Ho Anh Thai with “They became my characters”

“They Became My Characters” is a book that collects articles by writer Ho Anh Thai about artists and people working in many other fields, both at home and abroad. It is reprinted for the second time, with additional content until 2023. It will be published by Tre Publishing House in the first quarter of 2024.

The characters the author includes in his writings are writers, poets, musicians, singers, painters, theater and film people, translators, Buddhist researchers, book makers, and even diplomats, along with more than 10 foreign characters.

Writer Ho Anh Thai is one of the famous writers, he is also a professional diplomat. He has a PhD in Oriental Culture, has been a guest lecturer at Washington University and several foreign universities. He was Chairman of the Hanoi Writers Association from 2000 to 2010. 50 books by writer Ho Anh Thai have been published in many genres, the books have been translated into more than 10 languages.

Reading “They Became My Characters” by writer Ho Anh Thai, readers will realize: most of the characters mentioned in the book are people he has known, met, talked to, worked with, and is a literary friend. Each article by writer Ho Anh Thai about a character is usually a story about that character, appropriately and flexibly attached to it are the names, excerpts from compositions, typical works, highlighting the unique features, sometimes the outstanding achievements in the character's life.

There are characters that the author writes about with special respect: “From the words of Mahatma”, written about diplomat Vu Xuan Ang; “Uncle To Hoai – calm as water”, written about writer To Hoai…

Writing about character portraits, Ho Anh Thai has a flexible writing style, almost close to the personality of that person in real life. Reading the article: “Nguyen Thi Minh Thai – Running around like a fresh fish”, readers imagine a university lecturer who loves to talk, loves to go to the lecture hall, loves to appear in front of crowds, loves to appear on television shows, and to talk back and forth with the person in front of her in tense situations.

Reading “Xuan Phuong – Thieu Nu 93”: refusing to lose her image”, readers can easily recognize: An old lady who has been active all her life with many different jobs, including time as a war correspondent, documentary film director, and later as the owner of an art gallery, at the age of 93, is still recognized by the next generation as “Younger generations come into contact with her to laugh at her youthful humor, to be filled with positive energy”.

By giving titles to the articles in the book, writer Ho Anh Thai also easily creates memorable things about the characters in the readers' hearts.

Slowly opening each page of “They Became My Characters”, readers will see the depth of Ho Anh Thai when looking at the characters in his writings. The writer seems to whisper and confide to readers what he feels about the characters, exactly as they express themselves in real life, along with the beautiful things that their works or activities bring to life.

In the article “Uncle To Hoai – Calm as water”, Ho Anh Thai wrote about the example of writer To Hoai in his work: “To Hoai believes that the root of the writing profession is language… Writing autobiographies, memoirs, notes, memories of old stories of Hanoi, To Hoai intentionally writes only what he feels he knows, not what he only hears from others… Writing only writes what he knows, so understanding is also understanding what is practical and clear…To Hoai is probably also an example of living a long life. Just live calmly in the face of everything, do not get angry, do not put effort, do not make things difficult for yourself by saying keep trying, keep trying…”.

That was the case with To Hoai. As for Doan Gioi, writer Ho Anh Thai wrote in the article: “Doan Gioi – Forever with the Southern Forest Land”: “The generations born between 1950 and 1980 in the North, there are few who have not read “The Southern Forest Land” at least once. The book gave the young boys and girls of the anti-American generation a beautiful impression of the Southern land that they were longing for, that they were sweating and bleeding to reunite the country, to be able to go there, to see the people of the South”; “Many people write well about the South, but Doan Gioi has a unique voice…”.

Different from the way she wrote about two writers of the previous generation, when writing about Associate Professor, Doctor, and theater critic Nguyen Thi Minh Thai, who belongs to the generation of her friends, Ho Anh Thai used a completely different way of expression, a way of expression that perhaps really fits the lifestyle and speech of Nguyen Thi Minh Thai in real life: "Speaking directly, speaking harshly, when she gets what she wants, she leaves the forum as if nothing happened."

With another character, diplomat Vu Xuan Ang, who was once the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to India, at that time, Ho Anh Thai, a diplomatic officer, received a scholarship to study in India. After studying, he was accepted into the embassy by the ambassador, working as the ambassador's secretary. Ho Anh Thai wrote about diplomat Vu Xuan Ang in the article: "From the words of Mahatma": "He taught me with the studious example of an ambassador in his sixties. He was my teacher through direct lessons in diplomatic activities, I learned through observation, through empirical evidence to gather experience. He was my teacher in how to deal with dangerous situations... I had many teachers. And he was truly my teacher, diplomat Vu Xuan Ang".

In particular, in “They Became My Characters”, Ho Anh Thai devoted 8 pages to an article about a writer from Binh Thuan: “Nguyen Ngoc Thuan – The World of the Little Prince”. The article was written by the author in 2002, and in 2023, the writer re-read it.

Writer Ho Anh Thai began the article by introducing writer Nguyen Ngoc Thuan with his literary awards: “Nguyen Ngoc Thuan won the award for writing for children three times in a row. In 2000, third prize with the short story collection “Spreading Spider Webs”; In 2002, A prize with “Opening the Window While Closing My Eyes”; In 2003, A prize with “A Dreaming Poem”. The writer also learned that in 2004, writer Nguyen Ngoc Thuan also received first prize for the work “On the High Hill, Herding Angels” (organized by Thanh Nien Publishing House and Van Nghe Newspaper).

Ho Anh Thai wrote about his feelings when reading the work “Opening the Window While Closing Your Eyes”: “The writing style is beautiful and clear. Readers can see their own childhood wishes in it. The voice is true to the style of a child, not pretending to be stuttering like most children's story writers are prone to... After creating a trustworthy world for children, the author skillfully inserted a romantic quality that makes those who were once children feel moved”. In 2008, “Opening the Window While Closing Your Eyes” continued to win the Peter Pan Award of the Swedish Children's Book Club. Reading “Nguyen Ngoc Thuan – The World of the Little Prince” by writer Ho Anh Thai, readers can easily feel joy rising in their hearts. Because, Binh Thuan people have had many talented people, famous nationwide in many fields. And hopefully in the future there will be great achievements of outstanding individuals. Along with many articles about other characters in the book.

The book “They Became My Characters” by writer Ho Anh Thai brings many useful things to readers. The author of the book provides a lot of information to readers about people in many different fields. The writer has guided readers through his understanding, feelings and here and there his concerns about people and life. I hope the writer will continue to introduce his new works to readers in the future.

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