First-time published writer, Veeraporn Nitiprapha, has won the SEA Write Award for her first book, Saiduan Tabod Nai Khaowongkot (A Blind Earthworm in a Labyrinth).
The novel 'Saiduan Tabod Nai Khaowongkot (A Blind Earthworm In a Labyrinth)', by author Veeraporn Nitiprapha, wins the SEA Write Award 2015. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)
The 52-year-old mother is the sixth female writer to receive the prestigious literary award. Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana will present the award on Dec 14 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel.
The SEA Write Award (Southeast Asian Writers Award) has been presented annually since 1979 to recognise and honour the works of modern poets and writers of Southeast Asia.
The SEA Write committee said all seven judges unanimously chose the book because of "its unique, evocative, and powerful prose which is encapsulated and well told by imaginative narrative plots that can deeply touch human hearts.
"The book also reflects the failure at individual levels to manage and take control of one's own life, the art-obsessive young generation, and the clash between ideology and myth of family institutes. Despite the social implications, the book is brimming with the aesthetic beauty of language and celebrates the beauty of various forms of art," the committee said.
The book takes up one of the oldest themes in popular writing, the love triangle, which is played out by emotionally wounded young lovers against a backdrop of a complex society. What elevates the book is the writer's evocative description of food, art and music.
One of the judges, Khunying Vinita Diteeyong, a renowned female writer, says the book will become a model of language experiments for modern Thai literature.
"All books are outstanding in one way or another and it is a tough call for judges," Khunying Vinita said.
"But this book is outstanding in its use of language. Not so many writers pay attention to words and descriptions any more.
"This author dexterously uses prose to convey imagination and feeling, creating unique, memorable characters."
National artist Chamaiporn Saengkrajang, also one of the judges, describes the book as a "celebration of the senses".
"Apart from all the social context, the book is a celebration of the beauty of art. The author uses her vivid prose to describe the beauty of art...paintings, music and food that those young characters use as emotional therapy," Ms Chamaiporn said.
The author is unknown in Thai literature. A few years ago, Veeraphon mailed the manuscript to Matichon Books which didn't hesitate to publish it.
