澳大利亚畅销作家梅格·梅森将于7月28日出版新小说《Sophie, Standing There》[1]。这部作品虚构融合了真实作家名字，讲述音响技术员Sophie的故事，灵感源自梅森在文学节的经历 [1]。小说后半部分深入探讨孤独感、寄生关系和名气的侵蚀等主题，其中融入了梅森本人在新西兰严格宗教教派中度过的童年经历 [1]。
梅森在新西兰农村长大的这个宗教教派约有100名成员，对日常生活施加严格管制 [1]。教派禁止剪头发、看电视、听收音机，每周进行三次教堂礼拜——周日两次，周中一次 [1]。梅森直到18岁全家搬迁到悉尼后才开始爱上阅读 [1]。小说中除了Sophie这一虚构人物外，还包含了乔治·桑德斯、安·帕切特和伊丽莎白·斯特劳特等真实作家的名字 [1]。梅森在文学创作中采用了俄罗斯文学手法"Skaz"，混合运用第一人称和第三人称叙述 [1]。
梅森因著作《Sorrow and Bliss》获得2020年英国图书奖小说奖，该书已在20多个国家出版，被翻译成30多种语言 [1]。
Australian bestselling author Meg Mason is set to release her latest novel, Sophie, Standing There, on July 28, incorporating real author names and drawing heavily from her own unconventional childhood.[1] The book tells the story of Sophie, a sound technician, inspired by Mason's experiences at a literary festival, with the narrative's second half exploring themes of loneliness, parasitic relationships, and the erosion of fame.[1] Among the real authors featured in the novel are George Saunders, Ann Patchett, and Elizabeth Strout.[1]
Mason's new work employs the Russian literary technique of "Skaz," blending first-person and third-person narration to weave together fiction and memoir.[1] The author has woven into the narrative details from her upbringing in a strict religious sect in rural New Zealand, where approximately 100 members lived under severe restrictions.[1] The community prohibited cutting hair, watching television, and listening to radio, while requiring members to attend church services twice on Sundays and once during the week.[1] Mason did not develop a love of reading until age 18, after her family relocated to Sydney.[1]
Mason's literary credentials are well-established: she won the 2020 British Book Award for fiction for her novel Sorrow and Bliss, which has been published in over 20 countries and translated into more than 30 languages.[1]