The domestic literature scene last year witnessed some impressive comebacks and debuts, especially among female writers. And some of them brought out their versatility, dabbling in new genres.
Mysterious and thrilling
Young writer Nguyen Dieu Linh, mostly known under her penname Di Li, was recognized as the most impressive writer of the year, and this was not merely because she was prolific – a novel, a short story and translation into Vietnamese of three English novels. It was a busy year for her.
Readers, though, were most struck by her “Trai hoa do” (Red flower camp), belonging to the mystery and thriller genre. While this is one of the popular fiction categories, it has been almost forgotten by local writers. The young woman has received positive feedback and compliments from readers for filling that void.
She also finished translating two stories into Vietnamese – The Alibi Man and Kill the Messenger, both by New York Times bestselling author Tami Hoag.
Two short stories, “Thap Babel tren dinh thac Anh trang” (Tower of Babel on the top of Moonlight Waterfall) and “Hoi ki hoc duong” (Students’ Memoirs), were also well received. She has two more books completed, but decided to defer their release to the beginning of this year. Fans have something to look forward to.
One of the upcoming releases is a horror story, “Cau lac bo so 7” (No.7 Club). Set in the 18th century at Faifo Port (Hoi An today), the book is also a detective story and a work of historical fiction, the author said.
Rising talent delves into magic and sorcery
After her successful debut with “Mat bao” (The eye of a hurricane) and “Cong ty” (The company), Phan Hong Nhien shocked readers with her decision to suspend writing and spend time on some other works. The readers were also in for another surprise. In the middle of 2009, she came out with “Nhung doi mat lanh” (Cold eyes), in what is for her a totally different writing style. Cold Eyes, is a mystery inspired by magic and sorcery.
Nhien seems to have understood the new taste of readers, nevertheless, her book offers to the readers more than what they can expect. Her work has been recognized as an art book, a new form in local literature, combining pictures and stories. The pictures, drawn by painter Phan Vu Linh who studied the art of illustrations in the United States, is said to clarify ideas and help understand deeper meanings.
The young author said the collaboration with her old friend is a new venture in literature for her, an attempt to be creative in her writing. Without divulging details, she said she will have more to offer in The Year of the Tiger.
Loneliness, love and romance in Europe
Duong Thuy, whose popularity soared with “Oxford thuong yeu” (My beloved Oxford), came out with a new book titled “Venise va nhung cuoc tinh Gondola” (Venice and love stories on the Gondolas). It chronicles the writer’s experiences and imaginations in several European cities.
“Every year, there are thousands of lonely, single women from all over the world who visit romantic Venice with the dream of finding their true love. They enjoy rides on the gondola, a traditional, flat-bottomed Venetian rowing boat, well suited to the conditions of the Venetian Lagoon, rowed by muscular, handsome gondoliers. Some love-at- first-sight romances happen on the gondolas, like a Cinderella story, but with a male as the protagonist – love between the poor gondoliers and their rich but lonely female customers.”
