Awakening

Name: Awakening
ISBN: 9787201161235

Liang XiaoshengTianjin People's Publishing House · ChinaNov 2020

3.6

Word count: 132K words
Chapters: 9
ISBN: 9787201161235

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Summary

A childhood memory buried deep in the passage of time: a girl's inadvertent transgression brings tragedy to another and bitter consequences to herself. Years of sealed remorse set her on a long road to redemption, and, returning from abroad, she bears witness to the Chinese story. Along the way she encounters many entanglements, sparking a series of comic and absurd episodes. Probing human nature and awakening to history, she comes to taste the profound, far-reaching affection and moving warmth in the subtle recesses of life. In the novel the author also reflects on the era, on the diverse realities and ideologies of peasant life, and on the kindness and cunning, tolerance and forgiveness of human nature, revealing the multiplicity of history and humanity and discovering the grandeur of thought. This is a fine realist work rich in social reflection and philosophical meaning.

Editor's review

Liang Xiaosheng's Awakening is a powerful work rooted in the reality of contemporary Chinese society, combining intellectual depth with literary warmth. As the author who won the Mao Dun Literature Prize for A Lifelong Journey, Liang continues here his deep concern with the living conditions and inner worlds of ordinary people, though his touch is more somber and introspective. This book is not a story of dramatic twists but rather a record of spiritual wandering: through the protagonist's observations and inner reflections, it peels back layer by layer the value confusion, identity anxiety, and spiritual malaise that individuals face in an age of material abundance. In a cool yet compassionate tone, the author explores how people can preserve their subjectivity and find an anchor of meaning amid the torrent of rapid social change. Its literary value lies not only in its precise depiction of a slice of the times but also in the transcendent dimension of thought it offers—seeking tranquillity in clamor, calling for independence within conformity. Reading this book is like engaging in a deep dialogue with oneself; it offers no simple answers but lights a lamp of reflection, guiding readers to examine their relationship with their era. For readers accustomed to fast-paced reading, its rhythm may feel somewhat slow, but its density of thought and emotional intensity are worth immersing oneself in.

Who it's for

A good fit for

Readers interested in exploring the spiritual predicament and existential meaning of contemporary people
Book lovers who appreciate Liang Xiaosheng's realist literary style and profound humanistic care
Individuals at a turning point in life or in a period of value confusion, seeking spiritual resonance and enlightenment
Enthusiasts of social sciences and humanities concerned with individual fate and its relationship to the times during social transformation

Not a good fit for

Readers seeking strong plot and fast-paced entertaining stories
Readers impatient with literary expression inclined toward philosophical speculation and inner monologue

Reading tips

Read in a relatively quiet, undisturbed environment to enter the work's contemplative atmosphere
Take notes as appropriate, recording passages and sentences that resonate or prompt thought
Do not rush the reading pace; it is better suited to proceeding chapter by chapter, pausing intermittently to reflect and digest

About the publisher

Tianjin People's Publishing House China · Founded in 1950

Tianjin People's Publishing House publishes across such fields as classic works, foreign literature, architecture, social culture and social sciences, with 749 relevant titles in the collection. In the areas of classics and scholarship, works such as Wang Guowei's Renjian Cihua and Fei Xiaotong's From the Soil and Fertility and Reproduction reflect a sustained attention to social culture and classic texts of thought. Architectural books are represented by Liang Sicheng's Annotated Yingzao Fashi and A History of Chinese Architecture, showing an emphasis on architectural heritage and building traditions. In foreign literature, translations of Sholokhov's And Quiet Flows the Don and Tolstoy's War and Peace and The Death of Ivan Ilyich, through the work of translators such as Li Gang and Yu Dawei, form a substantial series of translated works. Overall, the press combines classic texts, scholarly works and fine translations, with a publishing character oriented toward humanistic depth and the dissemination of knowledge.

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

FAQ

How does Awakening differ in style from Liang Xiaosheng's earlier work A Lifelong Journey?

A Lifelong Journey focuses more on the grand narrative of a family epic and a panorama of social change spanning decades, whereas Awakening concentrates more on the inner spiritual world and intellectual dilemmas of contemporary individuals, with a more restrained, reflective style and a greater emphasis on psychological description and philosophical exploration.

Is this book suitable as reading material for understanding contemporary Chinese society?

Very suitable, but from a unique angle. It does not present society through a list of external events but, by delving into individuals' spiritual dimensions, reflects the profound impact and shaping of the currents of the times on people's souls, offering an extremely valuable literary sample for understanding the spiritual state of contemporary Chinese people.

What exactly does 'awakening' in the book refer to?

The 'awakening' here does not point to any specific program of action or social proposition, but rather to an inner, sober process of reexamining and recognizing one's own state of existence and the value of life. It concerns the spiritual journey by which individuals gradually recover the capacity for independent thought and judgment from numbness, drifting with the tide, or value confusion.

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About the author

Liang Xiaosheng Author · Chinese · 1949

Liang Xiaosheng is a contemporary Chinese writer, born in 1949 in Harbin, with ancestral roots in Rongcheng, Shandong. His original name is Liang Shaosheng. In 1968 he went to the Great Northern Wilderness as a sent-down youth, and in 1977 he graduated from the Chinese Department of Fudan University. He later worked as an editor at the Beijing Film Studio and as a professor at Beijing Language and Culture University. Known for his novels about educated youth, he draws much of his material from his years in the Great Northern Wilderness and from the lives of ordinary people. His plain, substantial style intertwines personal fate with social change. His representative works include *Tonight There Is a Snowstorm*, *Snow City*, *The Ring of Years*, and *The Human World*; in 2019 he received the 10th Mao Dun Literature Prize. His writing also touches on themes of inspiration and personal growth and has reached a wide readership.