Les Go Read a Book

I am a bibliophile. I said it. I love me some books. If I don’t have a book on my person it is panic inducing. If I carry “purses” they have to be able to fit a book, period. Gift me the right book and you’re halfway to my heart. It’s that easy, ladies ;). Luckily, Hanoi is littered with cafes and reading nooks that could fill several months of soul searching. So, Les Go Read a Book.

Reading is cathartic for me. It’s an easy escape that allows my mind to be challenged in ways that most conversations can’t. When people come to me with ignorant ass questions such as, “When did you decide to be Lesbian” (it’s true, I got asked that the other day and almost spit my Hanoian black coffee in their face) I find myself responding with the only logical thing I know: Read a fuxkin book, damn.

In middle school I used to get hype AF about the book fairs. I remember 7th grade summer I tracked all the books I read and my goal was to read 35 books. I exceed that goal. Shit was real and shit continues to be real. I am a reader and I love it.

My spot

I love chill settings, chill people, chill music and chill lighting. Which is funny because I can be the most un-chill person ever sometimes. I guess that’s why I need that shit to balance me out. My all time favorite place to read is Tranquil Books and Coffee. I go here to decompress. As the name states it’s Tranquil AF. It is their policy that while in the cafe you have to speak quietly. How pleasant is that. If I’m ever MIA in Hanoi after a stressful day you can basically bet that I’m here.

They even have a book map! For me it doesn’t matter what language the books are in I jus love being surrounded by books. Period.

Bookstores

If I’m looking to browse books the best selection in Hanoi comes from The Bookworm. They’re pretty expensive for Hanoi standards but hey, get yo money.

Their selection of books is decent and I appreciate the amount of books on Hanoi/Vietnam they provide. I have a pretty specific genre that I tend to lean towards. I am all about Critical Race Theory. I could geek the fuck out over Michelle Alexander and Angela Davis all day. That genre is near impossible to find here but I have read hundreds of astounding books since my time in Hanoi so no complaints on my end.

I consciously choose authors that will challenge me and push me to critically think. I went a whole decade (basically) exclusively reading women authors (started consciously, morphed into subconscious preference). There is no lack of the cis-gendered, white male’s POV out there. I’ll let someone else read them. I deeply appreciate my guy Chris’ book reviews at Ploughshares. If I had access abroad to the books he flawlessly reviews I’d read every one.

Temple of Literature

After a solid 3 weeks of shit weather, Hanoi finally got it together. The first warm day sprung upon us (by warm I mean muggy as shit but I love it) and I knew I had to be out in them streets. Hanoi is sprinkled with Pagodas and Temples. It’s part of the charm of the city. One temple that I’ve particularly had interest in visiting is the Temple of Literature. People come here before big exams to give offerings or when they graduate from school. That idea alone warms my heart.

The Temple its self is expansive. There are a few ponds that one could sit and read all day and the greenery alone could keep me there for a few hours. Maybe my mind was playing tricks on me but, I swear the air was fresher the moment I stepped in the Temple.

As I prepare for my next destination, my next adventure, I realize I am starting a completely new book in my life, fuck starting a new chapter. I could not be more excited to begin that book.