- 尘封的记忆
- 梦来的故事
- 故乡纠结
- 故乡古镇
- 逝去的邻居
- 古镇腊月梅
- 赊欠记忆
- 麦收时节
- 野菜咋会香
- “热”的故事
- 闲暇走笔
- 小花猫
- 走进蓉城宽窄巷
- 黑桑葚、白桑葚
- “洞天阔府”之又篇
- 安顺好人
- 巴蜀红线路
- 师生同文
- 总有一种期待
- 珍惜“握有”的，找回“丢失”的
- 心态平衡自得快乐
- 站起来，别趴下
- 但愿是我“杞人忧天”
- 闻北京高考语文分值增加
- 自斟自酌《陈文老酒》——在攀枝花学院的讲座（节选）
FAQ
Is this book a novel or an essay collection?
Which era and region does the 'old times' in the book mainly refer to?
What is the literary style of this book?
Comments
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About the author
Chen Jianwen's two works span quite different subjects: a social novel, Old Times, and a book on agriculture and forestry, Specialty Fruits and Vegetables of Lingnan, which is fairly unusual among Chinese book authors. Public information is limited, and his background, nationality, and dates of birth and death cannot be confirmed, nor can any other works or writing experience be found. Judging from these two books, he is able to write both about the emotions and changes in ordinary people's daily lives and about practical content on fruit and vegetable cultivation in the Lingnan region, suggesting an interest in both social themes and agricultural techniques. This combination of fiction and agricultural technical writing is itself a noteworthy feature, and readers can approach his works from both literary and practical angles.
