"Five basalt flows" in Ho Chi Minh City

For the first time, a group of authors from Gia Lai introduced their five novels to readers in the South at the Ho Chi Minh City Book Street.

Scenes from the book launch and meet-and-greet event. (Photo: Linh Bao)

Born and raised in the Central Highlands, although appearing on the literary scene at different times, the group of young authors including Le Vi Thuy, Le Thi Kim Son, Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, Li Phan, and Vo Dinh Duy have all successively made their mark on domestic readers with their diverse writing styles, strong inner strength, personality, vigorous and youthful writing full of the spirit of the basalt land, and constant innovation and creativity.

At the exchange event on the morning of May 24th, the group of authors had the opportunity to introduce five novels to readers in the city: Parallel Lines (Le Vi Thuy), Time Whirlpool (Le Thi Kim Son), Migratory Smoke (Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy), The Deep Bottom (Li Phan), and The Valley of Songs Hasn't Rained Yet (Vo Dinh Duy).

The authors at the exchange session. (From left to right: Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, Le Thi Kim Son, Le Vi Thuy, the host, writer Phuong Huyen).

These are the works that participated in the Novel, Short Story, and Memoir Writing Contest on the theme "For National Security and Peaceful Life in the period 2022-2025" organized by the Ministry of Public Security , and all five works were selected and published by the People's Public Security Publishing House.

Among them, the novel "Migration Smoke" by author Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy won the C prize and "Parallel Lines" by author Le Vi Thuy received the Encouragement prize. In these five novels, readers can easily find the distinct personalities of the Central Highlands, each reflected in its unique characteristics.

Authors Li Phan, Vo Dinh Duy, and Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy (from left to right).

The novel "Smoke of Migration" by author Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy explores the themes of life in ethnic communities in the north during their southward migration, while also raising issues of war and its aftermath, greed, lust, and human degradation.

In the work, each character, however small, carries within them aspirations and resilience to face adversity. All of this, along with the cultural tapestry they bring into the vast Tây Nguyên highlands, creates a unique, profound, and haunting appeal.

The novel "Parallel Lines" by author Le Vi Thuy makes a strong impression by exploring the theme of combating crime committed by mentally ill individuals. The author delves into the psychology of criminals and the "invisible hidden aspects" of young people within their families and society.

Writer Tran Gia Bao (far left) at the exchange program.

Le Thi Kim Son's novel, *The Whirlpool of Time*, reveals the harsh realities of life. Readers are drawn into the turbulent flow of lives struggling amidst the rubber forests, the desperate struggles for survival, and the wounds of war that seem to have sunk deep but still smolder in memory.

What makes *The Whirlpool of Time* so haunting is the humanistic beauty hidden beneath each word. It's a truthful slice of life, the sigh of people who have weathered storms but still choose to maintain their kindness.

Dr. Ha Thanh Van (far left) shared her thoughts about the Gia Lai group of authors at the program.

In his novel *The Deep Bottom*, Li Phan depicts the wounds of young people living and connects them to the past through stories and pains that seem to have been buried by time, but which are actually part of the cycle of cause and effect.

Despite the character's struggles and attempts to heal their wounds, as a message of self-salvation and self-healing, they ultimately must confront the most brutal reality, and can only overcome it by facing and battling their own humanity.

Novels by this group of authors.

Meanwhile, "The Valley of Song Hasn't Rained Yet" is the second novel by author Vo Dinh Duy, following "Mountains on Flat Land". As an architect, Vo Dinh Duy's writing style is modern, rich in imagery, slow-paced yet innovative. Duy uses subtle details to paint the narrative space, a space that is both realistic and melancholic, prompting much reflection.

Attending the exchange program, Dr. Ha Thanh Van said that the good fortune of the five young authors from Gia Lai is that they have determined their own direction and know how to develop their strengths in writing. Therefore, the release of these five novels is a great effort by the group of authors.

Novels by this group of authors.

Although the five literary streams follow a common direction, each possesses its own distinct character. Dr. Ha Thanh Van further shared: “If we liken the writing of the five authors to the five elements, then Le Vi Thuy is “Metal” because of her sharp language and advantage in describing the psychology of characters; Thanh Thuy is suitable for “Wood” with her beautiful writing style and meticulous attention to plot. Meanwhile, Kim Son's writing is like “Fire” with its passionate writing style; Li Phan is quite suitable for “Water” as it focuses on family stories; and Vo Dinh Duy's writing can be likened to “Earth” with a writing style that harmonizes artistic and scientific thinking.”

Author Le Thi Kim Son (holding the microphone) talks about the process of writing novels at the exchange program.

For writer Tran Gia Bao, what she finds most interesting about the group of authors from Gia Lai is the strong literary aura emanating from these young writers. Although each author has a different profession and personality, when combined they create a truly beautiful picture of literature from this red basalt land.

Choosing Ho Chi Minh City to host the book launch and exchange event is not only an opportunity for authors from the Central Highlands to introduce their works to readers in the South, but also a chance to meet and share stories behind the creative process, experiences when first trying their hand at the novel genre, thereby "igniting" young writers and giving them more motivation to walk their own literary path.

LINH BAO

Source: https://nhandan.vn/nam-dong-chay-bazan-o-thanh-pho-ho-chi-minh-post964324.html