Lifestyle

The Literary Translator: A Hanoi-Based Linguist’s Love Letter to Literature and Language

A quaint little bookstore, with a unique offering of foreign-language children's books, was born out of a passion to inspire young minds and foster a love for reading. With a carefully curated selection of titles, this bookstore aims to ignite a spark of curiosity and wonder in children, encouraging them to embark on literary adventures and develop a lifelong appreciation for the written word.

Administrator

30 October, 2024

Nguyen Huong Lan has dedicated her career to translating renowned literary works, including Little Nicolas, as well as books by celebrated authors Marc Levy and Guillaume Musso. Her passion project, InBook, is more than just a bookstore; it’s a labor of love aimed at fostering a reading culture within families and inspiring a love of books in children.

The visionary behind InBook: Translator Nguyen Huong Lan. Photo: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times

In 2017, Lan’s dream took shape in the form of a quaint bookstore in Vietnam, born out of a desire to nurture her children’s love of reading and extend the same opportunity to other families.

Esteemed cultural scholar Huu Ngoc endorsed her endeavor, recognizing the potential impact a bookstore in Hanoi could have not just on families but on society as a whole. And so, Blue Horizon, a charming bookstore in Hoan Kiem District, opened its doors.

“While selling books may not bring immense wealth, it offers a sense of fulfillment,” Lan shared. “When your life is stable, you strive to leave a meaningful legacy, first for your children and then for the community at large.”

InBook attracts readers from all walks of life, including Julien Audin, Manager of the Multimedia Library at the French Institute in Hanoi. Photo: Ngo Minh/The Hanoi Times

Building on the success of Blue Horizon, Lan established InBook, marking a new chapter in her journey. InBook is a testament to the growing demand for English and French literature within the Vietnamese reading community.

“Our collection is carefully curated to offer readers a diverse range of exciting foreign language books across all genres,” Lan explained. “We continuously update our catalog to ensure our readers have access to the latest and greatest titles.”

From its inception, InBook forged partnerships with foreign publishers, no small feat for a small bookstore in a distant Asian country. Navigating the complex process of importing books from international publishing groups presented a unique set of challenges, as Lan noted.

Today, InBook boasts a loyal customer base of over 10,000 readers and a collection of 7,000 book titles in English and French, all directly imported. Among its dedicated patrons is Julien Audin, Manager of the Multimedia Library at the French Institute in Hanoi.

“We extend our warmest congratulations to Lan and her team,” Audin said. “The French Institute is proud to support bookstores like InBook that share our mission of promoting French language and culture to the Vietnamese community.”