白鷺
白鷺

文學評論,自由撰稿人

"Ice Cream" Love in Xi Xuan's Novels

(edited)
Silk Works

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The popular literature in modern times is magnificent. As a major branch, the development of romance novels is particularly eye-catching. This is not only because it has nurtured a group of distinctive writers such as Zhou Shoujuan, Xu Zhenya , Zhang Ziping, Anonymous, but also Zhang Henshui and Qiong Yao , two romance masters. Zhang Henshui became the master of the early romance novels, and his influence was so deep that it even overflowed the framework of popular literature, and even reached some very serious artists. It was Qiong Yao who took over the baton, and she had been the "Love Leader" for a long time. After Qiong Yao, at first glance, he entered the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. In fact, there is also a Taiwanese romance novel writer who took a different approach and became the third peak.

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Different from Zhang Henshui's grandiose framework and social care, and Qiong Yao's mournful and poignant, elegant and poignant, Xi Silk wins with simplicity, ease and humor. If Zhang Henshui is a "drama", Qiong Yao is a tragedy (except for " Huanzhu Gege "), Xi Juan is a comedy. After watching " Girl Cher ", I realized that "Romance" can also be expressed so clearly and lightly that it makes people laugh. There is not much "meaning", and there is not much "mood", but it is very "meaningful". Xi Juan's pursuit was different from his predecessors from the very beginning.

"Love in Interlaced Time and Space" is her debut novel, with a little fantasy, and it is basically a costume drama that took place in the Song Dynasty. It involves the issue of "women's status". Su Huan'er's experience is actually a process from low to high, gradually rising in status, until the equality of men and women. Such a "major" theme was played with great fun by Xi Juan. Not from a socio-economic perspective, nor from the perspective of wealth and class in Jane Eyre , Xi Su’s method is very straightforward—use love to influence the “husband” and soften the rigid world dominated by men. So Su Huan'er used "love" as a weapon to go on a rampage and be invincible, conquering her husband and defeating her rivals. In the sequel " Danyang Duck ", she even matched three pairs of lovers in one breath - including a pair who were deeply bound by etiquette. middle-aged. With just the word "love" and her own charm, Su Huan'er won a great victory. This kind of "thick line" victory came too easily, which made people suspicious.

More interesting than the previous pair of "series" is the "Flower Marriage" series, namely " Worrying the Right Man in the Wrong Sedan chair " and "Please Just Take It Now" (later combined into one and made into a TV series). These two stories are based on the traditional method of "two flowers blooming, each representing a branch", and design completely different heroines: Li Yuhu, who was born in a martial arts hall, and Du Bingyan, who is a lady. The whole series has four protagonists, two males, two females, and numerous supporting roles. They inspire each other, the plots come one after another, and the jokes are dizzying. Naturally, it is much more exciting and richer than the previous group relying on one Su Huan'er to play tricks. When writing about the sisters Li and Du, Xi Huan obviously worked hard, so that when she wrote about the innocent and lovely Li Yuhu, the whole "Wrong Sedan chair" was full of anger; and when she wrote about the gentle and delicate Du Bingyan, " Please" then consciously restrained the sharp edge of the show. The writing style corresponds strictly to the heroine's character, which I haven't seen in other romance novels . The ending is of course a big reunion, and it is the most complete reunion without any regrets. This is to be expected. If someone makes this accusation, I believe Xi Yan will also have her perseverance. She once said bluntly: "(Romance) novels are a kind of realization of beautiful dreams, and they are written into nightmares. Who cares?"

She is not written in writing, but is supported by a set of her own opinions. It's another matter whether the opinion is right or not, at least it shows that she is very clear about what she is doing. For example, some people say that she always writes about handsome men and beauties, and she often portrays the children of rich families, and she falls into a cliché, she plausibly argues, and strives according to "reason": "Let's ask a question first, if someday Xi silk uses ugly men and strange women as the protagonists, Would you accept it? If the protagonist lived a precarious and impoverished life, would you like to see it? (Don’t be rude, answer with a heart)” The world she paints is a modern version of the princess and prince, she just refuses to be heavy and hurt Pain, insisted on taking her "Dream Factory". She probably didn't dare to expect that like Jin Yong and Zhang Henshui, they could be elegant and vulgar, and the high-level pure literature also looked at them. This "keeping one's own mind" has also achieved her unburdened youth and beauty.

There are two "special" works that I think are her attempts to transform. One is " Little Devil's Human Internship ". The protagonist is not as beautiful as the fairy in other works, although it is not the "ugly man and strange woman" that Xi Xuan disdains, but in contrast, the male protagonist is handsome but lacks personality, and the female protagonist has personality but is not beautiful. Of course she understands how dangerous she is to be so consciously "deviant", and to make up for the reader's appetite, she adds a little devil from hell to add a touch of quirkiness. But this effort finally failed. The whole book is like a vegetable soup without salt and monosodium glutamate, bland and boring. The little devil's nonsense not only failed to add points to the novel, but also destroyed the last bit of realistic sincerity. Another " Romantic Life " adopts the double-line structure of "reality plus memory". The pair in reality uses her usual relaxed and romantic brushwork, while the pair in memory lives a life that she rarely writes about. A precarious life of poverty”. The two lines are not always parallel because the two male protagonists happen to be separated father and son. This novel reveals the ambition to attend the creation of silk, and the first half is really vivid and moving. The middle and rear parts have reached the stage of "solving problems", and the level has suddenly changed sharply. The "simple" silk silk is advocated. In front of the subject matter that needs to be carefully sorted out, various deficiencies are exposed: the exaggeration and meanness of ridicule, the lack of understanding of the world, the lack of understanding of life. The overall grasp is not enough, and the habit of ending with rapid, jumping, and large-scale changes. When she deals with relatively single events and relatively simple roles, she is free and easy to handle. However, when she tried to change, promote weaknesses and avoid strengths, and move closer to difficult and challenging themes and techniques, she seemed impetuous and rude, and she was in a hurry.

In addition to these two unsuccessful attempts, Xi Yan rarely subverts the basic elements and rules of romance novels. To "change" is to make partial adjustments under the premise of "easy to read". The most typical ones are the series " This man is a little cool " and "You must have pity on me ", and the series " Make you fascinated by me " and " Affair of the Elf with Long Braids " (other series always love "trilogy", Xi Jinping Silk prefers the "two-part").

The former group of stories is dubbed "Asian Martial Arts", which incorporates elements of martial arts novels and science fiction novels , and the imagination is brought into full play; the latter group, I think, can be called "Asian gangsters", and the essence of romance remains unchanged. But inserted a chapter on the underworld. Both sets of novels have vivid and full characters, as well as fascinating details, as well as ingenuity and sincerity. Between "seeking the new" and "conserving the old", Xi Su has found a delicate balance. Among the four novels, "Make You Mesmerize Me" has the highest achievement. In this work alone, Ding Hao, Zhu Huanhuan, Shi Qiang, and Bai Jingjing have been written alive. Ding Hao's "tenderness", Shi Qiang's is both cold and melancholy, and Bai Jing's perseverance and understanding are vivid. As the first protagonist, Zhu Huanhuan is actually a mistress on the outside and a very innocent woman on the inside. This contrast is even more creative.

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Some people say that Xi Xuan writes about the ancient times better than the contemporary ones. In fact, some of her "contemporary novels" are also mature and attractive. Although they are not stunning, "the soul flies halfway", but the more they read, the more interesting they are. For example, "Let's go out of the pavilion ", there is a kind of quiet quietness; for example, "In Search of the Love of This Life ", it is completed in one go, clear and meaningful; another example is " Kissing Your Heart ", which is lively and witty. The four sisters bring a strong grandmother, in their marriage It's unbearable laughter. However, one of her most important works is indeed ancient. It is not only the best in Xi's novels, but also has a unique style in the whole field of Taiwanese romance novels, which can be called a masterpiece.

"The Snatched Bride " describes the legendary love between the rich family of silk and satin business during the Northern Song Dynasty, the eldest lady Jun Qiluo, and Yelulie, a nobleman from the Liao Kingdom outside the Great Wall. There is no slack in the novel from beginning to end, and the confrontation between Jiangnan's water vapor and the north country's heroic rivalry also broadens the work's vision and changes its style. Especially commendable is the personal description of Jun Qiluo and Yelulie. Although the former is a southern woman, her tenderness and tenderness are hidden in her arrogance, and her cold refusal becomes her typical reaction. First, she rejected the devil in her eyes, the Liao people, and then rejected the contempt, bullying and even the temptation of "all women serve one husband" from the foreign court. Her fidelity to love and the defense of her dignity enabled her to stop at nothing until she committed suicide by jumping off a cliff. Yelulie is conceited, proud, and ambitious, with extreme enthusiasm under extreme indifference. For Jun Qiluo, at first he only had the desire to possess and conquer, but later he fell in love with her unexpectedly in the emotional tug of war. This love cannot be extricated from himself, and he can do everything for her. The personalities and styles of the two form a huge tension, and all the other characters are eclipsed in their confrontation, or rather, the touchstone of their earth-shattering, soul-stirring love. (I even think the book "Robbery" is good drama material - sharp conflicts, repeated confrontations, loud dialogues, and ups and downs. I saw each other's sincerity. At the moment when the understanding was reached, it seemed that everything was silent, and there were only two living beings in the world. This novel has reached unprecedented heights in terms of character building, plot development, skill application, and theme conception. The name "Xixian" is only at this height can it really stabilize in the sequence of the first-rate romance novelists.

It's a pity that the peak has become a cliff, and Xi Jing has never been able to surpass the brilliance she created with her own hands. She later wrote " Poppy's Lover ," which told the same story in a different era -- almost identical to "The Stolen Bride." Another "unfortunate", this best book is tragic, which doesn't quite match her main style.

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From Zhang Henshui to Qiongyao, and then to Xi Juan, I have to admit that the path of "romance school" is getting narrower and narrower. Authors who are interested in "love literature and art" should really write with caution, learn from others' strengths, learn from others and not follow others, innovate but not obscure, and seek beauty without being poor and weak. At that time, the dawn of revival will appear on the horizon.

Please indicate the source when reprinting, thank you! https://bailushuyuan.org/novel/traditional/reviews/13

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