"No One Crosses the River" by Nguyễn Ngọc Tư is a collection of short stories imbued with lyrical beauty, interwoven with the poignant melancholy characteristic of the riverine culture of Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. In the work, the river emerges as an invisible boundary—a place where people yearn to cross to reach a different shore yet are held back by their doubts, fears, and resignation.
The stories revolve around simple characters who grapple with the hardships of life, torn between dreams of escape and the burdens of family and community. With a rustic and sincere narrative style, Nguyễn Ngọc Tư vividly portrays quiet, familiar lives that resonate deeply, stirring readers to reflect on the seemingly mundane aspects of life that are, in reality, hard to let go of. "No One Crosses the River" is not merely a depiction of reality but also plants a lingering question in the hearts of readers: Will we ever find the courage to step beyond the boundaries of safety, or will we forever remain on this side of life’s endless river?
- Title: No One Crosses the River
- Author: Nguyễn Ngọc Tư
- Publishers: Trẻ
- Year Of Publication : 2016