A Lover's Eye
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Summary
The eternity carved out of passing time may be the only kind that holds truly boundless power, as we see in "Encounter": when a woman's serene silhouette is broken by her weeping, the beauty on the surface is fixed forever in the instant of that encounter.
Editor's review
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers with a strong interest in modern Chinese-language prose, especially "scholar's essays" that fuse lyricism and philosophy.
- Readers who appreciate literature that is concise in language, rich in imagery, restrained in feeling, and profound in thought.
- Readers hoping to glean the flavor of life and a sense of history from everyday narrative, and to find calm for the mind.
- Literary researchers or enthusiasts interested in the literary landscape and cultural mood of 1970s Taiwan.
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking strong plot, fast-paced reading, or entertainment may find the pacing slow.
- Beginning readers who require extensive background knowledge, or who lack patience for lyrical and philosophical essays, may find it challenging.
Reading tips
- Slow the pace and savor each piece one by one, perhaps with soft music or in quiet intervals, to better feel the mood and emotional flow behind the words.
- As you read, note how the author links personal memory, cultural nostalgia, and ordinary things, and understand the aesthetic transformation under the "lover's eye" perspective.
- If the background is unfamiliar, start with the author's biography or related criticism to better understand the era's imprint and intellectual threads beneath the work.
About the publisher
SDX Joint Publishing Company is a publisher known for its humanities and social science titles, covering classics, culture, history, social fiction and politics. Its catalogue of 826 books includes Chinese and foreign literary classics such as The Scholars, Camel Xiangzi and Selected Short Stories of Chekhov, scholarly works such as Studies of Chinese Cave Temples, A Study of the Tuoba History (Revised Edition) and The Nine-Rank System: A Prehistory of the Imperial Examination, and translations such as Red Star Over China and Notes from the House of the Dead. Its authors include renowned Chinese and foreign writers such as Wu Jingzi, Lao She, Su Bai and Chekhov, as well as scholars and translators such as Chen Xiaoming, Wang Benhua, Guo Changbao and Zhu Xiansheng. Its publishing character lies in balancing the popularisation of classics with academic depth, with attention to textual quality and the transmission of knowledge.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 旧梦（代序）
- 告诉你
- 没有爱
- 石头记
- 雨中行
- 我看见
- 我要疯
- 想你
- 爱情意识流（上）
- 爱情意识流（下）
- 与我同囚
- 旧曲
- 看插花
- 那树
- 邂逅
- 网中
- 武家坡
- 种子
- 自然
- 兴亡
- 狗皮上的眼睛
- 人头山
- 捕鸟
- 放鸟
- 教室
- 诗
- 游踪
- 苹果
- 英雄到老都学书
- 旗袍
- 最美和最丑
- 胜利的代价
- 洗手
- 地图
- 有一种艺术家
- 谁想念谁
- 体验色空
- 图书馆
- 金手铐
- 水族启示录
- 水百科
- 红了再红
- 世缘茫茫天苍苍
- 诗料（一）
- 诗料（二）
FAQ
Is this a collection of essays about romantic love?
What are the main stylistic features of Wang Dingjun's prose?
Is this book suitable as an introduction to reading essays?
Comments
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About the author
Wang Dingjun, born in 1925 in Lanling, Linyi, Shandong, is a contemporary Taiwanese essayist who also writes under the pen name Fang Yizhi. He joined the military in the final years of the War of Resistance, moved to Taiwan in 1949, and later served as a review chief at the Broadcasting Corporation of China and as editor of the literary supplement of China Times before settling in the United States in 1978. Twenty-two of his works are included in this collection. He is best known for his four-volume memoir, comprising Yesterday's Clouds, The Angry Youth, Seizing the Pass, and Literary Jianghu, as well as the "Three Books on Life." He has also written widely used guides to composition, including Six Keys to Writing, Nineteen Questions on Writing, Seven Clever Techniques for Writing, Four Books on Writing, and Talks on Primary School Composition. His essays span documentary writing and inspirational growth, marked by plain, polished prose that draws life lessons from everyday experience, while his writing guides are clearly organized and richly exemplified, exerting wide influence in language education and literary appreciation. He has received the Golden Tripod Award and the Wu Luqin Essay Award.
