Bookmakers tell stories about the book village.

"I Tell My Story - It's All From Books" (Dan Tri Publishing House) is a memoir told in the slow, sincere voice of Tran Dai Thang, who has been involved in the book industry for nearly 30 years. In this 500-page work, the author not only records his personal journey, from his passion for reading to his professional career in book publishing, but also tells many interesting stories about the world of books.

The story begins with a book-loving boy in a remote town, who studies art, becomes a book cover designer, and eventually becomes the owner of Dong A Culture Joint Stock Company – one of the largest private book publishers in Vietnam. Throughout this journey, Tran Dai Thang offers an intimate and authentic perspective on reading culture and the book publishing industry in Vietnam through decades of ups and downs. Readers will follow the author from the early days of opening his bookstore, to his trips to the prestigious Frankfurt Book Fair (Germany) and the Codex Book Fair ( USA ), renowned for rare and valuable books. And there's also a behind-the-scenes look at Dong A's bestselling book series such as: New Literature, Tet Books, Literature and Fine Arts, One Hundred Years of Nobel... and most recently, Tran Tien - The Singer of His Own Poetry . All of this shows that no success comes easily; it is all built on passion and a spirit of continuous learning. And above all, an boundless love for books.

What makes " I Tell My Story - It's All From Books " particularly appealing to readers is the "verbal portrait sketches" the author dedicates to those who have crossed paths with him in his professional life. From renowned writers and musicians like Ho Anh Thai and Tran Tien, to senior artists such as Le Huy Van - the creator of the famous Hanoi beer mug; and Van Sang - whose philosophy that "a book cover should not only be beautiful but also reflect the soul within" deeply influenced Tran Dai Thang's approach to bookmaking. Readers also get to meet unique figures from the once-golden Dinh Le - Nguyen Xi book street: Ms. Mao - considered the "patron saint of the book street" with her keen eye for book appraisal; "Ms." Hoa - who has "good books, rare books of all kinds." Then there are portraits of the four giants of the book industry: "Dai, Cu, Hoa, Son" - four pioneering private book publishers in Ho Chi Minh City. Ho Chi Minh City after the subsidy period (Thoi Dai, Huong Trang, Van Lang, Hong An); "Dung, Phan, Hien, Le" - powerful women behind four major book publishing companies in the South and North... Or the new "Big Four" "Hieu, Tan, Tri, Phuoc" with bookstores and book brands that have left a strong mark on readers' hearts.

Although originally an artist, Tran Dai Thang's journey in book publishing has given him a versatile and multifaceted writing style: sometimes expressing suppressed emotions when touching upon family memories; sometimes witty and humorous when recounting friends in the book world; and sometimes with a touch of martial arts when mentioning master book collectors in "The Tale of the Heroic Book Collector". It's fascinating to know that the book collecting community includes interesting figures such as: Yen Vuong (journalist Yen Ba) - who owns the "number one collection of Romance of the Three Kingdoms in Southern Vietnam"; the "Five Greats of the World" - each possessing rare books considered "treasures of their own"; and many other figures appearing in a wave-like fashion, creating a colorful and individualistic community of book lovers.

Not content with focusing solely on the domestic book industry, Tran Dai Thang broadened his perspective through writings about famous book streets and bookstores in London (England), Paris (France), Brussels (Belgium), Budapest (Hungary), Singapore, China, and other locations, reflecting: "Hanoi, the heart of the country, should also have a place like that – a space large enough, deep enough, and full of pride, where international friends can better experience the spiritual life of the Vietnamese people."

For book lovers, Tran Dai Thang's book "My Story - It All Comes From Books" helps readers understand more about the processes and people behind each published book, as well as feel more clearly the enduring love he has for books over the years. Tran Dai Thang makes books not just to sell them, but to enjoy them, to love them. And above all, "My Story - It All Comes From Books" It is not just a personal memoir, but also a collection of emotionally charged writings about the Vietnamese book industry over the past three decades, a broad and impressive historical record of the profession.

THANH NGUYEN

Source: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/van-hoa/202604/nguoi-lam-sach-ke-chuyen-lang-sach-d171454/