1. Reference Essay 4
The excerpt 'Spring Unfolding Before Us' by Nguyễn Ngọc Tư is a simple yet powerful piece, with language that feels close to the everyday life of the people. It recalls personal memories of the author, describing a small corner of her world—her grandfather's back, a house filled with nostalgic items, a porch resembling the kind of gentle grandmother, and the fragrant cakes made from herbs from the fields. This passage brings the Southern region closer, making it feel as though one could reach out and touch the lives of the people and the expansive rivers full of warmth and affection. The excerpt also expresses the author's longing for the time when simple foods were dried in the sun in her homeland, an act that evokes a serene atmosphere. The lyrical quality of the text, along with the descriptive language, brings the scenery, objects, and events to life in a way that feels intimate and familiar.

2. Reference Essay 5
Nguyễn Ngọc Tư is a notable name that has gained attention in contemporary Vietnamese literature. With a writing style deeply rooted in the Southern region, known for its simplicity and warmth, she has produced many remarkable works. One of her standout pieces is the excerpt 'Spring Unfolding Before Us,' which reflects the author's childhood memories—simple yet close to heart, representing the everyday life of the people in her community.
It speaks of her grandfather’s house, filled with nostalgic objects, and memories of the winter season when she was a child walking along the streets. The author’s voice in this passage captures the essence of childhood through a reflective lens, revealing both personal and universal sentiments.
Through this passage, the author conveys her emotions and memories with vivid, lyrical descriptions of nature, creating an intimate and nostalgic atmosphere. The 'I' in the text is humble and relatable, embodying a sense of longing for the simple, familiar things around the author.

3. Reference Essay 6
Nguyễn Ngọc Tư's 'Spring Unfolding Before Us' evokes deep emotions in readers. The work reflects the author's childhood memories of the time when 'spring unfolded before us.' As a child, the author would cycle down the road to visit her grandmother during the winter season, observing the houses along the way with clotheslines full of drying clothes, and encountering the sight of people drying bananas while saliva trickled down. The lesson from her mother, which the author still remembers to this day, also plays a significant role in shaping her life. These memories stir feelings of nostalgia and affection for childhood and a sense of compassion for those living in poverty.

4. Reference Essay 7
The text 'Spring Unfolding Before Us' by Nguyễn Ngọc Tư stirred many emotions in me. The author vividly recounts childhood memories of cycling down the road to her grandmother’s house during winter, observing the houses with their clotheslines full of laundry. The image of people drying bananas every winter was particularly striking. Through these memories, the author expresses her longing for her homeland and empathy for those living in poverty. The author’s thoughts and feelings, combined with vivid descriptions of nature, create an emotional connection with the reader. I truly enjoyed this work.

5. Reference Essay 1
Nguyễn Ngọc Tư is a prominent name in contemporary Vietnamese literature. Her writing style is deeply rooted in the Southern region, offering simplicity and familiarity. She has created a variety of impactful works, and one of them is the excerpt 'Spring Unfolding Before Us,' which portrays childhood memories and the daily life of the people in her hometown.
The excerpt 'Spring Unfolding Before Us' is a beautifully simple piece of writing, with language that speaks to the everyday life of the people. These are the author's own memories, reflected through the work. It describes a small corner with her grandfather’s back, a house filled with nostalgic items, a porch that reminds her of a kind grandmother, and the wild herbal cakes from the fields. In this way, the Southwestern region of Vietnam appears so real and close, as if one could reach out and feel the life and the warm, free-spirited people who live beside the rivers. The excerpt also conveys the author’s longing for the simple joys of life, as symbolized by drying food in front of the house. The use of local language in the work does not confuse the reader but instead brings a sense of authenticity, as though seeing through the author's memories. The natural scenery and events are described in a way that feels incredibly familiar and simple. The lyrical tone used by the author brings the memory of 'spring unfolding before us' to life, creating a deep connection with nature, people, and things around her.
Through this work, Nguyễn Ngọc Tư reveals her emotions and reflections through vivid, poetic descriptions of nature. Her narrative voice is simple and nostalgic, closely tied to the memories of her surroundings.

6. Reference Essay 2
'The Season of Drying in Front of the House' is featured in the collection 'Old Seasonal Delights,' published by the Writers' Association in 2015. This reflective piece is deeply influenced by the author's distinctive lyrical style. It captures the cherished memories of Sister Tu as she recalls the seasons spent drying food in front of her home.
The essay, though brief, is emotionally rich, centering on two key ideas: the author's nostalgia for those days and the deep feelings these memories evoke. It utilizes a mix of narrative, description, and expression, with refined language that is vivid, imagery-rich, and infused with lyrical emotion. It leaves a lasting impression on the reader.
The piece opens with a memory from the author's childhood: 'When I was young, I enjoyed cycling to my grandmother's house down a narrow path beside the Rạch Rập River.' Sister Tu reflects on the simple joys of biking to visit her grandparents. Along the way, there were many fascinating sights, and she relished the cool, refreshing breeze. The rural scenery appeared in a humble yet beautiful way, capturing the essence of life in a river village. The river's red currents flowed and vanished behind wild shrubs, and the festive air of the Lunar New Year filled every corner, with drying racks everywhere. But the most captivating sight for the author was the drying racks in front of people's homes.
In the author's memories, the village was poor, with dirt yards in every home. To dry food, every family made a small drying rack outside. During the rainy months, these racks were used for drying firewood, mats, and pillows. On sunny days, the racks were filled with things like stale rice, leftover flour from baking, and dried okra for planting the next season. As the year neared its end, more and more things were dried, such as ginger cakes, pickled garlic, candied ginger, and dried bananas. The author uses this list to illustrate the variety and richness in the lives of the poor villagers, while also conveying their emotional connection to the past.
For children, there was nothing better than admiring and inhaling the sweet, earthy smells of homemade treats drying on the racks. The narrator, while cycling, would imagine the delightful taste: 'Bananas dried in the sun could be eaten until the Lunar New Year, and they were delicious even when soaked in ice water.' Though her legs weren’t tired from the ride, her heart raced as she chased after the drying racks, breathless. When she got home, she would beg her mother to make the same treats as the other families. Her mother would only smile and say that having what others had wasn’t the most important thing.
The author reflects on how, at that age, she didn’t fully understand her mother’s wisdom. But as time passed, she grew and realized the deeper meaning behind her mother’s words. Her family was poor, struggling to make ends meet, and they couldn’t afford the same treats others had. These hardships forced her to mature, and now, looking back, those memories bring a sense of peace.
The essay is written in the first-person perspective, which gives it an authentic, intimate tone. This makes the story feel personal and relatable, evoking a strong sense of empathy in the reader. The vivid descriptions, gentle language, and detailed imagery show the author’s deep emotional connection to her homeland. The lyrical essence of the writing, which is a hallmark of this genre, runs throughout the piece. The delicate choice of words, such as 'the platter of red tangerine preserves over there made me feel faint like the ants,' and 'the bees swarmed in, fluttering drunkenly, landing as if intoxicated on the drying racks,' showcases the author’s skill in creating sensory-rich prose.
In conclusion, 'The Season of Drying in Front of the House' is one of Nguyễn Ngọc Tư’s finest works. With its regional language, simple yet beautiful imagery, and heartfelt emotions, it leaves a profound impact on readers. The author evokes the bittersweet memories of a childhood that, though marked by poverty, remains one of the most cherished and vibrant parts of life.

7. Reference Essay 3
'The Season of Drying in Front of the House' by Nguyễn Ngọc Tư is a deeply simple narrative, reflecting the author's childhood memories of cycling along the road to her grandmother's house, observing the surrounding world in its most humble and familiar form.
The entire work revolves around the author's nostalgic longing for the memories of drying things in front of the house, a time that lives vividly in her childhood recollections. The use of local dialect enriches the text, but does not overwhelm the reader. Instead, it draws them into an authentic, almost tangible experience, as though they were reliving the moments through the author's own eyes.
The author paints the scenes of nature, objects, and events in a way that is incredibly close and realistic, capturing the beauty in the ordinary. These memories, paired with the vivid descriptions of the natural surroundings, add a lyrical touch to the narrative.

