Self-deprecating as an "old director, young writer", author Xuan Phuong, in his ninties, still connects generations of artists with optimism and resilience. "Breathe hard, stones soft" records the years when writer Xuan Phuong left the medical profession to enthusiastically work as a reporter in the fierce Vinh Linh battlefield at the age of 37.
The memories of the Vinh Linh - Quang Tri battlefield have been emotionally recalled by the writer. In her memory, there are few schools in the world where children hide in bunkers during the day, and at night, after gunshots, they wear straw hats and carry oil lamps down to the tunnels to go to school.
Amidst fierce bombs and bullets, at times, people had to put long bamboo tubes that had opened their eyes into the ground so that each passerby could inhale a little oxygen. In that harsh context, she also directly delivered a baby for a pregnant woman right in the deep forest; that mother successfully gave birth thanks to her timely support and her steadfast will, determination to give birth right in the dark tunnel.
Anyone who has experienced such fierce moments will have a desire to help them, to be able to share with them," writer Xuan Phuong shared about the memories, which became the motivation to write this memoir.
The highlight on the book cover is the image of children flying kites, a symbol that the author explains as the "dream kite", representing the desire for freedom and dignity despite the adversity of Vietnamese people.
After "Gánh gánh... gồng gồng..." and "Khắc đi... Khắc đến...", this memoir creates a "three-legged tripod" in the writing journey of writer Xuan Phuong, harmonizing with the life of the nation and the country.
In addition, the launch of the memoir "Hard legs, soft stones" closed not only as a place to share historical memories of individual writers, but also became a touching meeting space for generations of famous writers and artists such as People's Artist Kim Cuong, musician Tran Tien, poet Nguyen Duy...
