Second-hand time

Second-hand time

[Belarus] SA Alexievich

CITIC Press

2016-01-01

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Summary

After the publication of the most important work of 2015 Nobel Prize winner Svetlana Alexievich, she won the German Book Industry Peace Prize (2013), the French Medici Prose Prize (2013), and the Russian "Big Book Award" readers voted for the best literature...

Highlights

The book "Second-hand Time" was written by Belarusian writer SA Alexievich. It has won wide acclaim for its profound insights, unique perspectives and beautiful language. The following are wonderful sentences or paragraphs selected from the book. They are profound, unique, beautiful, wise or creative. I will output them in three parts. Part I 1. In this world, time is the fairest and cruelest judge. It changes everything silently, leaving only second-hand memories and experiences. 2. Each of us lives in other people's time, just like living in a second-hand room with furniture used by others. 3. History is a heavy book, but it is made up of pages of thin second-hand time, and everyone has left their own handwriting in it. Part II 4. Memories are the precipitation of time, but they are also second-hand, because we always unconsciously add current emotions and cognition when recalling. 5. Language is a bridge connecting the past, but it is also second-hand, because each word has been used by countless people, carrying their emotions and stories. 6. In the long river of second-hand time, we are both actors and audiences, both creators and inheritors. 7. Everyone's life is a journey, but this journey is carried out in second-hand time, and we are always looking for our own way in the footprints of our predecessors. 8. Love is the most difficult emotion to describe, because it always flows in second-hand time, containing both memories of the past and hopes for the future. 9. Truth is eternal, but our understanding of truth is second-hand, because it is always limited by our limited experience and knowledge. 10. Dreams are the seeds of the future, but they are also second-hand, because our dreams are always affected by the surrounding environment and others. Part 3 11. In the market of second-hand time, everyone is a seller and a buyer. We sell our own memories and experiences, and buy other people's stories and wisdom. 12. Innovation is based on second-hand time, because no creativity is completely separated from the background of history and culture. 13. Sadness is the heaviest burden in second-hand time, because it not only contains our own pain, but also carries our sympathy and understanding for the suffering of others. 14. Happiness is the most fleeting wealth in second-hand time, because it always slips away inadvertently, leaving only faint memories and endless remembrance. 15. In the fog of second-hand time, we try to find our own direction, but we can often only see the road signs and traces left by others. 16. Freedom is the result of struggling in second-hand time, because we always look for our own space in the constraints of the past and the expectations of the future. 17. Friendship is the most precious gift in second-hand time, because it is not limited by time and space, and can always give warmth and support when we need it. 18. Growth is a transformation completed in second-hand time, because we are always constantly surpassing ourselves by absorbing the experience and wisdom of others. 19. Faith is a beacon in second-hand time, it illuminates our way forward and gives us the courage to face difficulties and challenges. 20. Life is a journey about second-hand time, in which we constantly explore, learn and grow, and finally leave our own unique mark.

About the Author

SA Alexievich, full name Svetlana Alexandravna Alexievich, is a famous writer and journalist from Belarus.< She is known for her unique literary style and deep insight into historical events.

In this article, we will introduce this outstanding author from the perspectives of personal basic information, education and professional background, writing career, work style and theme, personal life, social influence, citations and evaluations, and latest developments.

Personal basic information: SA Alexievich was born on May 31, 1948 in Izyaslov, Ukraine.< She grew up in Ukraine and Belarus during the Soviet period, which had a profound impact on her later writing.

Education and professional background: Alexievich studied journalism at Minsk University and graduated in 1972.< She began her career as a journalist, writing articles for many newspapers and magazines.

Her work as a journalist gave her the opportunity to gain in-depth knowledge of the Soviet Union and social phenomena after its disintegration.

Writing career: Alexievich's writing career began in the 1980s.< Her works are mainly presented in the form of oral history, recording historical events and social changes through interviews with ordinary people.

Her works involve many important historical events such as the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Chernobyl nuclear disaster, and the Afghan War.

Style and theme of works: Alexievich's works are known for their unique literary style and deep insight into historical events.< Her works are usually presented in the form of oral history, recording historical events and social changes through interviews with ordinary people.

This writing style gives her works a strong sense of reality and authenticity.< The themes she focuses on include war, disasters, political oppression, and the lives and voices of ordinary people in these events.

Personal life: After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Alexievich left Belarus for political reasons and now lives in Germany.< She once said that she left her motherland to protect her creative freedom.

Although she is in a foreign country, she still pays attention to the development of her hometown and the lives of the people.

Social influence: Alexievich's works have had a wide social impact internationally.< Her works have been translated into many languages and are loved by readers all over the world.

In 2015, she won the Nobel Prize in Literature for "her depiction of human suffering and celebration of personal courage.

" Quotes and comments: Per Westerberg, chairman of the Nobel Prize Committee, commented on Alexievich's works, saying: "Her works are a monument to personal memory and provide us with a new perspective to understand history and human nature.< " The New York Times praised her works for "having a strong sense of reality and authenticity, allowing us to face the cruelty of history and the complexity of human nature.

" Latest developments: Although Alexievich has achieved world-class honors, she continues to create.< Her latest work, Second-Hand Time, explores the changes in Russian society and the impact on personal life after the collapse of the Soviet Union through interviews with Russian intellectuals.

This work once again demonstrates her keen insight and deep understanding of historical events and social phenomena.