Bright

February 25, 2019
Pimwana’s enchanting debut (the first novel by a Thai woman translated into English, according to the publisher) captures the vivid life of a small Thai child abandoned by his family. After an argument with his wife, the father of five-year-old Kampol Changsamran leaves him at the center of the rundown housing complex where they live and says he will return soon. The neighbors first take pity on Kampol, but as his father’s absence continues into a second day, they begin to argue over who will care for him. Then, Mon, the mother of one of Kampol’s friends, and Chong the grocer step in. In episodic, slice-of-life stories, Kampol has adventures in his small community. Some are very funny, such as Kampol’s feeling of envy over a girl’s treatment after being bit by the wealthy landlady’s dog, or the neighborhood kids causing extreme competition between two flea market merchants. But real sadness also lingers, especially when Kampol’s parents briefly return and Kampol shows signs of premature wisdom, such as his dissatisfaction with the fads his classmates can’t get enough of. Readers will enjoy Kampol’s antics, the colorful side characters, and glimpses of Thai culture in this melancholy-tinged but still exuberant novel.