A unique journey in "The puppets sing in the distant forest"

“The puppet singing in the distant forest” is the first collection of short stories by Khai Don (real name Pham Lan Phuong) – a contemporary literary author who is loved for his memoir and essay genres.

For his first foray into the short story genre, Khai Don did not choose the safe path. "The Singing Puppet in the Distant Forest" is a bold and quiet collection of stories, where the author ventures into a realm that is both ambiguous and awe-inspiring – humanity, nature, and souls drifting together. The book comprises 14 short stories, published by Nha Nam Culture and Communication Joint Stock Company in collaboration with the Vietnam Writers Association Publishing House.

The first collection of short stories by author Khai Don. Photo: Nha Nam

The stories in the book don't follow a linear narrative but are like fragments falling from the mind. Some stories are a picture of a barren and cold urban landscape; some are the wild echoes of nature being ravaged; and others are the poignant glimpses of a soul facing silent cracks…

Regarding this collection of short stories, Professor Chung Hoang Chuong commented: “Through unusual stories, Khai Don captivates readers with situations that require imagination to envision nature, where humans and the environment blend together. Everyday stories, social contexts with never-before-explored plot points, will be a truly unique journey.”

"The Singing Puppet in the Distant Forest" is a bold, powerful, and distinctive work, marking a fresh and challenging turning point for Khai Don on the map of contemporary Vietnamese literature.

Beyond just the text, the book also creates a visual journey thanks to the illustrations by writer and artist Nguyen Truong Quy. The simple yet haunting drawings expand the reader's imagination, creating a narrative space where images and text coexist.

Khải Đơn is a journalist and writer who writes in both Vietnamese and English. She is the author of several notable books in the genres of essays, travelogues, and memoirs. She won the Virginia de Araujo Prize for poetry, awarded by The Academy of American Poets, in 2021 and 2022.

Some of his published works include: "Don't Take Down the Smile," "Are We Pessimistic?", "The Rough Twenties," "Mekong - Drifting Alluvium," "Going Far on a Camper," etc.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/chuyen-vien-du-doc-dao-trong-con-roi-hat-ngoai-rung-xa-706895.html