Graphics by Doreen Yuan
Awakening Editors: Quintus Ni & Katelin Slosky
Good Morning, Doreen
Doreen’s “Happiness is . . .”
Animation by Doreen Yuan
Happiness Editor: Chelsea Xu
Doreen’s Favorite Book: Doread
Doing much reading during quarantine? Doreen has a suggestion for you to add to your bedside table.
By Doreen Yuan
Today, I would like to recommend a book called The Kite Runner. This is the first work of Khaled Husseini, an Afghan-American writer. It caused a sensation immediately after it was published in the United States in 2003. In 2006, this moving story was introduced to China and became a bestseller that moved millions of readers. For ten years, this book has meant a good time reading for countless readers. The sad and happy separation of the protagonist Amir and Hassan has deeply affected the hearts of readers, and, according to the book cover I was reading in China, it is the life-long five-star novel “most wanted to share with friends.”
Spoiler Alert: The story is about a young man who is eager to be recognized by his father and his servant like-a-brother friend. Because of his cowardice and timidity, the young man committed a crime that required atonement. The novel not only recollects his experience, it includes political events between countries–America and Afghanistan. There is description of hierarchy and racial discrimination. After reading the novel, my biggest feeling is that I realize the cruelty of the war, which has broken Afghanistan, separated its people and destroyed their families.
In the main description of the novel, the saddest part is the fate of Hassan’s father and his son, not only because of the humiliation of the hierarchical class and racial discrimination, but also because of the cowardly behavior of the protagonist. Loyal, honest, optimistic Hassan and cowardly selfish Amir make me lament the injustice of fate. To expiate sin, can Amir really atone? Stealing, in the novel, is unforgivable. Perhaps for the suffering person, atonement is just the memory of the sin stolen by the sinner, but the kind Hassan chooses to forgive.
Each of us should have a kite of our own, which can represent family, friendship, love, integrity, kindness and honesty. For Amir, the kite metaphor is an essential part of his personality. Only when we catch up with our own kite, we become a sound person. The beginning and the end of the novel are overlapped and become two similar pictures: the vast sky, the snowflakes falling, the air cold and clear, the kite chasing, children running with laughter, chasing the flying light and shadow. This scene is played out repeatedly in different regions and between different generations, but between each repetition, life has undergone dramatic changes. With the change of the protagonist’s fate, this picture has been continuously dyed with new colors, falling from the naive vision of children into the sadness of the transformation of world affairs.
Maybe the ending of the story is not perfect, maybe a little bitter and sour. But life is like this. We make mistakes, miss again, and then use life to save life.
Favorite Book Editor: James Zheng
A game of spirit
By Doreen Yuan
Today I would like to recommend a leisure adventure game. The name of this game is Sky: The Children of Light. In this game, the player will play the child of the sky, fall on the mainland as a meteor, and take risks from then on.
There are seven maps in the game. The scene design of each map is very exquisite and ingenious. As a relatively successful worker in mobile 3D games, I can say that I like the role interaction and character design very much.
Players can play different characters in different costumes, and the color of wings will be different. As players find golden figurines in more maps, they can upgrade their wings. The higher the level of wings, the higher they fly.
What I want to focus on is the setting of ancestors in this game. In this game, ancestors are called spirits. Players can only find candles, that is, customs clearance props, if they follow their ancestors’ steps. Therefore, spirit is a very important theme in this game. In the last level, only players can reach the top of the Eden with mutual help. This also relies on spirit, so spirit can help us to maintain ourselves, be positive and look forward to the future through difficulties.
Spirit Editor: Katelin Slosky
*Doreen says if you’re interested in the game, you can download the game from the Apple or Android store. Do it, and play together with Doreen!
Live in the Moment
By Doreen Yuan
Life is an existence towards death. It is a completely different state for a person to think about death when he is young, and to think about death when he is old, or even to think about death when he is dying. In the face of life there is death, writer Bi Shumin said, a writer who tries “to help people see [death] as a natural thing.”
It’s not unreasonable to say that life is short. People’s birth means death. The countdown of life has begun quietly, and we are one step closer to death. Therefore, when one is alive, one has done all one wants to do. One’s life will be complete.
Although none of us can predict what will happen in the next second, death and the end are inevitable. So, take advantage of the time to visit; take advantage of our young enthusiasm; and do all the things you want to do in order so as to leave no regrets and pass away peacefully.
Carpe Diem Editor: Quintus Ni
Source Referenced: http://en.chinaculture.org/library/2008-01/09/content_75971_2.htm
Part 6 of the story
By Doreen Yuan
A Review of the Urban-Legend storytelling rules:
1. The comment section is part of the story. All comments are ordered by the number.
2. Comments that include a >> and a number (ex: >>1) are replies to the comment with that number.
3. Anonymous users in the comment section are part of the story. There are multiple anonymous accounts.
4. The main characters named No Longer Human and Curry are part of the story in the comments.
5. Readers can leave messages in the comment section but should not intentionally destroy or try to confuse the coherence of the story.
6. Readers can respond to any anonymous character interaction in the comment section–that response may change and contribute to the story.
7. Do not use inappropriate language.
8. The roles and anonymity in the comment section are created by the primary story author himself.
9. The time of all messages is based on the time of writing.
10. Have fun, and enjoy it.
*This is a continuing story. The last installment was posted December 16, 2019. The story is told through the “Comments” section. Read them carefully.
Editor: Luke Langlois
Part 5 of the story
By Doreen Yuan
A Review of the Urban-Legend storytelling rules:
1. The comment section is part of the story. All comments are ordered by the number.
2. Comments that include a >> and a number (ex: >>1) are replies to the comment with that number.
3. Anonymous users in the comment section are part of the story. There are multiple anonymous accounts.
4. The main characters named No Longer Human and Curry are part of the story in the comments.
5. Readers can leave messages in the comment section but should not intentionally destroy or try to confuse the coherence of the story.
6. Readers can respond to any anonymous character interaction in the comment section–that response may change and contribute to the story.
7. Do not use inappropriate language.
8. The roles and anonymity in the comment section are created by the primary story author himself.
9. The time of all messages is based on the time of writing.
10. Have fun, and enjoy it.
*This is a continuing story. The last installment was posted December 5, 2019. The story is told through the “Comments” section. Read them carefully.
Editor: Quintus Ni
Part 4 of the story
By Doreen Yuan
A Review of the Urban-Legend storytelling rules:
1. The comment section is part of the story. All comments are ordered by the number.
2. Comments that include a >> and a number (ex: >>1) are replies to the comment with that number.
3. Anonymous users in the comment section are part of the story. There are multiple anonymous accounts.
4. The main characters named No Longer Human and Curry are part of the story in the comments.
5. Readers can leave messages in the comment section but should not intentionally destroy or try to confuse the coherence of the story.
6. Readers can respond to any anonymous character interaction in the comment section–that response may change and contribute to the story.
7. Do not use inappropriate language.
8. The roles and anonymity in the comment section are created by the primary story author himself.
9. The time of all messages is based on the time of writing.
10. Have fun, and enjoy it.
*This is a continuing story. The last installment was posted November 15, 2019. The story is told through the “Comments” section. Read them carefully.
Editor: Katelin Mei
Part 3 of The Story
By Doreen Yuan
A Review of the Urban-Legend storytelling rules:
1. The comment section is part of the story. All comments are ordered by the number.
2. Comments that include a >> and a number (ex: >>1) are replies to the comment with that number.
3. Anonymous users in the comment section are part of the story. There are multiple anonymous accounts.
4. The main characters named No Longer Human and Curry are part of the story in the comments.
5. Readers can leave messages in the comment section but should not intentionally destroy or try to confuse the coherence of the story.
6. Readers can respond to any anonymous character interaction in the comment section–that response may change and contribute to the story.
7. Do not use inappropriate language.
8. The roles and anonymity in the comment section are created by the primary story author himself.
9. The time of all messages is based on the time of writing.
10. Have fun, and enjoy.
*This is a continuing story. The last installment was posted November 14, 2019. The story is told through the “Comments” section. Read them carefully.
Art Editor: Chelsea
Part 2 of The Story
By Doreen Yuan
A Review of the Urban-Legend storytelling rules:
1. The comment section is part of the story. All comments are ordered by the number.
2. Comments that include a >> and a number (ex: >>1) are replies to the comment with that number.
3. Anonymous users in the comment section are part of the story. There are multiple anonymous accounts.
4. The main characters named No Longer Human and Curry are part of the story in the comments.
5. Readers can leave messages in the comment section but should not intentionally destroy or try to confuse the coherence of the story.
6. Readers can respond to any anonymous character interaction in the comment section–that response may change and contribute to the story.
7. Do not use inappropriate language.
8. The roles and anonymity in the comment section are created by the primary story author himself.
9. The time of all messages is based on the time of writing.
10. Have fun, and enjoy it.
Continued from Part I, posted on October 3 . . . . Note: The story is in the comments. Read them all.
Editor: James Zheng