The third time seeing Ms. Tiên was my second time visiting “np”, a bookstore and her Tiên’s little library. By the time she finished her work, Mr. Châu had already done brewing tea and I just finished the book “the petite prince” translated by Bùi Giáng.
Through this talk, I want to understand more about the two young people who love reading books about literature, philosophy and anthropology.
How did np start and since when?
np started since September 2022 but its idea had grown in us since December 2021. It took us pretty much time to learn about book, get to know if anyone started this model, visit some places which hold book and library events and to see how they run this kind of business.
From thinking about having a business for books to its realisation like now takes a long process. Preparation is one thing, the more important parts are the concept and its spirit. This model looks quite similar to other bookstores and libraries, but the spirits of people who created it are the true importance.
What is np’s criteria when choosing books? Why do you select these writers?
Firstly, we direct this bookstore and library focusing on literature, there are also some about philosophy and anthropology that I think it shares a familiar mindset and soul with literature. These are several subjects that we have interest in the most.
Secondly, these books should be ones we have read and judged according to our ability, we think they are valuable and worth knowing of.
There are some writer whose books we have only read a few but those are enough to realise that they have their own world for their works and basically the messages they want to send are the same, what different is the way the pick topics for each of their novels.
The reason why we selected these names was because that when getting to know more, researchers and critics often divide literature or philosophy by style and writers must constantly learn and read other writers’ work, who were in the same or previous period with them. Therefore, they always influence or related to each other. We should learn ourselves about how much the influence is. For example, Murakami and his book “Kafka by the shore”, when reading this book we will notice that it is influenced by Fank Kafka, it is when you think “Oh, who is Kafka?”, then we will search for his work to read more. Just like this, we figure one name to another.
Editor
Phương Mây
Time
03.2023
Location
C8 Building Giảng Võ, Trần Huy Liệu street
Ba Đình district, Hà Nội, Việt Nam
Photo
Did you have any difficulties when starting np?
At the beginning, we did have some financial problem with np, but for us it is the easiest thing to tackle. Being unable to keep up the spirit and the idea is the real thing to worry about.
In fact, people who are interested in books and reading in Vietnam is still a small number, np’s selection of literary books is niche in general, it was hard at the beginning for our library to approach people. Luckily, we were well-prepared so we just did it.
Does np have any difficulties in selecting books or importing foreign-language books?
Definitely. Because we have chosen this path and to go further, we must consistently acquire knowledge. Literature is a board term, we cannot cover all. When the reading community grows interested in np, who are all good readers, they will look for and require the quality of np to be better and to be more diverse in books. We worry that we are not strong enough to grow with np as for the maturity of knowledge. We all feel that there are no difficulties for choosing or importing foreign books, it was just that we have not enough conditions to get more of them (laughs).
Is there any authors that impresses you with their writing or philosophy?
I am not sure. At np, there are names I like and authors that Châu’s favourite. Just yesterday, we had a conversation and found out what these authors have in common.
How did you manage to find and buy rare and old books?
How should I say it, I was fortunate to be exposed to literature from a young age. At that time my aunt was a master of literature, my sister was in a good students selected team in literature, and I read everything there was around me. At that time, I also read my aunt’s master’s thesis, us two sisters usually went to her house to borrow a big box full of books to read gradually, we returned after finished and borrow anew.
The love for literature has slowly grown in me. Basically, books in np were bought throughout the time rather than purchasing recently. I have a habit of collecting books since university; whenever having some pocket money from my mother, I saved up to buy more books. Because I bought and kept many rare books carefully in the past, they are now available in np, many of them are no long reprinted.
How could you introduce valuable and good books to reader?
We are quite lazy on social media, partly because we are busy. Fortunately, people that are interested in np introduce us to their friends, thanks to word of mouth, people know more about np. Another important point is that I often talk with people when they visit np, they ask me to recommend them books. Little by little, by their words “the two owners here know well about literature”, many people look for us for book and ask if we could get them other books. I am truly content that people believe in my ability to select books.
I also believe in the cosmic energy. When I radiate an energy source, nature draws people with the same energy to me. If they visit np and feel like it, they will come back often.
Who is your favourite author and why?
It is difficult to pick a name because there are books that are definitely amazing to read and very enjoyable, but not all of them are good. As what I have said earlier, if we follow a person’s life, we will see clearer their literary and life path. We do not hold anyone in too high regard. One author, who understood all the thing we cannot say, that I feel familiar with and connected is Orhan Pamuk. And the Vietnamese one, perhaps, is Nguyễn Huy Thiệp.
Through np, what do you want to deliver to readers?
np is simply our way to express ourselves. You will know who we are and if we are suitable to be friend with when you know what we normally read, what we care about.
Through np, you can feel how we are spiritually developing, when things are getting in order, people can see that: “oh so they are getting better in their lives.” I guess this is the only thing that people who care about us need. I see life and relationships as such. Even though I do not talk much with everyone I still want to know if they are doing fine, if their journey turns out great, is there any progress of any breakthrough in their souls. I wonder where have they made it to.
Do you have any plan for np or you in the near future?
Currently, we have been focusing on developing a series of “cinematic screenings” events inspired or adapted directly from famous novels to share with friends and np’s guesses. Because I think there is a certain connection between cinema and books, when people can feel the cinema, they will also can do it with literature. I am convinced that this is a reasonable way to get bring people closer to literature.
In the future, we are thinking about other activities but we cannot reveal it to you for now (smile).
Thank you for this wonderful sharing session!
