Nick's Book Club

"Frog" by Mo Yan is a profound narrative that delves into the complex web of China's family planning policy through the eyes of the protagonist, a rural obstetrician named Gugu. The story unfolds with Gugu's life journey, from her initial enthusiasm and dedication in her medical career, especially in the field of obstetrics, to the moral and ethical dilemmas she faces due to the strict implementat...

"Life and Death Are Wearing Me Out" by Mo Yan is a tale that traverses multiple lifetimes and epochs. It follows the reincarnations of a landowner named Ximen Nao, who, after his unjust death, is reborn successively as various animals on his former land. Through the eyes of these animals - a donkey, an ox, a pig, a dog, and a monkey - we witness the dramatic changes and upheavals in rural Chinese...

In "Poverty and Wealth and Desire", Mo Yan reflects on the complex relationship between poverty and wealth, as well as the unbridled desires of human beings. He explores how poverty can breed both the longing for wealth and the distortion of values, while wealth may not necessarily bring true contentment and might even arouse excessive desires. The essay delves into the human nature beneath the pu...

Set against the backdrop of the wild and turbulent Gaomi Northeast Township in Shandong during the 1930s and 1940s, "Red Sorghum" unfolds a vivid and passionate epic. It tells the story of the tenacious and unruly life of Yu Zhan'ao and his fellows, interwoven with their bold and uninhibited love affairs. The story is colored by the vivid image of the red sorghum fields that stretch as far as the...

"Diary of a Madman" by Lu Xun is a profound and incisive work that reveals the hideous face of feudal society through the seemingly crazy ravings of the "madman". It depicts the "madman" who perceives the world around him filled with the "cannibalism" nature of the old system and traditional ideology. With his unique perspective and acute insight, he discovers the hidden darkness and hypocrisy in...

“The Seventh Day” is a poignant and fantastical literary work that delves into the liminal space between life and death. Set against a backdrop of a world fraught with chaos and desolation, it follows the journey of a soul in the seven days after death. Amid the eerie and shadowy realm, the protagonist encounters the remnants of his earthly life, the broken dreams and unfulfilled hopes. Yet, withi...

“Sandalwood Punishment” is a profound and harrowing literary masterpiece set against the backdrop of the chaotic late Qing Dynasty and early Republic of China. With its vivid and often gruesome descriptions, it unfolds a complex tapestry of human nature and social contradictions. The titular sandalwood punishment serves as a focal point, around which swirls a maelstrom of love and hatred, loyalty...

“Dawn Blossoms Plucked at Dusk” is a remarkable literary work that delicately weaves together the fragmented memories of Lu Xun's bygone days. Against the backdrop of a changing era, it traverses the innocent landscapes of childhood, the perplexing adolescence, and the bittersweet recollections of people and events. Through his elegant prose, Lu Xun transforms these past fragments into a tapestry...

“Never Been So Attached to the World” is a collection of profound and touching literary works that delicately unfolds the complex emotions of human beings towards life. Against the backdrop of the bustling and ever-changing mortal world, the authors, through their exquisite words, capture the fleeting yet precious moments, the joys and sorrows, the hardships and hopes. It is a lyrical exploration...

“Me and the Altar of Earth” is a remarkable literary memoir that unfolds the profound spiritual journey of Shi Tiesheng. Against the backdrop of the ancient and serene Altar of Earth, which has witnessed the passage of time and endured countless vicissitudes, the author, confined to a wheelchair after a tragic twist of fate, found solace and inspiration. Here, in this secluded corner of the world,...

“Wandering” is a profound literary work by Lu Xun, which vividly reflects the spiritual perplexity and anguish of intellectuals in a transitional era. Set against the backdrop of a crumbling feudal society and the budding of new ideas, the characters within are constantly torn between tradition and modernity, struggling to find their place and purpose. Lu Xun, through his incisive writing, capture...

Along the meandering course of time, Mo Yan's "Late-Blooming Persons" unfolds quietly like a profound spiritual epic. The book centers around those souls seemingly "slowed down" by time. Amid the rapid whirlpool of the era, they are like solitary boats sailing upstream, not easily swept away by the secular waves. In the face of the hustle and bustle and temptations of the vanity fair, these late b...

Along the meandering course of time, Mo Yan's "Late-Blooming Persons" unfolds quietly like a profound spiritual epic. The book centers around those souls seemingly "slowed down" by time. Amid the rapid whirlpool of the era, they are like solitary boats sailing upstream, not easily swept away by the secular waves. In the face of the hustle and bustle and temptations of the vanity fair, these late b...

The novel tells the story of the hardships experienced by two brothers, Li Guangtou and Song Gang, in a reconstituted family in a small town in the 1960s and 1970s and the early days of reform and opening up. The author reproduces history in an absurd way to express his criticism of the power in the 1960s and 1970s, as well as his concern for the lack of spiritual life of the people in the early d...

"Wencheng" tells the story of Lin Xiangfu, a young northern man who came to the southern village of Xizhen to settle down during the late Qing Dynasty and early years of the Republic of China. He met and fell in love with Ji Xiaomei, a southern woman. After giving birth to a daughter, Ji Xiaomei suddenly left home and never heard from her again. Lin Xiangfu carried his daughter all the way south t...

《边城》是沈从文创作的中篇小说，首次出版于1934年。 该小说以20世纪30年代川湘交界的边城小镇茶峒（边城镇） [16]为背景，以兼具抒情诗和小品文的优美笔触，描绘了湘西地区特有的风土人情；借船家少女翠翠的纯爱故事，展现出了人性的善良美好。由于《边城》的美学艺术，《边城》这部小说在中国近代文学史上具有独特的地位。 "Border Town" is a novella written by Shen Congwen and first published in 1934. The novel is set...

Xu Sanguan Selling Blood is a novel by contemporary Chinese writer Yu Hua, first published in Harvest, No. 6, 1995. Xu Sanguan Selling Blood tells a touching story of mixed joy and sorrow. Xu Sanguan survived the difficulties of his life by selling blood and overcame the storms imposed on him by fate. However, when he got old and realized that no one wanted his blood anymore, he suffered a mental...

"River of Errors" is a novella written by the contemporary Chinese writer Yu Hua. It was first published in the first issue of Zhongshan in 1988. "A Mistake by the River" is one of Yu Hua's pioneering experimental works. It is a fictional detective story. On the mysterious and tempting river, Grandma Mo Si was killed. Criminal police captain Ma Zhe was responsible for investigating the case. Evide...

Lu Xun's 呐喊 (A Call to Arms) is a collection of short stories exploring themes of social injustice, alienation, and cannibalism (both literal and metaphorical) in early 20th-century China. The excerpts showcase the psychological turmoil of characters like the "Madman" and satirize the hypocrisy of Chinese society through stories such as "Kong Yiji" and "Medicine." Another story, "A Slight Incide...

This is a true story. Yang Suqiu, an associate professor at Shaanxi University of Science and Technology, worked in Xi'an Beilin District for one year and presided over the construction of Xi'an Beilin District Library. The soul of a library is the bibliography. In the process of determining the library bibliography, she encountered various unspoken rules and resistance from all sides. She overcam...

The story is a recount of one man's life, as told from his perspective as an elderly man. The man faces a number of hardships throughout his life, including poverty, war, and the loss of loved ones. Through it all, the man finds a way to persevere and continue living. As he faces each tragedy, he reflects on the events of his life with a mix of sadness, acceptance, and even humor. Ultimately, "To...

"Fortress Besieged" is a novel written by Qian Zhongshu. It is a satirical novel with a unique style in the history of modern Chinese literature. It is known as the "New Scholars". The first edition was published by Shanghai Chenguang Publishing Company in 1947. The story mainly describes the group portrait of intellectuals in the early days of the Anti-Japanese War. The novel uses Fang Hongjian's...

This document is an excerpt from a biography of Ren Zhengfei, founder of Huawei. The text chronicles Ren's life, from his childhood experiences shaped by poverty and political upheaval to his military career and the founding of Huawei. It details Huawei's development, focusing on key technological advancements and business strategies, including its competitive struggles against both domestic and i...