[Vnbiz] [BOOK] Hay Tim Toi Giua Canh Dong by Dang Nguyen Dong Vy

[Tran Dinh Hoanh]

Dear brother Phong & CACC,

Good observation, Brother Phong.  Maybe I was trying to describe the
elephant footprints and not to describe the elephant which Dong Vy already
did herself, because I might not have been able to do her justice.

These writings are small reflections about small things, like the sad
feeling about accidentally hurting a childhood friend by making a comment on
his poor-family breakfast of "glue," which is a cassava pudding; or the
author's love of lying in green pastures with the cows (Hay Tim Toi Giua
Canh Dong, the book title); or the little highschool outing trips; or the
love of using the side door (instead of the front door) to get into the
house, because behind the side door is where grandma sits.

The subject matters were the skeleton (which I have alluded to already).
The real substance is in the simple and natural writing that carries with it
much feeling of the poetic type, the type brought out from the plain and
ordinary simply by the power of language.  This fact makes quoting almost
impossible, because taking things out of context will simply ruin it.

So I would hope the readers will discover the elephant for themselves.  Most
of the events seem to be real life events, obviously of some years in the
past.  Even in the short stories, I sense a lot of real life along the
fictional elements.  The book doesn't say much about the country or social
events, although there are some glimpses of these in the background.  It
gives a tiny bits and pieces of individual lives or places, and the
author's reflections on them, which flow snugly in a continuum.  After
reading the book, probably what remains in the reader's mind is the author's
gentle heart, more clearly than any individual subject.

Great day, brother Phong & all.

Hoanh
________

On 12/14/06, Hong-Phong_Pho at ita.doc.gov <Hong-Phong_Pho at ita.doc.gov> wrote:
>
> [ Vietnam Business Forum ]
>
>
>
>
>
> Dear anh Hoanh,
> That's some good writing, and a good story.  It tells me about the effect
> of the book on you, about you and your friend and the past that binds you.
>  But it tells me little about  the book itself, other than that it uses
> simple, direct language very effectively.  It's like talking about the
> elephant by describing its footprint only.  I felt like reading the long
> intro to the book review but not the review itself.  How about some
> illustrative excepts that evokes the greatest nostalgia for you?  Are the
> stories a true reflection of today's Vietnam?  Is the book more a trip down
> memory lane, real or imagined?
> Cheers,  HPP
>
> --
> Tran Dinh Hoanh, LLB, JD
> Attorney of Law
> Washington DC
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