Leisure talk: Searching for memories with old books

The street is different now; the rows of bookstores are gone, replaced by shops selling a variety of goods. Walking from the beginning of the street, I was suddenly delighted to see the bookstore I used to frequent. Navigating through the faded books, a wave of nostalgia for a time of old books washed over me…

I came to this city in 2000 to study at the Polytechnic University, working part-time to pursue my dream. Back then, the internet wasn't widespread, and information and knowledge were mostly updated through books and newspapers. New books were beyond a student's budget; I only bought them when absolutely necessary, mostly from used bookstores.

Back then, Saigon had many old book districts, always bustling from morning till night, on streets like Tran Nhan Ton, Tran Huy Lieu, Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, Minh Phung… Books were displayed everywhere, from porches and sidewalks to inside, towering from the ground to the ceiling. Some were new, others covered in dust, emitting a pungent smell. Touching the yellowed pages felt like touching a world of the past. Perhaps that's why many book cafes later sprang up, owners displaying old books from their families or collections, offering customers a space brimming with nostalgia. Finding a book amidst the vast sea of books was quite a pleasure. Sometimes, the owner would find it immediately upon mentioning the name; other times, both owner and customer would painstakingly search to find it; and sometimes, customers would sigh and promise to save it for later.

I remember your birthday; you were a huge fan of Lucky Luke . My friend and I collected the books as a gift. Whenever we had free time, we'd cycle to used bookstores, finding a few books in some places, a dozen in others, and nothing at all in some. After a whole month, we managed to gather nearly 60 books out of the 80 volumes that had been published. Needless to say, both the giver and the receiver were overjoyed by this thoughtful gift. Another time, while searching for books, I found a new poetry collection with a dedication from the author. Suddenly, I felt a pang of sadness, wondering if the recipient was still alive or had passed away, leaving the book lying around neglected. If the giver or their family saw it, they would surely be very upset. I bought that book, even though I didn't read much poetry at the time. Now, more than twenty years later, after several times clearing out my house and selling off books, it still sits on my bookshelf.

For a while, the fast-paced life and the explosion of the internet, with its novelty and abundance of content, along with the convenience of e-commerce platforms and home delivery of books, meant I rarely visited used bookstores. When I left the city, I felt nostalgic for old books, wanting to find such a space in my own town, but I couldn't find one…

The bookstore I visited, owned by Mrs. Phuong and Mr. Kham, opened around the same time I arrived in Saigon. They were both over seventy, and reading was their joy. Occasionally, customers would come, and they would exchange a few words to pass the time. Meeting old friends again, I suddenly saw myself from days gone by.

Next door is another used bookstore, with many delivery drivers picking up books to deliver. The owners said the shop is young, only opened a few years ago, and besides traditional channels, they also sell online, on websites, and on e-commerce platforms, doing quite well. I suddenly felt happy that used books have undergone a transformation, preserving a cultural aspect of the bustling city, so that old books will not be covered by the dust of time but will reach book lovers.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/nhan-dam-di-tim-ky-uc-cung-sach-cu-185251025175355513.htm