VietNamNet Bridge – The book 1987, containing stories of those born in 1987 — the first year after the initiation of the country’s famous Doi Moi (Renewal) policy — has become a best-seller, with 10,000 copies selling out only three months after its release.

Celebrating renewal: The book 1987 is seen in Barcelona, Spain. The English version will be released soon. — VNS Photo Nick M

The book hasn’t only received a warm welcome at home, but has also drawn significant attention from overseas Vietnamese living in Hawaii, Australia, Spain, Japan and Canada. They have read the book and posed with it in front of landmarks of these countries.

Following the success, the book will be translated into English and released this summer. The book is scheduled to be published in foreign countries by the end of this year.

The writers came from different backgrounds, including journalists, screenwriters, photographers, business people, singers, models and actresses.

Some of them are well-known, such as Miss Viet Nam World 2007 Ngo Phuong Lan, singer Le Cat Trong Ly, and musician Pham Toan Thang. Chief author Mai Nhu Ngoc, whose pen name is Nick M, and co-authors will have a meeting with readers to introduce the book on March 25 at the HCM City Book Festival which will be organised from March 19-25 at Le Van Tam Park.

The 300-page book, divided into four sections, contains gentle and humourous stories. The first part is about the authors’ childhoods. The second part consists of stories in the year 2000, when the internet was adopted in Vietnamese society. The third part marks a turning point in the life of people in 1987 – when they finished high-school education and entered university and chose a vocation. The final chapter runs from 2010 until now, with stories of modern life, of which Facebook is an integral part.

It became a phenomenon of the domestic publishing industry because all the co-authors of the book were writing for the first time. Normally, a book of literature published in the domestic market sells 2,000 copies.

The renewal era marked the transitional period between the subsidised economy and the promotion of the expansion of business. 

Source: VNS