This book is a collection of 28 essays by one of the most internationally influential Chinese novelists,Yu Hua, who is the most prominent writer in contemporary China. His works have been translated into English, French, German, Italian, Dutch, Persian, Polish, Spanish, Swedish, Serbian, Hebrew,Japanese, Korean, etc. He is also a columnist for New York Times. It is a review of classic works in the history of literature and music, with in-depth personal interpretations and candid appreciations of masters such as Borges, Dostoevsky, Faulkner, Kafka,Shostakovich, and Tchaikovsky. As a reader and listener, the writer tries to analyze the mysteries of the narrative in literature and music, explain the techniques and mysteries of creation. As Yu Hua put it, “Music is created by the heart, and writing touches the depths of music. They are affected by each other and point to the broadness of life together.”