Mo Yan's success sparks sensation in China
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E-mail CNTV, October 14, 2012
So what of the Mo-mania here in China? With reports of Mo Yan's books selling out, and a rush by hungry book lovers.
The excitement of Mo Yan's winning of the Nobel Prize in Literature has swept the public attention from the internet all the way to the bookstore.
His famous works like "The Frog" and the "Big Breasts & Wide Hips" sold out long before the annoucement of the prize.
Qin Hui, Pr. manager of Beijing Xinhua Bookstore Co., said, "Mo Yan's books immediately sold out this morning after we opened our store. We'll try our best to increase our supply and we're accepting book orders."
Many readers who came early in the morning were told only his latest novel is available -- "Fatigue of Life and Death."
But their excitement far outweighed any disappointment.
For many of Mo's readers, this prize may have come too late.
But it's introducing his works to many young people in the post 90s generation.
In recent decades, the Chinese literature has made great progress. But still, it is difficult for Chinese works to enter the western market. Mo Yan's success is a symbol of the world's recognition of Chinese literature. But as Mo has said in his interview, the public should pay more attenttion to the author and his works rather than honors and reputations.
The 57-year-old Chinese writer just simply expressed his surprise and delight.
He thinks it's the universality of human nature that touched the western readers and brought him the award.
Mo said, "My works have always focused on people and human nature. In my writing, I treat people equally no matter whether they are perceived as a good person or a bad person. I do not beautify or demonize the characters. Instead I have sympathy or understanding towards them."
His win brought joy to his supporters, as no Chinese national has ever won the Nobel Prize in Literature in its century-long history.
Qin Xiaoyu is among many of his supporters, and she's interviewed him many times.
She credits Mo's personality for his unique writing style.
Qin said, "In real life Mo Yan is more like a chief editor. He talked about his family and the housing prices. But he put all his imagination in his works, and he became a superman."
With more Chinese writers like Mo, the world could learn more about the real China.
And his Nobel prize may send a powerful signal to the country's writers. Moving reflections of Chinese lives have their place in world literature.
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