In the history of the Mao Dun Literature Award, the most influential is "Ordinary World", and the most controversial ** is none other than him. Many readers believe that this work has given them upward strength in life; And the contemptuous think it's too low-level. Professor Wen Rumin, who once served as a professor of the Department of Chinese at Peking University, commented on this ** in an interview
The book is coarse in language, clichéd in plot, lacking metaphysical things like ultimate care, not artistically refined or technical, but you have to admit its impact. ”
At the same time, he also said that the readership of this book is mainly from the bottom of society, but college students also account for a considerable proportion, and it is said that one-third of college students have read "Ordinary World".
The professor's words are a bit self-contradictory, and at the same time remind me of Na Ying's comments on Daolang (to the effect, I can't remember the original words clearly): Daolang (the song) is not aesthetic, but when it comes to sales, I shut up again.
Yes, speaking of readers' reactions, in October 2008, Sina.com did a survey on "Readers' Favorite Mao Dun Literature Award Winning Works", and "Ordinary World" won 7146% topped the list; In 2012, the School of Literature of Shandong University also conducted a survey of readers of the "Mao Dun Literature Award Winning Works", and "Ordinary World" still scored 386% topped the list; In the sample survey of many key universities across the country, "Ordinary World" has always been the favorite work of college students. Ma Yun also once said that this ** had a deep impact on him.
I don't know what is the definition of the bottom of society in Professor Wen's eyes, and whether Jack Ma college students are considered to be the bottom of society? Or, in Professor Wen's eyes, except for the academic community where he is located, all other classes are at the bottom? In terms of feeling good, Professor Wen and Na Ying have similarities.
This may be a better way to interpret the data.
Although it has a large readership, I do think that the book "Ordinary World" is indeed not perfect, it has a lot of hard wounds, it is very didactic, and some characters are too idealistic. The most unconvincing character is Tian Xiaoxia, she is like a flying fairy outside the sky, completely ungrounded. The most incomprehensible is Sun Shaoping, an accident wiped out his ideals, and since then he has been willing to be mediocre, which is too different from the previous description of self-improvement.
People in adversity love to read this book because they want to draw upward strength from it. But it's a pity that the male protagonist didn't give people strength and disappointed.
Indeed, Lu Yao and Daolang have similarities, both originate from the grassroots, and both hope to be sublimated.
Now we can only look forward to Daolang.