Book Introduction

(Baonghean) - In front of the market gate, a bookseller proudly introduced the new book "Summer at the Sea", with a flashy red and green cover:

- Buy it, my child! The new school year is coming and there's no time to read anymore - he said to the student - This book is great! Have you read "The Adventures of a Cricket" by To Hoai? Read it many times. The character in this book is a sea crab, and the adventure is equally thrilling and fascinating.

The boy looked at the price and hesitantly left.

A well-dressed man came riding a shiny trophy. The bookseller held up a new book in front of his nose and said enthusiastically:

- This book is selling like hotcakes, buy it quickly before it's gone. You're a businessman, right? This is a handbook for those who want to get rich. The business secrets of a hotel owner during the beach tourism season.

The customer flipped through a few pages and returned it:

- You're kidding me. The book is about nonsense, not about business. I need another book...

Next was the female student, wearing a wide-brimmed straw hat, her bright red nails fondling the cover of the book.

The bookseller looked at the girl and said sweetly:

- A modern love triangle, miss. A dramatic love story that takes place at sea. Very interesting, read from beginning to end without getting bored. I heard it was a finalist in a novel contest. The price is only 120 thousand, cheap as hell.

The female student opened her wallet, counted and counted again, but still missing something, then silently turned her back, looking regretful.

The retired old man walked slowly back from practicing yoga, holding a badminton racket in his hand.

- Here's a new book for you, sir. - The bookseller handed over Summer at the Sea with both hands. It's not a love story, sir. It's a science textbook about the effects of sunlight and seawater on the health of the elderly. You'd be delighted to add it to your personal library. It'll cost you a few days' wages.

The old man squinted at the book cover with a picture of a scantily clad girl and smiled:

- I brought this book home, my wife chased me away to eat out.

While I was feeling depressed, a skinny, shabbily dressed man came up and asked:

- Is summer at the beach selling well?

- Run away, monkey. Write nonsense. Love is not love, politics is not politics, a little bit of half-baked science, a little bit of fraudulent business. What a burden. You buy, I'll sell you a bunch now. And who are you to ask about buying and selling?

- I am the author of “Summer at the Beach”. This is a crime story, not a love story, a science book or a business book. You should have read it and introduced it, right?

- Sorry author! This profession has to appeal to readers' tastes, only then can it survive...

Quynh Tho