Nguyen Nhat Anh is a well-known author who has contributed all

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his life to literature. What makes his novels prevalent is everything in
daily life can become lively and profound in his eyes. “Mat biec” – a Lam
romantic, enthusiastic love like the summer sunlight, however, turns Xuan
out mournful like the river in fall. This works of Nguyen Nhat Anh Mai ‘s
deeply rooted in the mind of people who ever crush someone.
BOOK
Written about one-side affair, “Mat biec” or “The blue eyes” is totally
REPORT
different from other books since you will experience not only regret,
solitary but also hatred, affection. Despite being first published in 2004, the novel
proclaimed it’s popularity by being adapted into movie in 2019 and immediately
became a blockbuster.

“How can human live without love, cherishing, longing for someone?” - poet
Xuan Dieu once said. Since the first time reading “Mat biec”, I was impressed by
the writing style, not concettism but simple, plain.

The story which takes place in Vietnam in the late

of 1970s revolves around the life of Ngan - the main
character who grew up in Do Do village in Quang
Nam province. One day, he met Ha Lan – a beady-
eyed girl. She was such a light that brightened the life
of Ngan. Day after day, they grew up together with
series of beautiful memories in the village, the school,
especially the hill of rose myrtle. Nevertheless, when
he grew up and became a high school student, his friendship with Ha Lan suddenly
became a love with her. And one day, two of them came to Hue – a modern,
convince city. While Ngan always missed his hometown - Do Do village, Ha Lan
was seduced by a lot of gandy, uncertain things. She was deceived by Dung, a rich
boy but unfaithful. In old days, premarital sex was considered a moral issue which
was a taboo, even a sin in Vietnamese cultures. It is worth noting that he made Ha
Lan pregnant and felt wretched, which made Ngan dejected as
in Ngan’s whole life, the one and only thing he wanted is Ha
Lan’s happiness. Despite bringing disgrace on her family, she
born a look-a-like baby girl named Tra Long. It is certain that Ha
Lan knew how much Ngan love her but she didn’t reciprocate.
Love is blind. By flipping each page, reader can sympathize with
Ngan because such Ngan’s love that he became a love-bird.
However, not accepting Ngan is also one of Ha Lan’s beauty as
she is no more deserved to receive such love.

At the end of the book, reader will probably feel pity for Ha Lan instead of
blaming. It seems like reader have to face the fact that Nguyen Nhat Anh
intentionally build up the romantic love story at the beginning but turns out it’s a sad
story, which remind ourselves that not all love story are as passionate as
imagination. Destiny can change it. At last, Ngan knows it’s time made up his mind
to left Ha Lan, Tra Long, the village behind to go somewhere far, far away.

From my perspective, hope is the basic of love. It has always been and it’s
always will be. The author made it clear by dividing his novel into a lot of chapters
so reading it won’t be boring. It would be a perfect book for people who are
romantic and fond of sad story like me. Nguyen Nhat Anh is a gifted storyteller who
is able to turn the most ordinary things in life into something that is precious,
extraordinary and truly magical. That's why I would highly recommend this book.
So, why don’t get one, sit down and swallow it to feel the other side of love:
lugubriousness.