1980 My Literary Era.

Chapter 436 National Book Critics Association Award
In fact, because of this wave of publicity for "Red Sorghum", it's not just the Dramatists' Association that suffers.

Some time ago, many pro-Western media and people in the cultural circles criticized Lin Weimin because of "Burning"'s criticism of American society and the impact of the Zhuozhou Conference.

The most talked-about argument is that Lin Weimin cooks the country's jobs with Western dishes, but he does things like smashing the pot.

This group of people is definitely not a minority in the country. On the contrary, the number is quite large. Naturally, when they scold them, they are outraged. Just reading various newspapers and magazines, it really feels like Lin Weimin has become a rat on the street.

However, as the influence of "Red Sorghum"'s awards continued to ferment, a lot of news about Lin Weimin appeared in the newspapers, which stunned these people.

"Red Sorghum" is obviously directed by Zhang Yimou, and you, Lin Weimin, are the screenwriter. Why are you everywhere?

The most irritating thing is, how could you, Lin Weimin and He De, get these awards that were exposed by the newspapers?

This group of people can't figure it out, how can a person like Lin Weimin who scolds his mother with a bowl be treated well by Westerners?

Everyone didn't understand at first, thinking that the judges and artists in Western countries must be blind.

Later, someone came forward and advocated that this is the benefit of democracy and freedom.

You see, Lin Weimin's character is really not good, but he still has talent.

Western countries will not be hostile to you because of your tendencies and attitudes, but will cherish your talents and hold you high.

Well, the logic is self-consistent!
Every time Lin Weimin saw this kind of article in the newspaper, he could only shake his head helplessly. The two works that Lao Tzu won won many praises of Gallic chicken and American guy.

However, Lin Weimin didn't take this matter to heart.

This group of literati are all talkers, and their influence on him is not even a scratch.

I planned to let this matter pass slowly in a low-key manner, but sometimes reality always goes against people's will.

On this day, Lin Weimin received an overseas call from the United States.

The 1987 American National Book Critics Association Awards announced the list of winners for this year. Lin Weimin's "Burning" defeated Philip Roth's "Anti-Life", a strong opponent, and was named the best novel of the year by the Book Critics Association.

Qiao Sen, who reported the good news to Lin Weimin, was a little excited, "Lin, do you know the gold content of this award? This is one of the three major literary awards in the United States."

"Really!" Lin Weimin's tone was casual. He had heard of the Pulitzer Prize, but he had never heard of the National Book Critics Association Award.

Qiao Sen heard Lin Weimin's attitude and explained: "You don't know. Pulitzer, National Book Award, and National Book Critics Association Award are one of the three most mainstream awards in our American literary circles. Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award The awards are only awarded to citizens of the United States, even if your work is first published or published in the United States. There is only the National Book Critics Association Award, and its requirements are relatively loose, as long as the work is first published in the United States."

"The National Association of Book Critics is a professional organization composed of more than 1000 senior book editors across the United States. The final candidates and winners are selected by the organization's 24-member committee. The authority of the policy is higher, because all the reviewers are the best editors in the industry.

E. L. Doctorow's Ragtime and John Updike's Rich Rabbit are some of the best novels ever rated by the National Book Critics Association. "

Lin Weimin has never read "Ragtime Age", but Lin Weimin has read John Updike's "The Rabbit is Rich". That novel happened to be among the books Lin Weimin brought back from the United States. I remember that when he bought this novel, the bookstore owner also said that this novel swept the three American literary awards.

With Qiao Sen's explanation and recalling the process of buying the book, Lin Weimin understood the gold content of the National Book Critics Association Award.

"Qiao Sen, thank you so much this time! And your company!" Lin Weimin said.

Lin Weimin knew very well that without the operation of the publishing company, it would be almost impossible for him as a foreign writer to win a literary award such as the National Book Critics Association Award.

The United States publishes tens of thousands of novels a year, and I can’t choose among myself. How can I choose a foreigner’s work, even if you are published in the United States, even if your novel is well written, even if you have written it before? Already has some fame.

What's more, the content of this novel has a negative attitude towards the operation of the capitalist society in the United States. A key factor for winning the award is the rise of ZY thought in Western countries in the past few years.

The proliferation of ZY ideas in the 70s and [-]s had a very large impact on the entire range, and the United States was no exception.

Although in the 80s, with the emergence of various crises in socialist countries, ZY thinking was greatly impacted, and the whole world was swept by ZY thinking.

However, the critics committee of the National Book Critics Association is deeply influenced by ZY's thinking, so in their eyes, the book "Burning" is not only not suspected of discrediting the United States, but to some extent, it is a warning to the United States. The people are like Dickens in England and Mark Twain in America.

It was precisely because of this reason that Random House took a fancy to "Burning".

"Haha, Lin, our company is going to reprint "Burning" soon, and the printing volume this time will be 50 copies. Not only "Burning", but also several other works of yours, will increase the printing volume accordingly."

Although the National Book Critics Association Award is not as famous abroad as the Pulitzer Prize, it is still very famous in the United States. Now that Lin Weimin has won the Writer of the Year Award for Fiction, his reputation has risen to a higher level, and his works will naturally sell well, especially "Burning" the award-winning work.

It took more than half a year to publish from last year to now, and it has sold less than 20 copies. Random House plans to rely on this wave to regain some blood.

The purpose of Qiao Sen calling Lin Weimin was not only to announce the good news to him, but also to invite Lin Weimin to fly to the United States.

Random House plans to hold several book signings for Lin Weimin, and by the way, accept interviews from the media to promote Lin Weimin and the novel.

"Qiao Sen, I'm so sorry. As you know, I'm busy with work and have a lot of things on hand. It's not realistic to take time off to go to the United States."

It is mutually beneficial for Lin Weimin and Random House to go to the United States to promote and hold book signings.

But Lin Weimin has a job after all, so it is impossible to spare time every year to go to the United States for a period of time. He refused decisively, which disappointed Qiao Sen.

"Well, when you come to the United States next time, you must inform me in advance. Having some signings and interviews is not only beneficial to book sales, but also beneficial to your personal popularity and influence." Joe Sendao.

"Of course!"

The list of winners of the National Book Critics Association Awards has just been announced a few days ago, and the awards ceremony will be held in a while, but Lin Weimin will not go to the United States, so naturally he cannot participate. Lin Weimin entrusts this errand to Qiao Sen and asks him to help accept the awards on his behalf , and mail it to yourself.

After the communication, the two hung up the phone.

The news that "Burning" won the National Book Critics Association Award made Lin Weimin very happy, and it seemed that he was going to take back his previous thoughts.

"Untouchable" won the Tony Award by flattering Americans, and "Burning" won the National Book Critics Association Award by scolding Americans.

It seems that there are also many insightful people in the American society, and they can see that Mr. Lin is deeply responsible for their hatred and love for them.

The news that "Burning" won the National Book Critics Association Award does not require Lin Weimin to spread the news, because the content of the novel reflects to a certain extent the group of foreign students in the United States, so these international students have always paid attention to "Burning".

The winners of the National Book Critics Association Award had just been announced in the newspaper, and someone discovered it, and then it quickly spread among the international student circles in the United States, and then it was spread back to China.

In less than half a month, the news that Lin Weimin won the National Book Critics Association Award for "Burning" was widely circulated in the domestic literary circles.

Those people in the cultural circles who cursed at Lin Weimin fell silent this time.

How can you scold me now?
It's like the owner's family has a dog, and when it sees someone speak ill of the owner, it goes up and barks, but instead of blaming the person, the owner treats the person as a guest of honor.

Needless to say, the dog is depressed, but he is loyal after all, so he has to find a way to excuse his master.

My master is benevolent and kind, and he is tolerant of all rivers.

Apart from all kinds of rumors and discussions outside, the literary awards on the other side of the ocean have no real impact on Lin Weimin. He still goes to and from work on time every day.

On this day, Tong Zhonggui ran to his office and said excitedly, "Mr. Lin, are you free tomorrow night?"

"What's the matter?" Lin Weimin asked.

"The person you have been asking me to follow is coming to Yanjing on business. I want to treat him to dinner. You should come with me!"

Hearing Tong Zhonggui's words, Lin Weimin became interested, "Sure!"

Tong Zhonggui clapped his hands, "This is great. You don't know, I encouraged him for half a year, and he finally started writing novels recently. When I come back to Yanjing, I must persuade him to put all my energy into the creation of novels." superior."

Lin Weimin nodded and asked, "Don't just talk about him. You haven't moved for more than a year, right? What have you written recently? Is there anything you can show to others?"

When it came to this topic, Tong Zhonggui smiled a little shyly, "I'm writing now, I'm almost finished, this time I'm holding back a lot."

Lin Weimin has not cared about Tong Zhonggui's creation this year, it seems that he wants to give himself a surprise!
"Long form?"

"Well, long story!" Tong Zhonggui nodded with determination and confidence on his face.

(End of this chapter)