A love-triangle set in the distant past, a compelling fight for a child's life and the strange events following a funeral are among the finalists for Thailand's most prestigious literary award.
The SEA Write committee unveiled the shortlist of seven novels last Thursday at the Mandarin Oriental, and the winner of the 34th edition of the respected contest will be announced in early November.
SEA Write Award Organising Committee chairman and Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra announced the selection of the seven-member committee with explanations (sometimes rather long) of their merit, beauty and literary heft.
The seven novels are as follows (with unofficial English titles):
- Kon Krae (The Dwarf) by Vipas Srithong.
Three friends convert an old shop into a prison cell in which they plan to lock up someone, or perhaps it is for something.
In the statement, the committee praises the the novel's ability "to explore the deepest, blackest corner of the human mind".
- Diew Dai Tai Fah Klang (Alone Under The Riotous Sky) by Dan-aran Saengthong.
This is the new work by the famous writer. In this novel set during the time of Lord Buddha, a woman, her heart heavy with sorrow, fights a lonely battle to save her child's life.
- Nai Roob Ngao (In The Shadow) by Ngao Jan.
This short novel imagines a love-triangle tragedy set in the distant past, with a focus on the relationship between an aristocratic father and son.
"The voice is tender and sweet as if it were telling a dreamy love tale, but the message it carries is so intense that it can rock our faith in humanity," the selection committee said.
- Roi Plae Khong Saipin (Saipin's Scar) by Sakorn Poolsook.
Saipin narrates the story of various characters who live in an ancient empire overlooking a lake, lorded over by a madame who's bent on controlling the destiny of her people.
- Ruang Lao Nai Loke Luang Ta (A Tale From An Illusory Land) by Pichetsak Popayak.
The selection panel praises this book as "a novel that shows the human heart full of love and vengeance which ultimately leads to the termination of karma".
- Lak Alai (The Mourning Of A Scribe) by Uthis Hemammool.
This is a new book by the former SEA Write winner and former film critic.
In the novel, the main character is the author's namesake. He's a book editor and his trip back home to his father's funeral sets off strange incidents.
In their statement, the selection panel praises the book's strategy of using intertextuality that fuses various discourses and sources of stories.
- Loke Pralad Nai Prawatsat Kwam Sao (A Weird World In The History Of Sadness) by Siriworn Kaewkarn.
Past, present, fantasy and reality are thrown together in this novel about a group of people who trek across a swathe of Southeast Asian jungle.
Selection panel head Sakul Boonyatat said: "The seven finalists are rich in content and serve as a reflection of the various dimensions of society. "They show the reality in which there are great divides in the society. In these books, the only clarity is ambiguity."
Naturally, getting on the SEA Write shortlist boosts sales, and reading enthusiasm for the seven books is likely to pick up right until the winner is decided.
But SEA Write, which also takes place in other Southeast Asian nations, seems to have taken on an added meaning since Bangkok was designated as World Book Capital in 2013 by Unesco, and now it's the job of Bangkokians to prove themselves at least worthy of that lofty title by, of course, reading more books.
"I believe one reason that Unesco chose Bangkok is because the city is the birthplace of SEA-Write Award," MR Sukhumbhand said.
