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The Blind Earthworm in the Labyrinth
The Blind Earthworm in the Labyrinth | Veeraporn Nitiprapha
1 post | 1 read | 1 to read
On the day Chareeya is born, her mother discovers her father having an affair with a traditional Thai dancer. From then on, Chareeya's life is fated to carry the weight of her parents' disappointments. She and her sister grow up in a lush riverside town near the Thai capital, Bangkok, captivated by trashy romance novels, classical music and games of make-believe. When the laconic orphan, Pran, enters their world, he unwittingly lures the sisters into a labyrinth of their own making as they each try to escape their intertwined fates. The original Thai language edition of The Blind Earthworm in the Labyrinthwon the prestigious South East Asian Writers ("S.E.A. Write") Award for fiction and was a best-seller in Thailand. It is translated into English by Thai film critic and recipient of France's Chevalier dans l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, Kong Rithdee. Attuned to the addictive rhythms of a Thai soap opera and written with the consuming intensity of a fever dream, this novel opens an insightful and truly compelling window onto the Thai heart. "Mesmerising and unputdownable - a virtuoso translation of what must surely be one of the best Thai novels to make it into English." - Lawrence Osborne, author of Hunters in the Darkand Only to Sleep
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Another newish translation by a female Thai author! It is based on the tropes of Thai soap operas, which I know nothing about, but that probably explains the death scenes, relationships, and ghosts. The central story is two sisters and a boy they pull into their family. ⤵️

ReadingEnvy I struggled a bit with the non linear nature (one character is introduced in his death scene and everything with him moves backwards from that) but enjoyed the details of flora/fauna/food/music/history. The translator note at the beginning is fascinating too. This was not an easy book to translate! But I am glad I got to read it. 5y
Ruthiella I love your deep dive when you read around the world!😀 5y
pppooraikul Oh, this is an award-winning novel in Thailand it‘s hard to read even in the original language. Not an easy read definitely! 👏🏼 5y
ReadingEnvy @pppooraikul But I liked that I had to read differently. It shouldn't feel the same as an American novel, I don't think. 5y
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