The Day the Sun Died

WhisperToMe:

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'''''The Day the Sun Died''''' ( "The Dimming Sun") is a 2015<!--year published in Taiwan--> novel by [[Yan Lianke]],<ref name=Hewitt>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> published in [[Taiwan]].<ref name=Mas>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> Carlos Rojas translated the book into English, and the translation was published in 2018 by [[Grove (publisher)|Grove]].

The novel's events occur in a place called Gaotian,<ref name=Hewitt/> in June, within the span of twenty-four hours,<ref name=Hilton></ref> starting at 5 PM, going through the nighttime, with the morning occurring at the end of the book.<ref name=Hewitt/> Li Niannian, a 14-year old boy, narrates the novel.<ref name=Kirkus>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2) - Print date: October 1, 2018.</ref> His uncle owns a mortuary.<ref name=Hilton/> His father Tianbao,<ref name=PW>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref> who makes funerary wreaths,<ref name=Hilton/> is involved with hiding oil generated from dead bodies instead of allowing it to be sent to factories.<ref name=PW/> Niannian is often called "stupid Niannian" (Sha Niannian), although his uncle chooses not to do so. James Kidd of the ''[[South China Morning Post]]'' stated that Niannian "makes an engaging, if unlikely narrator" who has "unadorned" words that belie "complex layers" from a "rhythmic and heavily metaphorical style".<ref name=Kidd>Liquid error: wrong number of arguments (1 for 2)</ref>

During the novel many residents of Niannian's village suffer from [[somnambulism]].<ref name=Hilton/> Niannian knows Yan Lianke,<ref name=Mas/> who appears in the novel and also suffers from somnambulism in addition to [[writer's block]].<ref name=Hilton/> Niannian likes to quote Yan Lianke's works, but he often gets the quotes wrong.<ref name=Kidd/> Over 500 deaths occur as the sufferers lack inhibition and wish to right perceived wrongs inflicted by others.<ref name=Mas/> Since the government promotes cremation over burial, Niannian's uncle gains a lot of money.<ref name=Kidd/>

The narrative keeps track of each hour passing in the story's narrative.<ref name=Hewitt/>

==Reception==
In 2016 it won the [[Dream of the Red Chamber Prize]].<ref name=Kidd/>

Sean Hewitt of the ''[[Irish Times]]'' called it "a brave", "masterful", and "unforgettable novel" that is "poetic, both in structure and imagery."<ref name=Hewitt/> Hewitt stated that sometimes parts of the translation seemed "clunky".<ref name=Hewitt/>

Allan Mas of ''[[The Scotsman]]'' stated that it is a "remarkable novel" which readers can interpret however they wish.<ref name=Mas/>

Kidd ranked the book five of five stars.<ref name=Kidd/>

[[Publisher's Weekly]] stated that the book "is a riveting, powerful reading experience."<ref name=PW/>

[[Kirkus Reviews]] stated that the book "belongs in the company of [[Juan Rulfo]]’s ''[[Pedro Páramo]]'' and even [[James Joyce]]’s ''[[Ulysses (novel)|Ulysses]]''."<ref name=Kirkus/> It received the Kirkus Reviews "The Best Books of 2018" Fiction Award.<ref name=Kirkus/>

==References==


==External links==
* ''[https://ift.tt/2rfQ7m2 The Day the Sun Died]'' - [[Grove Atlantic]]
* ''[https://ift.tt/2FRI9cZ The Day the Sun Died]'' - [[Penguin Books]] (United Kingdom)
* ''[https://ift.tt/2rb1QCc The Day the Sun Died]'' - [[Text Publishing]] (Australia)
[[Category:Chinese novels]]
[[Category:2015 novels]]

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