A Thousand Seasons of Flowers - Pages of Literature Overflowing with Love

Bang Son – a writer specializing in dreamy, emotionally charged essays that have touched generations of readers. Along with other writers sharing this style, such as Ngo Quan Mien, Tran Hoai Duong, and Pham Duc, Bang Son's writing is imbued with the poetic essence of a unique literary style. It's not an exaggeration to say that Bang Son inspired many writers to explore nature and the soul of the countryside through every leaf, dewdrop, village scent, straw stove, and ferry landing. I still remember the 1980s and 90s, when Bang Son's simple essays appeared in newspapers and magazines for children, captivating many hearts and helping readers understand the small, rustic beauty of life. Writers like Bang Son pioneered a style of writing that was concise, concise, and rich in imagery through everyday life, laying the foundation for many essay writers who followed.

Therefore, when holding the essay collection "A Thousand Seasons of Flowers" (Women's Publishing House, 2024), readers like myself couldn't help but be moved, as if reuniting with our homeland after so many years of separation. Perhaps this is a carefully selected slice from Bang Son's rich collection of essays, writing about the scenery and life of his hometown. Bang Son is also a writer who writes about Hanoi's cuisine in a very distinctive essay style. He uses refined prose to highlight the essence of the cuisine, even when it's just simple and familiar dishes like: rice cakes, steamed rice rolls, snail noodles, and sticky rice with shredded chicken – treats that people eat every day.

Cover of the essay collection "A Thousand Seasons of Flowers".

In "A Thousand Seasons of Flowers," readers rediscover the refined, elegant, and profound writing style of Bang Son through nearly 50 very short essays. These writings are so brief they resemble a gentle autumn breeze rustling through Hanoi's trees, or a winter wind blowing lightly across the Red River embankment, caressing a young woman's cheek. "Village Fragrance," "Rain on the Temple," "Country Wedding," "Inn in the Field," "Eating Banh Chung"... Thus , readers encounter the natural beauty and atmosphere of Vietnamese villages in the 70s and 80s, with thatched roofs, earthen walls, and bamboo village gates… Alongside this, many different colors, sounds, and nuances resonate through Bang Son's essays. Under Bang Son's pen, everything is neither grand nor vast, yet it stirs the heart with a sense of closeness and simplicity, from the flowers and plants in the garden and in the quiet streets. He is concise in his writing, yet always creates a sense of prompting the reader to think and feel deeply.

Beyond writing about nature, Bang Son also takes us into a nostalgic journey of human memories: grandparents, parents, childhood friends... through familiar gardens and fruit trees. It must be said that Bang Son's collection of essays, "A Thousand Seasons of Flowers," is captivating to both adults and children. Everyone can find themselves in it: "The river doesn't have white-capped waves, nor does it have large sails. It's just a small river winding its way through the peaceful, rustic countryside. The river becomes a hammock woven from water, lulling the baby to sleep as it drifts into dreams… " (The Ferry) .

DUONG MY ANH

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/van-hoa/202512/ngan-mua-hoa-nhung-trang-van-am-ap-yeu-thuong-e7805bc/