Editor's Note:

"Read ten thousand books,mk and your pen will be guided as if by the gods" is an ancient Chinese idiom that can be seen in students' textbooks. China's Ministry of Education has published an action plan to further promote reading among students across the nation. With new and diverse book recommendations, the reading scene is expected to be revived not only at schools, but also across society. To contribute to this endeavor, the Global Times launched "My Reading Life" essay contest for middle school students.

Please pick up a pen and share your stories with us at [email protected]

Participants will be rewarded once the article has been selected.

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One of my favorite books is Malice, written by Japanese novelist Keigo Higashino. 

Higashino is a prominent Japanese author known for his mystery and crime novels. He initially worked as an engineer before turning to writing. Very quickly, the author gained significant acclaim in Japan with his novel The Devotion of Suspect X. 

Higashino's works often feature intricate plots, well-developed characters, and psychological depth. Besides the Detective Galileo series, he is known for the Detective Kaga series, which includes titles like Malice. 

His books have been translated into numerous languages and have received international recognition, making him one of the most celebrated contemporary writers in the genre. His storytelling prowess extends beyond novels, as many of his works have been adapted into films and television series.

In the first year of senior high school, I opened the book. To tell you the truth, I was shocked.

When it comes to the notion of malice, I think the simplest explanation is evil thoughts. In the book Malice, the hatred engendered by jealousy is the evil thought that runs through the story. 

In the story, renowned best-selling author Kunihiko Hidaka is brutally killed in his house the night before, he is scheduled to depart from Japan and move to a new country. His wife and closest friend, both of whom have extremely credible alibis, discover his body in his office, a locked room inside his locked home. At least it looks like that anyway.

Detective Kyochiro Kaga of the police recognizes Nonoguchi, Hidaka's best friend, from their time as instructors together years ago. While Nonoguchi became a writer, he was not nearly as successful as his friend Hidaka. Meanwhile, Kaga joined the police department. 

Kaga looks into it more and searches Nonoguchi's flat after feeling that there is a small discrepancy in Nonoguchi's testimony. He discovers proof there indicating the relationship between the two writers was not at all what they stated.

The book has many suspenseful details, but I want to say that after reading this book, I couldn't help but shudder at the human evil born of jealousy. 

If a person is willing to sacrifice everything at all costs just to degrade and then harm others, his life must be sad! The light of justice can dispel the barrier of evil thoughts. If a person is blinded by hatred, his life will become fragmented no matter how many lies become the "joke" of the truth.

After talking about the analysis of human nature, I also want to talk about Higashino's writing theme and writing structure. People who have read Keigo's books have found that these "brain-burning" novels hide realistic and profound social problems. 

For example, in the book The Blade of Wandering, the writer tells the story of a minor who is protected by the law, but crosses the red line of morality and humanity by brutally killing a young girl. The girl's father can't accept the fact and launches a series of revenge actions. The choice between law and emotion at the highest point deeply questions the truest voice in everyone's heart. 

The author of Maliceuses a unique writing structure. The reader can't tell the truth from the false part for a while. But that's what makes the story exciting. The more contradictions and doubts there are, the more they promote the development of the story. 

I hope everyone can learn to face up to themselves and release themselves through this book, and don't live in hatred. 

The author is a student at Baotou No.9 Middle School