The latest phenomenon in Thai literature is newcomer and latecomer Veeraporn Nitiprapha, a 52-year-old mother who's written, according to reviews, one of the best books of the year.
Her novel Sai Duen Tah Bord Nai Kaw Wongkote (A Blind Worm In The Labyrinth) has been well received by both readers and critics and won her numerous accolades; most recently third place at Seven Books Award, which further earned her a comparison to Arundhati Roy. Veeraporn was inspired to write the novel three years ago after reading the news of an ill-fated couple who attempted a suicide pact (the girl died, but the boyfriend backed out). It is also influenced by the confusion that surrounded Thai society during the army crackdown on red-shirts in 2010. Veeraporn chats with Life about her reading list.
— Anchalee Kongrut
Which book is on your bedside now?
Dork Mai Rai Rark ( The Cooked Seed written by Anchee Min and translated into Thai by Ayuree Cheevaranothai). Despite the book not being that great, the narrative prowess of the writer who manages to create a simple yet gripping start is astonishing. Personally, I am a fan of female writers' works as the world has already showered so much praise and attention on male writers to the level that the way we see the world now has been thoroughly shaped by a male-dominated view. In The Cooked Seed , however, you see the world through the eyes of women. Issues touched upon range from female insecurities caused by things that affect women, such as having bad haircuts to female interpersonal relationships, such as the love-hate relationship between mothers and daughters. These are elements that you will not tend to find in books penned by male writers.
Which book that has been praised by others has let you down?
Reading is a collective and reciprocal exchange between writers and readers and I prefer to look at it as a matter of taste. My reading usually consists of modern literature which explores ideas and new narratives and the kinds of book I dig into are rarely mainstream books or to be found on the bestseller list. Perhaps, I am not the kind of person to be found with Great Expectations . All in all, though, reading does not disappoint me. The reward of reading lies in reading itself and in the diversity and creativity therein.
As a writer, what two books have inspired your writing?
Vurt by Jeff Noon. This is a piece of science fiction that encourages writers to create a new world, a new order and new logic. That recreated world is entirely different from the one that exists and the one that you live in. When you write a futuristic story, you must believe in the story, the characters, and you must also be convinced that you are able to live in that reality. You must be able to suspend your own beliefs.
The Penguin Book Of Japanese Verse (From The Earliest Time To Present) . Once in a while, you find yourself writing 500 pages just to communicate an idea that can be told in four or five sentences, or a single paragraph. Poetry can carry swathes of emotions and impressions within a few well written lines. Japanese poetry is really splendid.
Your all time favourite book?
Vithi Hang Tao ( Ways Of Tao ) helps us understand the birth of everything. You will see that everything, such as politics, society, human relationships, wars and ecology is governed by the law of the universe. In Taoism, there is no black and white, right and wrong because everything is created for balancing, pushing and pulling and counter-checking. Without this equilibrium, nothing will survive, nor sustain.
E-books or dead trees?
I cannot tolerate the glaring light from e-reading devices. Unless you are a person of advanced years, you will not realise how unmerciful and damaging a screen’s light can be to the eyes. The smaller the screen, the worse the effect. But I am not bothered by that since e-reading devices are designed for the young generation (with good eyesight), not the middle-aged or aged! They are not a mainstream group in the marketing world and the only products that are catered to them are senior citizen nappies! My resistance notwithstanding, e-books will eventually replace dead trees.
