Illusion
Tags
Summary
Editor's review
With an ingenious narrative structure, the novel explores how, in a rapidly moving modern society, individuals are enveloped by various internal and external "illusions" — illusions about success, about relationships, about self-perception. The author does not simply criticize these illusions but leads readers deep into the characters' inner worlds to understand how illusions arise and how, at critical moments, they become forces that sustain or dissolve life. Its literary value lies in transcending regional background to touch on the existential anxiety and self-reconstruction that are universal in the age of globalization.
Reading this book is like taking a lucid sleepwalk. Wang Songmao's language is cool and full of tension; the plotting does not pursue violent dramatic conflict but accumulates emotional energy through seemingly ordinary daily progression, finally prompting readers at some point to examine their own lives. This book is not for readers seeking fast, gratifying entertainment; its value lies in the slow release of meticulous portrayal and interrogation of the inner landscape.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Literary readers interested in psychology and deep analysis of human nature
- Adults living in cities who often reflect on their identity and the meaning of life
- Fiction lovers who appreciate steady narrative, inner description, and atmospheric construction
- Readers interested in Singapore-Malaysian Chinese literature and its contemporary development
Not a good fit for
- Entertainment-oriented readers seeking strong plot, fast pace, and clear endings
- Readers lacking patience for inner monologue and psychological description
Reading tips
- Read in sections in a relatively quiet environment conducive to immersion, savoring details and emotional foreshadowing in the text
- While reading, occasionally set the book down and ask yourself whether the "illusions" described have subtle echoes in your own life
- After finishing, discuss with others the seemingly ordinary yet pivotal life choices of the characters; you may gain new perspectives
About the publisher
Universal Publishing House is a comprehensive publishing institution headquartered in the United Kingdom. It focuses on publishing Chinese-language books, primarily for overseas Chinese authors, and its range covers literary genres such as wuxia novels, mystery and suspense, and social fiction, as well as law, art, and essays. Its catalogue currently contains about 220 titles, with representative works including Ximen Ding's complete Yidao Yunyan and the Shanmao Wangsen series, along with Burden of Proof in Medical Damage Liability Disputes in the Civil Code Era and Aesthetics, Calligraphy, and Miscellaneous Notes. Other representative authors include Tuo Mingsheng, Cao Lihua, Qian Baohuai, Zi Fei, Chen Yading, Ou Zhaoping, and Cang Er. Public information is limited; based on the books in the catalogue, its publishing direction leans toward genre fiction, humanities and social sciences, legal practice, and popular art books, and it offers authors one-stop publishing services including editing, typesetting, and distribution.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 作者简介
- 内容简介
- 序
- 作家梦
- 2012年的最后一天
- 爱上了对面的女孩
- 搬砖的人
- 爆
- 毕业二十年有感
- 表象
- 不甘
- 接孩子放学
- 打工仔
- 红与黑
- 春天的雪花
- 春天的约会
- 错
- 回答
- 地狱和天堂
- 风筝
- 村庄竖起了大烟囱
- 父亲
- 光棍节之夜
- 怀念一位友人
- 坏
- 机会
- 金怡武，你走好
- 酒
- 苦
- 来一碗牛肉面
- 莲
- 路在何方
- 没人爱的姑娘，你惨了吧
- 没有什么
- 美好夏日
- 妹妹喜欢什么人
- 迷失的羔羊
- 明天
- 命运
- 魔
- 哪个女孩会爱我
- 难忘的回忆
- 一个人的诗歌
- 妻子
- 建筑人
- 青春
- 情歌
- 请不要迷惑
- 秋——2021辛丑年中秋节
- 认真
- 如果（一）
- 如果（二）
- “傻”女人
- 伤
- 失败者
- 兄弟，请不要悲哀
- 晚了
- 未来
- 我爱
- 我把春天嫁给你
- 我奔跑在南方的城市
- 我们正在活着
- 我在地球摇篮里睡觉
- 我这二十年
- 诗歌，我梦想的翅膀
- 端午忆屈原
- 希望
- 小路
- 星星和月亮
- 选择
- 鸭子
- 也许
- 夜静思
- 一个人的端午
- 91年的委培中专生
- 以为
- 喜欢
- 意义
- 因果
- 应该
- 有时候，我想
- 愿与不愿
- 这样的夜晚
- 真的爱你
- 致妻子
- 抓坏蛋
- 总有一种因为，是你婉拒我的原因
- 母亲
- 错觉
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About the author
Public information about Wang Songmao is limited. The existing library records show only that the author has two works, falling respectively into the categories of language and writing and modern poetry. The representative works include Research Report on China's Media Development: Media and Economy Special Issue and Illusion. Judging from these titles, the author's writing spans two paths: academic research and literary creation. The former deals with media development and economic issues and has the character of a report or thematic study, while the latter is presented in the form of modern poetry and belongs to personal literary expression. This cross-domain distribution suggests that the author's interests are not confined to a single genre. Since no reliable records of birth and death dates, nationality, educational background, or professional experience are available, it is currently difficult to sketch a complete biography or to determine the chronological order and internal connection between the two works. Readers who wish to understand the author's style and thinking should begin with the specific texts of these two works and appreciate their different emphases on language study, media observation, and poetry writing.
