He always dialogues with himself, asks questions and then answers with depth of understanding, with the responsibility of a Thanh Hoa man: "What should I do, what should I contribute to my homeland?". Therefore, he named the book "Heart and Love".
The book opens with 33 pages to talk about former Politburo member, former Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee Pham Quang Nghi with the character "Quang Minh Chinh Dai". Under the pen of Le Tuan Loc, Mr. Pham Quang Nghi with his own life and career has clarified the philosophy: Talent, intelligence, education, experience... all become complete, reliable and have long-lasting vitality, because it is placed on the foundation of a pure "HEART".
Reading the poem "Giá như có tượng Mẹ Tơm" (If only there was a Mother Tom statue), I was really moved because from the 1960s of the last century, when I was in middle school (secondary school today), I memorized the poem "Mẹ Tơm" (Mother Tom) by Tố Hữu and heard teacher Trần Phô (Literature specialist of Thanh Hóa Department of Education at that time) give a very good commentary on this poem for the Thanh Hóa provincial excellent student team preparing to enter the Northern Excellent Student Literature exam in 1964.
Sincerely admiring the mother "Living in sand, dying buried in sand", I completely agree with Le Tuan Loc that Mother Tom statues should be erected so that later generations, so that visitors to the Memorial House, not only can read the poem "Mother Tom" but also admire the symbol "Heads like sparkling pearls"!
An important part of the book is about ordinary people, living sincerely and kindly, doing extraordinary things that touch readers. "My younger sister in the Department of Biochemistry" tells the story of a younger sister named Diep who has been attached to the Department of Biochemistry of Vietnam - Sweden Children's Hospital for a lifetime, the profession she chose is the profession of silent sacrifice, of "giving" more than "receiving back".
The article has very touching details, such as the story of a 5-year-old girl playing by the riverbank drowning, her older brother (Le Tuan Loc) rushed to grab her hair, hug her and pull her ashore! Or like "A girl who marries far away" sketching the portrait of her cousin Van Thi Thanh Van from Thanh Hoa but married in Ha Tinh. Van is responsible for family work with her husband and even though she is in Ha Tinh, she is still responsible for the work of her parents' house in Thanh Hoa. Ms. Tam, a normal caregiver, rescued a wounded soldier from a mental state and returned to normal life.
Writing about Hoang Cong Son and his battlefield diary is to talk about the Truong Son soldiers of the past so that we can understand that "war is a screening of human character through hardship". The Truong Son soldiers of the past, their names engraved in the sky of Vietnam, contributed to creating a unified Vietnam. But Hoang Cong Son, at the end of his life, was ill, all traces seemed to dissolve into dust. He died in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic quietly, with only a coffin and a few children to see him off. His life turned into a pain, enough for readers to contemplate.
Le Tuan Loc has a rich life experience and knowledge that is both deep and broad. As a PhD in Geological Mining, he understands medicine as if he has been formally trained in medicine, which makes me very admire him. It is true that he introduced Bach Mai Hospital as just an excuse for him to write about special people who are living and contributing there, such as Dr. Pham The Thach - Deputy Director of the Intensive Care Center, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Dao Xuan Co - Director of the Hospital, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Do Doan Dai - former Director of the Hospital, ...
Or as he wrote: "Special Department", that is "Oranje Detox Department" of Nho Quan War Invalids Nursing Center (Ninh Binh) is the author who wants to talk about young doctor Nguyen Thu Thuy - Deputy Director, doctor Pham Thi Hoa and medical staff who have been here silently, patiently, and dedicatedly taking care of patients, as Dr. Hoa confided: "As a female doctor, but to be honest with you, even taking care of my husband, I can't be so dedicated". The war has receded 50 years ago, but the consequences of the war are still persistent. I strongly agree with the question that Le Tuan Loc raised: "Who is responsible for this?".
Anyone who has not read this book, just look at the novel title "Roadbed Gravel" and it is very suggestive". Le Tuan Loc wrote like that, which has aroused my curiosity. Reading 12 pages in a row, I admired him, because he wrote so well! I have read "Dream of the Red Chamber" by Cao Xueqin, especially fascinated by "How Steel Was Tempered" by Nicolai Oxtrovxki, so I am very curious about "Roadbed Gravel" by journalist and writer Bui Viet Sy, especially when I know that the author of "Roadbed Gravel" has skillfully incorporated Russian melodies into the novel: "Double Banks", "Moscow Afternoon" and was introduced by Le Tuan Loc as "Roadbed Gravel", which is a patriotic educational work. I had to call Le Tuan Loc immediately and say that I want to read the novel "Roadbed Gravel", because "Roadbed Gravel" is a book of contemporary stature.
With the captivating appeal of the 324-page book (once held in hand, it's hard to leave), "January days are wide, months are long", I read it in one go until the last page of "Heart and Love", my heart surged with indescribable emotions. Something like regret, disappointment: If only there was a second volume of "Heart and Love" to continue reading, how interesting it would be!
Poet Le Tuan Loc was born in 1949, from Thanh Hoa, a member of the Vietnam Writers' Association, formerly a mining engineer, doctor of science, started writing plays and poetry from the late 70s of the last century. In 1978, he won a National Silver Medal for the play "Motive". In 1980, he won the Thanh Hoa Poetry Official Award of the Thanh Hoa Literature and Arts Association. After the poetry collection "With the Homeland" (Thanh Hoa Publishing House, 1986), Le Tuan Loc's pen specialized entirely in poetry. To date, he has published dozens of poetry collections and essays alone. Poet Le Tuan Loc is currently the Head of the Workers' Literature Association Branch (Vietnam Writers' Association).
