e-magazine
The Hot Zone
China's newly announced air defense identification zone over the East China Sea aims to shore up national security
Current Issue
· Table of Contents
· Editor's Desk
· Previous Issues
· Subscribe to Mag
Subscribe Now >>
Expert's View
World
Nation
Business
Finance
Market Watch
Legal-Ease
North American Report
Forum
Government Documents
Expat's Eye
Health
Science/Technology
Lifestyle
Books
Movies
Backgrounders
Special
Photo Gallery
Blogs
Reader's Service
Learning with
'Beijing Review'
E-mail us
RSS Feeds
PDF Edition
Web-magazine
Reader's Letters
Make Beijing Review your homepage
Hot Links

cheap eyeglasses
Market Avenue
eBeijing

My Words, I Decide
Special> Youth Literature Enchantment> My Words, I Decide
UPDATED: June 26, 2009 Web Exclusive
Di An's Different Brand of Youth Literature
Some critics believe youth literature like Memory in the City of Dragon could give today's teenagers, who consider most classic books boring, a chance to enjoy real literature and learn critical thinking
Share

Like Di An's other works, Memory in the City of Dragon (Xi Jue) is a story about human nature. Told through the eyes of Zheng Xijue, the main character, the story describes Zheng's large family, from the life experience of his father's generation to the growing up of his three cousins and himself.

Memory in the City of Dragon doesn't talk about love and longing or "pain in youth" like other youth novels. But it is still a kind of youth literature; moreover, it signals a new era of modern youth literature. The book's serious and deep thinking about life and its plain and sincere language completely discard the labels usually associated with youth literature, like "superficial" "unstable" and "impatient." Some critics believe youth literature like Memory in the City of Dragon could give today's teenagers, who consider most classic books boring, a chance to enjoy real literature and learn critical thinking, which they will never get from those fast-food novels.

With her works, Di gives readers hope that young writers are seriously working on real literature that will lead society to think, rather than selling fast products that only cater to the market. She tries to free the post-1980s story from Cinderella's pure love and rebellious attitude appearing in every youth novel. Instead, she writes about real issues this generation faces, such as the national college entrance exam and undergraduate employment.

Balancing ideals and reality, vitality and maturity, Di has a new approach to youth literature. Though she is still developing her writing skills, readers believe that Di will become a brilliant author who could leave her mark on Chinese literature.

(Source: sina.com. Translated by LIU FANGFEI) 



 
Top Story
-Protecting Ocean Rights
-Partners in Defense
-Fighting HIV+'s Stigma
-HIV: Privacy VS. Protection
-Setting the Tone
Most Popular
 
About BEIJINGREVIEW | About beijingreview.com | Rss Feeds | Contact us | Advertising | Subscribe & Service | Make Beijing Review your homepage
Copyright Beijing Review All right reserved