Mad Love

Book excerpt: Khái Hưng's Mad Love is romantic writing that explores the fragility of the human psyche in the face of deep emotional pain. The protagonist, Cúc, suffers from a profound mental breakdown after the death of her mother and the abandonment by her secret love, Linh. The contrast between the lively village setting and Cúc’s personal despair creates an emotionally charged atmosphere that captures the reader's empathy. Her delusions, in which she enacts a daily funeral and imagines conversations with her lost lover, highlight her isolation and grief. The arrival of the visitor, who chooses to play the role of Linh in order to help Cúc, introduces an element of deception with compassionate intent. This unconventional method of treating her illness underscores the complexities of mental health during the period in which the story is set. The visitor's willingness to assume a false identity to potentially heal her reflects the deep human desire to alleviate suffering, even through unorthodox means.