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

[Hong-Phong_Pho at ita.doc.gov]

Thanks, anh Hoanh for following up on this.  I read book reviews for 
different purposes: to find new books to read or to know about a boook 
without actually reading it.  The latter is particularly true for books 
that are not easily available.  For me , a good review picks out one or 
two excerpts that would give you the flavor of the whole book.  Without 
explicitly doing so, a book can reflect the social environment around its 
author.  That it rings true to you and moved you so much may indicate that 
somethings remained unchanged between the Vietnam of your generation, and 
that of Dang Nguyen Dong Vy's generation.  On the other hand, I've also 
read works and seen art that plays up the formulaic, idealized, Vietnam 
and Vietnamese values that may have never existed, except in composite, in 
Vietnamese reality.  These, like the well done version of the Hollywood 
storyline, are very effective in pulling at your heartstrings, even if you 
know they are not true.
Best,  HPP



"Tran Dinh Hoanh" <tdhoanh at gmail.com> 
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12/14/2006 07:04 PM
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Re: [Vnbiz] [BOOK] Hay Tim Toi Giua Canh Dong by Dang Nguyen Dong Vy






[ Vietnam Business Forum ]

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
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