HCM CITY— Many books recently issued by the so-called 9X and 8X generations, Vietnamese writers born in the 1998s and 90s, are leaving a strong impression on readers.  

Their works are often about youth, love and conflicts in modern society. 

Anh Khang’s first book, Ngày Trôi Về Phía Cũ (Old Day Goes), is a collection of prose works featuring reviews of his love stories.

His words are simple but meaningful, evoking readers’ memories of their friends and first loves.

“I added something new gained from my life and experience to a market that is dominated by traditional writing styles. I just told my individual stories in my own way to touch the heart of readers,” said the 30-year-old.

“I think young readers, particularly women, will find themselves on the pages of my books,” he added.    

The HCM City-based Phương Nam Culture Company, one of the city’s prestigious printers and distributors, was at first doubtful that Khang’s work would be successful, but knew that young readers in urban areas would find it attractive.

The company has printed Khang’s five books with more than 120,000 copies each. 

Another best-selling writer is Jun Phạm, a pop singer and movie actor, who performed in the boy band 365. 

His fourth and latest book, Thức Dậy, Anh Vẫn Là Mơ (You’re Still in Dream), features the interior life of urban men who face difficulties in work and love. 

The 162-page work include three short stories capturing the lifestyles of Vietnamese younth living in urban areas today. The book showed that the amateur writer had talent in writing.

“I’m a reader. I know what young readers want to read,” said the-27-year-old  Jun, at his book signing ceremony in Hà Nội late last year.

Jun’s previous books are available on online bookstores. More than 250,000 copies have sold.    

Another young writer, Hanh Nguyên, 20, began her career when she was still in school. 

She has worked with dozens of local newspapers, magazines and websites aimed at young people.

Her latest book, Say (Drunk), released last year by the Việt Nam Writers Association,  features a group of young people who live alone and aimless.

The book won the New Talent for young writers award at the 2016 Best Books presented by the non-profit organisation IRED.

According to a report from two bookselling websites, Tikiweb and Vinabook, books by young writers, including Khang and June, have all been best-sellers in recent years.     

“My friends and I love reading works by young writers. I expect them to take the market by storm,” said Trần Bảo Nghi, a reader from Hà Nội.

Nghi said she was reading Em Là Để Yêu (You’re for Love), a book featuring love and women by female writer Phan Ý Yên.

More than 2,500 copies of the book sold within a week after its release in 2013. — VNS