A question of history

A question of history

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Atibhop Pataradetpisan believes in sound, in silence, and in literature _ not necessarily in that order. As a young man Atibhop studied classical composition at Tashkent State University in Uzbekistan. He came back to Thailand to teach music at Mahidol University, and in the meantime he wrote stories and poetry, some of which were collected into books.

Two years ago, he quit the teaching job to become a full-time writer. But music and letters prove to be snuggling bedfellows _ and when you throw in a little bit of political observation and social commentary, you have Atibhop's columns in Siam Rath newspaper, Fine Art magazine, and Sarakadee. "The challenge is to talk both about art, music and politics in my columns," says the man with the flowing hair. Earlier this year, he published his first novel, Prawatsat Khong Kwam Ngieb (The history of silence), which experiments with the complex layers of truth and virtual truth (including a fake information about a character planted online) and roughly based on the Oct 6, 1976 uprising. "It's a metaphor of that event. It's not a historical book, but a book that questions history, especially official history."

What are you reading?

The Thai translation of Antonio Tabucchi’s novel Notturno Indiano [the story of a man who looks for his disappearing friend in India]. The translation is by Nantawan Chanprasert. The book reveals itself as a story, and it grabs me
hard.

What is the book you’ve always wanted to read but still haven’t?

Karnmuang Nai Anusaowaree Tao Suranaree (‘‘The politics behind Tao Suranaree Monument’’), by Saipin Kaew-ngamprasert.

Why haven’t you read it?

It’s believed that the book was pressured to be banned by people in Nakhon Ratchasima [where the monument of the war heroine in the title stands]. I haven’t read it because all copies were recalled a long time ago.

Is there a book you’ve read but never managed to finish?

Norwegian Wood, by Haruki Murakami.

Did you ever buy a book because everybody was talking about it, but when you actually read it you don’t like it at all?

Most of Murakami’s books—though I enjoyed some of his short stories.

Roughly, at home how many books have you bought that you haven’t started reading?

A few dozen.

You just wrote a novel that touches on the idea of truth and history. What is your favourite book on a historical subject?

Mae Nang Muang, by Sujit Wongtes.

You’re also a lecturer in music. What’s your favourite writing about music?

I enjoy reading Somsak Jeamteerasakul’s analysis of our national anthem and other propaganda songs. His research is very complete.

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