Autobiography of a Pig - Like a cool glass of water on a summer day

HNN - By chance, I came across The Autobiography of a Pig by Ly Lan at a bookstore. I suddenly remembered The Adventures of a Cricket by To Hoai - a work that I was fascinated by throughout my childhood. That was also the reason I chose to buy the book for my child.

Cover of the book "Autobiography of a Pig"

The name Ly Lan is not too unfamiliar as she is a translator and novelist, associated with many generations through the translation of Harry Potter (JKRowling). She is also a writer of children's books, of which The House in the Grass won the A prize in the writing contest for children of the Vietnam Writers Association in 1984. In 2009, the writer returned with The Secret Between Me and the Black Lizard. This time, The Autobiography of a Pig brought Ly Lan the Cricket Knight Award.

The story is about Ti Heo, a little wild boar who got lost. His memory is vague, he only remembers falling out of the hairy armpit of a drunkard, then being dragged away by the dog No No, and released into the garden of Mrs. Troi Dat Oi's house in a poor boarding house on the edge of the city. In the middle of the bustling boarding house, Ti Heo had to face many changes, sometimes almost being caught to be... roasted. Thanks to the care of Mrs. Troi Dat Oi and her husband, the two sisters Thuy and Thanh, and the constant support of the dog No No and the old goat, Ti Heo now has a stable place to live.

Gradually, Ti Heo realized that life needed freedom. Over time, Ti Heo accumulated many lessons and bravely chose his own life. Living without imitating anyone was the motto that was set and the young wild boar gradually became more courageous, deciding to choose a life full of adventure ahead to fulfill his desire to return to the mountains and forests, to the origin of his species.

It is interesting to read Autobiography of a Pig and associate it with Adventures of a Cricket, each work has its own style but is rich in human values and timeless appeal. The setting of Autobiography of a Pig is modern Saigon, from the suburbs with trees and grass to the bustling city. The journey of the wild boar is an adventure from the barn to the city, facing humorous but dangerous situations. The adventure focuses on exploring the world and searching for personal freedom.

Meanwhile, The Adventures of a Cricket is set in the world of insects in the countryside, built as a miniature society with animals such as grasshoppers, mantises, frogs, birds... Cricket's journey is longer, going through many stages, from arrogance leading to mistakes (causing the death of Choắt Cricket) to redemption and becoming a "knight" protecting justice. Ti Heo's journey is short, focusing on personal experiences, while Cricket is an epic story with many moral and social lessons.

Both use language that is accessible to children, but Ly Lan tends to be cheerful and liberal, while To Hoai is more philosophical and profound. The Autobiography of a Pig is modern and concise, while The Adventures of a Cricket has a longer, more complex structure, like a novel.

Anyone who was once fascinated by To Hoai's works, reading Ly Lan's books will have more feelings and contemplations from a different poetic perspective about the world of animals and children. And children who have not yet approached The Adventures of a Cricket can also come to the Autobiography of a Pig, which is cheerful, concise, bringing laughter and a feeling of warmth. It is like a cool glass of water on a summer day, easy to enjoy, evoking dreams and innocence in children.

An Nhien (introduction)

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/van-hoa-nghe-thuat/tu-truyen-mot-con-heo-nhu-ly-nuoc-mat-trong-ngay-he-156017.html