Through pages filled with nostalgia, portraits and gratitude, Le Huy Hoa has portrayed a generation of passionate, experienced and courageous book writers.
Besides his professional confidences, the author also shared a special story, which is how he started translating a Russian literary novel about a Russian soldier - which was famous before the collapse of the Soviet Union - as another expression of the spirit of participation of a true editor and publisher.
Reporter: Sir, from the time volume 1 until now volume 2 of Lost in the World of Books was released, can you share what made you decide to "lose your way" into writing books at retirement age?
Le Huy Hoa: Actually, the birth of the first book was also a "fate". It was by chance that at a meeting of veteran bookmakers, I received an invitation to contribute an article. Then, my friends read it and encouraged me: "Why don't you collect it, tell more, and continue writing?"
Those sincere encouragements have become the source of inspiration for me to return to the profession, this time through my own words, to show gratitude to the profession and to those who have accompanied me throughout the decades of making books.
So is Lost in the World of Books a career diary or something more?
Indeed, Lost in the World of Books is not simply a record of a career, but a vivid memory of a time, a generation of people who made books, lived with books and for books.
Volume 1 is mainly portraits of colleagues and literary friends - people I admire, who worked together to build the publishing scene during the Renovation period.
Volume 2 expands further, adding more slices of reading culture, people who “pass on the fire” and “carry words” to make books. They are writers, translators, scientists , “book drivers”, publishing agency managers... All are attached to books as a destiny. I call it “the world of books”, and I “get lost” not to escape reality, but to re-identify myself and my generation from a cultural depth.
A reader jokingly asked: "You don't take any notes, so why are you so talkative?" - What do you think about this?
(Laugh). Yes, it is true that I do not have the habit of writing daily. But the kind, beautiful and dedicated people I have met - they have left a deep mark on me. Their memories are like a silent but lasting archive.
I write this not to boast or reminisce, but as a sincere thank you to them, and to "the profession that can be called both fun and hard work" - book making.
Associate Professor, PhD, writer Nguyen Huu Dat commented: "Le Huy Hoa creates portraits with the mindset of an experienced, calm and careful person." Do you think that is also a unique feature in your writing style?
I don't dare admit it, but it's true that my writing is not very poetic. I'm no longer at the age where I'm interested in flowery rhetoric.
Writing for me is about recreating what I truly feel I need to write. I was a soldier, an editor, a publisher, so words are a tool to clarify what I believe. When I write portraits, I only hope to convey sincere emotions, to move the reader through a few simple but genuine moments.
In the two books, he chose portraits of many writers, researchers, painters... So, what are the criteria for selecting the articles?
Not at all, because if I stick to the criteria, it's easy to become cliché. I simply write based on my feelings about the people who have left their mark on my career.
There are people who I once worked with on a book, people I have always admired, people I met over coffee but felt I needed to keep. I don’t choose based on reputation, but based on emotion.
Writer Ma Van Khang once said: "Lost in the world of books" makes us read with passion and is easy to understand - a surprisingly good book!" - what do you think about that comment?
I was very touched. Writer Ma Van Khang is someone I have long respected. Having him read and praise me like that, I feel that my efforts were not in vain. Thanks to that, I have more motivation to complete the second volume.
It is known that in Lost in the World of Books 2 , he included a translation of Russian literature, a novel ( which once caused a stir in public opinion in the neighboring country ) .
This is also a separate thread that I would like to respectfully include. It is a novel by a Russian writer about the disorder and disorder in a training unit of the Soviet army in peacetime - the last years before the collapse of the Soviet Union. This book was given to me by a friend when he returned from abroad.
Knowing that I was the editor of literary books at the People’s Army Publishing House, he asked me to read and introduce it. He said that in Russia, this book was considered a “phenomenon” because it dared to “expose” the negative internal affairs in the army - which, if not remedied soon, would lead to disaster. That came true later …
I raised the issue with translator Doan Tu Huyen - a prestigious name - after reading it, he was very impressed and said: "This is a good work, worth translating, but I dare not accept. Because I have never lived as a soldier, it will be difficult to convey the true spirit of the work. Second, the book uses a lot of military slang - if you do not have experience in that environment, it is very easy to translate it wrongly". And Mr. Huyen advised me to boldly translate.
From that entrustment, I boldly translated the book Before 100 Days of Departure and it was first printed at the Literature Publishing House. This time, I continue to present it in Lost in the World of Books 2 as another story about my career journey.
Writing, writing criticism, and translating books - in my opinion - are all tasks that editors need to try, to better understand the work of collaborators, to "absorb" the life of literature from within.
A book publisher who "crosses over" into translating Russian military literature is truly special!
(Laughs). I don’t think I’m “crossing over”, I just think I need to take a step further to understand and be more committed to the profession. After all, the book making profession is a never-ending journey…
Thank you for this conversation. I wish you good health to continue to lead readers, especially the young generation, to the world of books , a world with many interesting things to discover and conquer!
Source: https://www.sggp.org.vn/lac-vao-coi-sach-mot-hanh-trinh-tri-an-nghe-va-nguoi-lam-sach-post803196.html
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