Nguyen Hoang Dieu Thuy tells stories of her school days through "Love in the time of stink bugs"

Known for her works about memories and childhood, this year writer and editor Nguyen Hoang Dieu Thuy continues to release a new work - "Love of Stink Bugs" - about the innocent and naive school days, but also a bit of contemplation to learn how to grow up. The book is published by Nha Nam.

If readers of the 7x and 8x generations know about student works through the works of writer Nguyen Nhat Anh, or the translated works of writer Bui Chi Vinh..., then in modern times, Nguyen Hoang Dieu Thuy is a writer quite familiar with school literature.

In 2022, her book “Swinging on the Banyan Tree” takes readers back to the childhood of the 8x generation, with extremely familiar and simple pranks, associated with nature and the village. The book brings back memories that almost any 7x, 8x reader, whether in the countryside or the city, can “touch”, have in common, innocent, poetic and full of laughter.

In 2025, she released a new work that also depicts childhood and school years, but is full of humor and mischief. “Bug Love” is a book about the love of school children, but through the humorous, funny eyes and a bit of mischief and silliness of someone who has gone through those innocent stages and looks back. The book revolves around the naive, funny “love” stories of school children, when they first experience the feeling of “fluttering” in front of others.

“Love of Stink Bugs” is also the 4th book by author Nguyen Hoang Dieu Thuy, with the same theme written for children and teenagers.

If in the book “Swinging on the Banyan Tree” (2022), the author chose the setting of the 90s, the period when society had just escaped the subsidy, then in “Love of Stink Bugs”, she chose contemporary urban life as the main space. Thanks to that, the situations in the classroom, the family stories between parents and children in modern times will be very close, creating many points of contact with the reader, as if the stories of their class, their family are present right on the pages of the book.

The “love” stories of school kids are illuminated and exploited by the writer from many angles. It could be a sudden flash of lightning with a classmate, or a funny matchmaking game, seeing friends in pairs and wanting to follow suit for fun, a crazy fantasy. Or it could be love with an artist idol, or even an ideal idol in history. Kids also begin to be curious about their parents’ love, the will to fight for their own “love”, and curiously observe the signs of love around them, and begin to build their own concepts of love.

“Love of a Stink Bug” is also attractive because of its humor, which has long been the author’s strong point. The unexpected situations that children encounter both in class and at home, with a lively and modern narrative language, can make you burst into laughter.

But the story will also have quiet moments cleverly interwoven. There are things that adults do not realize, but children are very sensitive. Sometimes they "intentionally" make mistakes, just to get their parents' attention and care more, they appear strong but deep down they always crave a meal with the whole family, or they have learned to grow up, become more mature and love more when living in a family without both parents. The stories in "Love of a Stink Bug" have sincerely and simply depicted many aspects of modern life, to see that no matter what era, whether lacking or having enough material things, children still need love.

Fresh, bright, and funny, “Love of a Stink Bug” is a colorful picture of pure and funny childhood love, friendship, teacher-student relationship, and family affection.

Nguyen Hoang Dieu Thuy is a writer and editor who has published three books on children's topics, including "In Mother's Arms" published in 2021, "Swinging on the Banyan Tree" (2022) and "The Ancient Book of a Goddess" (2024).

Children's literature works have also brought Nguyen Hoang Dieu Thuy literary awards, including 2 Cricket Aspiration Awards and 1 Kim Dong Literature Award.

“Love of Stink Bugs” is her fourth book, continuing to affirm the witty, humorous but also thoughtful writing style of someone who has gone through many changes of “children” of many generations. Her works not only lead readers into the flow of childhood memories, but also help generations understand each other, find a common voice in a world with too many differences, too many generational gaps like today.

LINH KHANH

Source: https://nhandan.vn/nguyen-hoang-dieu-thuy-ke-chuyen-tuoi-hoc-tro-qua-tinh-yeu-thoi-bo-xit-post919179.html