Marcel Barang's 11 Thai Short Stories _ 2011 is the kind of e-book that might get those holding steadfastly to their love of print to reconsider their stance.
LINGUIST AT LEISURE: Marcel Barang relaxes in a park.
The collection of the best of Barang's considerable output of translations from last year, and the third in an annual series, is not only a celebration of prose, but, through the concise format of the e-book, of various facets of Thai society, allowing readers to see them in a different light.
From insurgent struggles along the Thai-Myanmar border to an almost poetic illustration of childhood fantasies; from the inner musings of an award-winning writer on the brink of revolution to the not-so-secret "secret life" of a government officer; from dreams of death in a "suicide hotel" to a brave attempt to rescue a dying love by rediscovering lost selves; from the best kept secrets growing in your backyard to the past hidden beneath the colourful lives of kathoey (ladyboys) _ each story is seamless and challenges the reader's understanding of life.
Barang has translated countless Thai novels and short stories into English and French. Among these are literary works by classic and modern writers such as Arkartdamkeung Rapheephat, Arunwadee Arunmart, Siriworn Kaewkan, Kanokphong Songsomphan, Seksan Prasertkul and Prachakhom Lunachai. His contributions to Thai literature have been widely recognised and he was named a "Distinguished Senior Translator" by the Association of Translators and Interpreters of Thailand as, a testament to his ability to deliver Thai literature to a global audience. Several of his translations have also appeared in the Bangkok Post.
11 THAI SHORT STORIES—2011: Translated by Marcel Barang, is available as an e-book for 200 baht at thaifiction.com and immateriel.fr.
11 Thai Short Stories _ 2011 is among the latest offerings on his literature portal, ThaiFiction.com. It showcases short stories from both rookie and veteran wordsmiths that have been translated for the first time. Like most short story collections, some will find particular selections more remarkable than others.
Among the most noteworthy stories are Jadet Kamjorndet's As If It Began with the Rain, a coming-of-age narrative about a unique kind of friendship that blossoms between a Thai student and the brother of a Myanmar revolutionary living along the violence-ridden border. Barang's translation captures the tensions between rival communities and how the innocence of youth is redefined by patriotism and tarnished by the chaos of insurgency. The story is a powerful first selection for the compilation, with a goosebump-inducing conclusion.
Laweng Panjasoonthorn's Death Is Just a Dream is an unabashedly dark narrative. Set in the middle of a vast jungle, the story focuses on an unorthodox concept _ a suicide hotel. In a place where death is welcomed as the ultimate beginning, there is a fine line running between the living and the dead. This is the bitter pill with which a man and a woman _ divided by race and age _ seek to come to terms as they question their own existence.
Romantics may relish the disillusionment portrayed in Anusorn Tipayanon's The Love Boat that Sank in a Cup of Coffee. The story follows a record executive's trip to Vietnam to recover a dying love, in the process of which he learns some hard truths _ albeit in a surreal way _ that make him question what he has believed was true all along. It is through this journey of rediscovery, of cultures and the self, that he is led to a new reality that goes beyond the love he had set out to pursue.
No story would have provided a more fitting conclusion to the compilation than Chatcharin Chaiwat's Boy's Reporter. Narrated by a journalist who befriends a group of kathoey, the story details a human side to a seemingly odd friendship that doesn't discriminate by sexual preference or social class. It also questions stereotypes that still prevail in Thai society when it comes to delineating gender roles. The story's shocking ending serves not only to leave a lasting impression but to make the reader want to discover more of what lies beneath the Thai facade.
In an age where many readers have a penchant for multitasking and shorter attention spans, Barang's 11 Thai Short Stories _ 2011 is nothing short of a compelling read. As each narrative reveals an aspect of the Thai persona, we can commend not only a masterful translation but also the beauty of brevity as it celebrates the nuances of the human spirit through the ebb and flow of prose.
