This is life

A ten-year-old child tells us stories from his village where he was born, and he is forced to leave it when he turned sixteen, then he returned after many years abroad. The novel is interwoven with many characters and events that span nearly a full century. Its events revolve around the father’s friend, a strange character, a controversial figure, sometimes described by others as a warrior hero, and sometimes as a treacherous spy. His life is full of stories, contradictions, secrets, successes, setbacks, calmness, and fluctuations. Sometimes we see him as resilient and brave, and other times his weakness and helplessness are revealed. He is like a legendary figure woven throughout the entire novel, with his experiences intertwined with those of the other characters, painting a complex and rich picture of that character’s life. It opens a window through which we get to know that turbulent period in distant Chinese history. This novel is not just a literary work, but also a philosophy of life that depicts life as a turbulent sea: sometimes calm, sometimes disturbed. In the end, it explores how to face setbacks, endure suffering, accept consequences, and find beauty amid ugliness.