Top 10 Best Books by Ma Van Khang

Mùa lá rụng trong vườn tells the story of Mr. Bằng, a retired postman living in Hanoi with his five sons. The eldest son, Tường, died on the battlefield, and his widow, Hoài, remarried but still kept in touch with the family through letters. Đông, the second son, is a former officer living a simple life with his diligent wife, Lý. The third son, Luận, a thoughtful journalist, struggles with life and is married to Phượng, a kind-hearted woman. The fourth son, Cừ, is rebellious and has been kicked out of the army. Finally, the youngest son, Cần, is studying in the Soviet Union and about to return home.

They live in a quiet house at the edge of the city, far from the hustle and bustle of urban life. But tragedy strikes when Cừ, abandoning his job and family, escapes to Canada. Realizing his mistake too late, he writes a final letter before taking his own life. Upon receiving the letter, Mr. Bằng, who had always been strict with his children and valued traditional moral principles, suffers a stroke and passes away. Meanwhile, Cừ's wife and two children are fired from their jobs and have to move in with Mr. Bằng's family. In their difficult situation, Luận, Phượng, and Hoài show great responsibility and compassion.

The story takes another tragic turn when Lý, exhausted by her life with Đông, who neglects her and gambles all day, falls into an affair with her superior at work. Eventually, she abandons her husband to live with him in Saigon. It is only after leaving that she realizes her mistake and writes a letter expressing her wish to return home. The story ends on the eve of Tet when the family receives Lý's letter.

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The short story collection Xa xôi thôn Ngựa Già by Ma Văn Kháng offers a multifaceted perspective on the positive and negative aspects of social life.

The author delves fearlessly into the thorny realities of life, such as the challenges faced by ethnic minorities in their acceptance of religion, the conflict between selfless devotion to the revolution and personal happiness, and the illusions of one's role in society to the point of “delusion, like a knight out of time.”

The story follows a priest who sets out to spread the word of Christ among the Mong ethnic group. He dedicates himself fully with a passion akin to that of a visionary, but meets a tragic end because he lives honestly with himself. The tale raises profound questions about the tragic fate of an unfamiliar belief system that often doesn’t truly align with the lives of the people.

The beautiful woman Seo Ly is portrayed as a stunning beauty from the Mèo region, “her eyes are the blue of the misty mountains, her lips slightly parted with an inviting, seductive allure...” (Seo Ly, the one who stirs up romance). She causes both comical and tragic incidents involving the local elite, uncovering hidden schemes and intrigues. The author’s keen understanding of the cultural life of the mountainous people is reflected in the simple, honest prose of a writer who has fully immersed himself in the lived experience of existence. After suffering indignities, losses, and heartbreak, the narrative ultimately conveys empathy, love, and respect for humanity and noble human issues.

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This book is a collection of 15 short stories by the author Ma Văn Kháng, focusing on love and women in love. With the rich and seasoned writing of a distinguished author who has won numerous national and regional literary awards, each short story by Ma Văn Kháng is filled with the depth and complexity of life, going beyond the simplistic “cut” typical of this genre.

His short stories are vibrant and full of ordinary life, even when the central theme revolves around romance and love. Under Ma Văn Kháng’s pen, ‘Love, that sublime emotion we often thought belonged exclusively to the wealthy, aristocratic, educated, or those with ample food and clothing, is, in fact, universal. It is not reserved for the privileged, but it belongs to Thị Nhi and Nhóc Giẳng, two nameless individuals from the lowest rung of society, the downtrodden who are barely surviving, ignored by all. Love! It turns out it’s a shared human experience. It is an inherent trait of all those who bear the identity of human beings!’ (Excerpt from Bãi vàng).

With this simple yet profound perspective, the women in his stories—from young girls like a late-blooming female youth volunteer, widows, to women in gold mining camps—are all immersed in love or something they think is love.

Most of Ma Văn Kháng's female characters are brimming with vitality, with an innate desire to assert themselves, sometimes becoming selfish or ruthless. However, at their core, they always return to the nature of women, with their burdens, compassion, and depth.

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In his memoir Năm tháng nhọc nhằn năm tháng nhớ thương, the author Ma Văn Kháng reflects on the hard times he endured in a ramshackle house while writing “Mưa mùa hạ” (Summer Rain), the hunger and cold he suffered due to rheumatism in his collective apartment on Lào Cai Street while working on “Đồng bạc trắng hoa xòe” (Silver Coins in Full Bloom), and how he completed “Mùa lá rụng trong vườn” (The Falling Leaves in the Garden), “Côi cút giữa cảnh đời” (Alone Amid Life’s Struggles), and “Đám cưới không có giấy giá thú” (A Wedding Without a Marriage Certificate) in his apartment in Thành Công.

Through this memoir, readers can also glimpse the friendships and professional relationships that shaped Ma Văn Kháng’s life, as well as enjoy hearing the author recount the origins of his pen name, providing deeper insight into a writer whose “years of fond memories” are tied to the remote highlands of Lào Cai.

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Đồng bạc trắng hoa xòe is considered Ma Văn Kháng’s debut novel, set against the backdrop of the history of Lào Cai from 1945 to late 1947, during the period when French forces returned to occupy the region.

The story revolves around several revolutionary officials undertaking a courageous and romantic journey to the Eastern feudal lords of the province, bringing the message of revolution to the ethnic minorities trapped under the oppressive, hereditary feudal system. Their mission was to destroy the reactionary Vietnamese Nationalist Party and establish a revolutionary government in preparation for a long-lasting resistance. Written in 1970, this novel was the result of years of the author living, working, and bonding with the people and nature of the Northwest region.

In Đồng bạc trắng hoa xòe, Ma Văn Kháng introduces a series of characters, employing a multi-line narrative where no one is the sole focus. In other words, every character is given their own storyline, psychological development, and personality traits, much like a protagonist. The ever-shifting narrative space creates a vast canvas for the literary scene, allowing characters to freely evolve. The pacing is fast, with many events and actions, fulfilling the grand scope of revolutionary upheaval, where people transform or decay, and long-established values crumble. The narrative style is rare in Vietnamese literature.

With Đồng bạc trắng hoa xòe, Ma Văn Kháng firmly establishes himself within the genre of the novel. It can be seen as a milestone in his literary journey, which began long ago. A part of five decades spent in the mountains, observing, and writing. This five-decade period was invaluable to Ma Văn Kháng.

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Though the story revolves around the carpentry profession, it is primarily the tale of Quang Tình, a teacher who endures numerous hardships imposed by the changing times, at times feeling as though he is falling into an abyss. However, no matter how life challenges him, this teacher, who also works as a carpenter, retains his goodness, believing firmly that “Everything will pass. In the end, nothing, not even the so-called vile conspiracies, the crimes, the deceits, or the foolishness, will leave a mark. What will remain is one thing only: the love between people.”

Despite this philosophy, when confronted with life’s adversities, especially those that challenge his sense of self-worth and the principles that guide him as a teacher—such as being forced out of his teaching career and becoming a carpenter to make a living—he often feels as if he might surrender and give up.

Yet, his choice to pursue carpentry with unwavering determination and patience is driven not only by the need to provide for his family but also by his refusal to succumb to the circumstances. His love for life and his determination never to give up is what sustains him.

The novel is not merely an exploration of the varied and vibrant aspects of life, but also a profound statement on human existence, philosophy, and aesthetics. Ma Văn Kháng’s deep life experiences and sharp observations allow him to craft meticulous, subtle, and carefully constructed prose.

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The 16th short story collection, The Strange Guest, by the writer Ma Văn Kháng, continues to reflect the author's endless inspiration for topics that have become his signature. The stories, blending a touch of fantasy and the bizarre, explore customs, spiritual beliefs, and the sacredness of the people and places of the mountainous regions of Northwest Vietnam, specifically in the remote areas of Lào Cai. In addition, the author delves deeper into the shifts in urban life, the changing perspectives on material wealth, money, and their effects on human interactions, as well as their impact on relationships—be it romantic, familial, or between teachers and students. Despite the gritty reality of the stories and lives presented, a warmth of human connection shines through, offering reflections on life and humanity, which, though seemingly lost in the bustle of modern life, still hold deep value.

From the daring, risk-taking night driver Quý in the story Night Ride, to the subtle tensions between family members bound by a thread of fear of deceased parents' spirits in Dust and Threads; to the dark and tumultuous tales of Land of Misfortune and The Famous Restaurant, the author exposes the hidden sides of human psychology in the context of a materialistic, money-driven world. These themes unravel in the simple lives of ordinary characters such as the poor landlord couple or three down-to-earth teachers Hướng, Lộc, and Thụ.

The story’s narrative flows smoothly, filled with thrilling twists, with psychological moments that crescendo into intense realizations, bringing forth life lessons. The author’s language varies from simple and approachable to rebellious and sarcastic, with a touch of poetic beauty, effortlessly blending realism with a sense of life's enduring charm. This versatile language enables the author to craft vivid and relatable characters, allowing readers to see themselves within these lives—reflecting both the bitterness and, above all, the hope for a better future. The hope for the endurance of human kindness amidst any circumstance remains the heart of the story.

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"A Windy Afternoon" by the author Ma Văn Kháng reflects the tough life of a road crew, led by Tua, a group of rural boys working on the railway. Their working lives are completely isolated from the outside world: "We don't know what karaoke is. We don't even know what a CD is. The beach and bars in the summer are just a distant world. We don't have photos, newspapers, or any connection to the community except for a battery-powered radio." Their laborious life is simple, without any pretense, and everything is messy and spontaneous...

A girl, as beautiful as a flower, appears and changes the lives of these men, from their clothes to their habits. They go from being careless and disorganized to becoming more disciplined. Especially, their way of thinking and acting shifts. "A person always has the ability to become someone else, different from who they were." The beautiful girl eventually vanishes, causing turmoil in their lives, especially in their thoughts and daily activities. Tua realizes the pain of losing hope and the longing for a connection to beauty, which is far more painful than hunger or physical exhaustion. Losing hope, people become rough and coarse... their haphazard lives return to their previous state, leading to conflict between Tua and Hợi, who argue and fight violently...

Hợi quickly judges the girl, dismissing her as merely a prostitute or escort. On the other hand, Tua believes in her and in the beauty of life that others fail to see: "You have eyes but no pupils! You are all blind!"

Through this story, the writer highlights the harsh reality of life, particularly for the road crew, young men from rural areas working away from home and disconnected from society. Though they work in hard conditions, their material life is "above extreme poverty." But the greater suffering is the loneliness and the lack of hope or dreams to aspire to: "There is no love, no family." This is the greatest pain a person can endure, yet they must accept it in order to complete their tasks: "Then let's grit our teeth and live and work, brothers." The stormy weather, with thunder and lightning, symbolizes the fierce upheavals of life, which these men must endure with patience and strength. Amidst this violent turmoil, a gentle, poetic butterfly appears.

The short story "A Windy Afternoon" by Ma Văn Kháng has "lifted up" our faith in life, showing that the beauty we seek is present, but we may not always recognize it, or we may not see it clearly enough.

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A Wedding Without a Marriage Certificate is the latest literary work by author Ma Văn Kháng. Like his previous works, this novel has drawn significant attention, not only from readers but also from other prominent Vietnamese writers.

In A Wedding Without a Marriage Certificate, Ma Văn Kháng portrays the tragedy of a teacher, an intellectual, who oscillates between being a sage with noble ideals and finding himself in a world where spiritual values are distorted. He is thrust into an environment tainted by corruption and moral decay. Ma Văn Kháng confronts the issues that are often avoided, so much so that the book sparked intense discussions and debates upon its release. As a former teacher himself, the author likely shared many of the inner conflicts similar to those of the character Tự. By crafting the character of Tự, a noble and admirable teacher, Ma Văn Kháng also earns admiration for his ability to shape minds through words.

A Wedding Without a Marriage Certificate is a compelling and positive book. It belongs to a broader movement in contemporary literature that pushes for more powerful social realism. The truths exposed in this work provide a foundation for contemplating broader societal issues. Gone are the days when writers hesitated to speak the truth.” – The sincere and heartfelt words of writer Nguyên Ngọc about the work.

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Writing about the police is difficult, but writing it in an engaging way for readers is even harder, and not every author can accomplish this task. Many authors often depict police officers in a one-dimensional way, focusing only on their achievements and victories in safeguarding the nation's peace. They briefly mention the hidden aspects of their lives—such as struggles, pain, loss, and sacrifices—rendering these characters more like 'epic heroes' than real people. However, for the writer Ma Văn Kháng, his portrayal is entirely different.

"The Dark" depicts a vibrant picture of life, skillfully combining realism with romantic reflection, at times integrating sexual details, as well as beautiful elements of love, to enhance the narrative's allure. If anyone tries to compare the truth in "The Dark" with real-life events to judge the novel's authenticity, it would be futile. The reality here serves merely as the outline, the frame for the imagined and creative world of the novel. After all that these officers have endured, a proud yet sorrowful conclusion emerges within the story: People with the mission of confronting the darkness and fighting crime are not just here to bloom but also to bear scars. Before they wear flowers on their chest, many like Trừng and Nhâm have faced death, loss, and painful physical torment... Every day, countless quiet sacrifices are made, and while the world may never fully remember their names, their blood has soaked into the earth, allowing life to flourish. The Motherland embraces these individuals with deep love and gratitude. Therefore, the characters in "The Dark" are very close to real life, and the novel's humanistic value is further affirmed.

Not following the well-trodden path, Ma Văn Kháng has created a fresh and unique approach with professional narrative techniques, offering a new perspective on contemporary police novels with a multifaceted and humanized view. Alongside the glory of their victories, police officers also face many dangers, risks, and even inevitable death. Life is a chain of unpredictable events, full of surprises and challenges.

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