Two childhood memories filled with love

In The Last Farm in the Forest , the author takes readers to a mountainous region where city dwellers come to make a living in the middle of the wild. The space of the story is expanded by a series of small, simple stories, arousing the eagerness to explore. In that world , the mountains and forests are not only the setting but also the storytellers. Wild chickens, snakes, weasels, cows… appear as companions, closely associated with humans.

Photo: Author provided

The special thing about the book is the non-linear storytelling. The author mobilizes a colorful "cast": from the grandfather, the grandfather's friend, Ms. Tu, Mr. Khai, the forest ranger..., each character contributes to the cultural, historical and emotional depth of the story. The farm at the end of the forest becomes a space full of life: from the past to the present, from the city to the countryside, from reality to legend. The experiences with the two main characters throughout the summer here will certainly remain in the minds of young readers as a beautiful, gentle memory. The book was selected in the top 10 finalists of the De Men Children's Award organized by the Sports and Culture Newspaper.

Paradise Hamlet takes readers back to a small corner in the heart of the city - a small hamlet in Ho Chi Minh City, where the author lived and grew up. In the story, there are no big events but only ordinary scenes of life: Ms. Tu selling street coffee, Mr. Ba Long, a bricklayer, a monk whose real name is Chuot, Ms. Tuyet, Mr. Tu Rang Vang... and the whole family of the boy who tells the story. Through a delicate and profound pen, these people appear vividly, close, with joy and sadness intertwined and imbued with humanity.

Layers of memories of the past are interwoven into the present: Chua hamlet once had an ancient pagoda, where elephant and horse footprints were imprinted, and the shady old trees once shaded the area… The author puts into the story emotional moments of reunion and separation, such as the New Year's Eve party to send Uncle Ba Long back to his hometown to take care of his old mother, and then ends like a fairy tale: a poor, lonely bricklayer falls in love with Miss Tu, and together they leave the city.

Photo: Author provided

Like the author's conclusion, Chua hamlet is a "corner of paradise" - where people live in harmony, love and care for each other like many other small hamlets on this land.

More than 30 years ago, writer Pham Cong Luan wrote The Little That Son - a children's work that left an impression at that time, winning the first Ho Chi Minh City Children's Literature Award for the Future of the Country . However, his more obvious mark lies in the genres of essays and research. The two books Trang trai cuoi rung and Xom thien duong were written by him during the transition period between major book projects for adults. With a deep understanding of culture and history, a soul rich in emotions and a gentle writing style, he gave children two truly precious spiritual gifts - pages of books that help young readers find the shadow of their summer, and adults also relive the loving memories of their childhood.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/hai-mien-ky-uc-tuoi-tho-chan-chua-yeu-thuong-185250521224228239.htm