The Flying Phoenix Family

The most moving quality of Mr. Bai Miao's essay collection Feifengjia lies in a touch that remains warm even after years of weathering. When he writes of his hometown's scenery, it is not airy nostalgia but a blending of the land's breath with human fate, giving the reading a weighty substance; when he looks back on history and commemorates the departed, he does not stop at sentimentality but brings a seasoned, almost exacting sincerity, presenting both the complexity and the respectability of those people and events. The book's highlight is the word "seasoned"—the language is clean and sharp, never roundabout, yet the feeling runs deep, and his commentary often stops just at the right point, leaving a lingering aftertaste. It suits slow reading on quiet evenings, and also suits being kept close at hand for a few pages at any time. For readers used to fast-paced reading, this book may seem insufficiently "exciting," but what it offers is a slow, resonant reading experience. Bai Miao's observations of hometown, old friends, and daily life ultimately all point toward a humanistic concern that leaves one with a deeper understanding of worldly affairs and a greater respect for life.