NPR

Stories Converge In A Flooded 'Bangkok'

Pitchaya Sudbanthad's novel follows a broad cast of characters who gradually come together in and around a condominium tower in Bangkok. It's a promising debut that expertly evokes a sense of place.
Source: Patrick Jarenwattananon

Pitchaya Sudbanthad's novel, , opens with a woman of indeterminate age ("She is a child or a few thousand years old. Would it ever matter?") approaching "the building she thinks of as home." She enters the building's lobby, contemplates taking the elevator upstairs to see her parents, but she's suddenly hit with an unsettling feeling, and leaves. "Some uproar above compels her to look up," Sudbanthad writes, and "her instincts command her to cross her arms

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR2 min readAmerican Government
Biden Proposes Debates In June And September, And Names Terms. Trump Says Yes
President Biden's team says he won't be part of the Commission on Presidential Debates plan. But he said he would be open to two televised debates, in June and September.
NPR8 min read
8 Tracks: What Was The Steve Albini Sound? Almost Everything
If an artist was willing to confront their truths, Albini was ready to take them into the gaping maw. The recording engineer, who died last week, left an indelible mark on how we hear music.
NPR4 min read
Despite State Bans, Abortions Nationwide Are Up, Driven By Telehealth
Telehealth accounts for 19% of all abortions, new research finds. And while the number of abortions did plummet in ban states, overall abortions across the country are up.

Related Books & Audiobooks