The novel "Red Rain" is causing a sensation again.

Many people sought to buy the novel "Red Rain" by writer Chu Lai after watching the film of the same name, wanting to better understand the story of the battle to defend the ancient citadel of Quang Tri.

On the evening of September 5th, the film "Red Rain" surpassed 500 billion VND after 15 days in theaters. The war-themed film has garnered over 5,000 screenings nationwide daily and is predicted to soon surpass Tran Thanh's " Mai" (551 billion VND), becoming the highest-grossing Vietnamese film in domestic box office history. On social media, the keyword "Red Rain" and videos discussing the film's plot and characters have received significant attention.

The project was scripted by writer Chu Lai 15 years ago. Due to insufficient funding from film studios, he adapted it into a novel of the same name, first published by the People's Army Publishing House in 2016, and reprinted several times in 2017 and 2019. Since the end of August, the appeal of the film "Red Rain" has prompted audiences, mostly young people, to seek out and read the book.

On TikTok , bookstores are constantly holding live sessions to introduce the novel. Phuong Ha, 19, from Hanoi , said she was moved after watching the film, but felt that the limited running time meant some scenes weren't detailed enough. According to many social media posts, viewers learned that the novel more clearly depicted the brutality of the story and wanted to read the book, but some publishers announced they would have to wait more than a week due to overwhelming pre-orders.

Translator Nguyen Tuan Binh, owner of the Binh Book brand, said he witnessed an unprecedented phenomenon. He started selling the novel "Red Rain" in 2024, and during this year's April 30th anniversary, his company recorded about 300 orders, but currently the number has reached 6,000. "This is completely a craze, the explosive growth occurred within just one week of the film's release," said Nguyen Tuan Binh. According to the translator, along with "Red Rain ," other works about the Battle of Quang Tri Citadel are also being sought after, such as "Letters from the Citadel" (Le Ba Duong) and "Memories of Quang Tri" (Nguyen Thuy Kha).

The book "Red Rain" won the Vietnam Writers Association Award in 2016.

A representative from Fahasa bookstore said that before the film's release, sales were stable but then surged. As of September 4th, the number of books sold nationwide and through e-commerce channels had exceeded 13,000 copies, reflecting the exceptional appeal of this literary and cinematic phenomenon.

"The boost from the film led to a surge in demand for the novel, quickly making it one of the most prominent titles on the shelves at Fahasa stores and e-commerce platforms. It can be affirmed that 'Red Rain' is one of Fahasa's outstanding book sales phenomena in recent years. This craze demonstrates the strong synergy between literature and cinema," said a representative of the company.

The novel is set against the backdrop of the Battle of Quang Tri Citadel and revolves around a squad of seven soldiers, each with a different background and personality. They experience moments of life and death together, enduring the pain of witnessing their comrades fall. Through this, the work reminds future generations to be grateful for the sacrifices of their ancestors for national independence and to cherish the value of peace.

Writer Chu Lai, also known by the pen name Tam Linh, was born in Hung Yen and is the son of playwright Hoc Phi. In 1963, he enlisted in the army and later joined the General Political Department's Drama Troupe. In 1967, he volunteered to fight in the Southeastern battlefield, starting in the main infantry, serving as a soldier, and then as a company commander in the local special forces in the outskirts of Saigon.

After the reunification of the country, the writer joined the Propaganda Department of Military Region 7, and later studied at the Nguyen Du Writing School, Class 1. In 1982, he worked at the Army Literature and Arts Magazine until his retirement, holding the rank of Colonel. He has many works about soldiers and war, accumulated from his combat experiences, such as *Sunshine on the Plains* (1978), * The Circle of Betrayal* (1987), *Beggar of the Past* (1991), *Life is Very Long * (2001), and *The Last Tragic Song * (2004).

Source: VNExpress

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Source: https://htv.vn/tieu-thuyet-mua-do-gay-sot-tro-lai-222250908121832496.htm