The Blind Earthworm in the Labyrinth

On the day Chareeya is born, her mother discovers her father having an affair with a traditional Thai dancer. From then on, Chareeya’s life is fated to carry the weight of her parents’ disappointments. She and her sister grow up in a lush riverside town near the Thai capital, Bangkok, captivated by trashy romance novels, classical music and games of make-believe. When the laconic orphan, Pran, enters their world, he unwittingly lures the sisters into a labyrinth of their own making as they each try to escape their intertwined fates. The original Thai language edition of The Blind Earthworm in the Labyrinthwon the prestigious South East Asian Writers (“S.E.A. Write”) Award for fiction and was a best-seller in Thailand. It is translated into English by Thai film critic and recipient of France’s Chevalier dans l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, Kong Rithdee. Attuned to the addictive rhythms of a Thai soap opera and written with the consuming intensity of a fever dream, this novel opens an insightful and truly compelling window onto the Thai heart. “Mesmerizing and unputdownable – a virtuoso translation of what must surely be one of the best Thai novels to make it into English.” ~ Lawrence Osborne, author of Hunters in the Darkand Only to Sleep Praise for the Thai-language edition: “Read it, then reread it. I’ve finally found Thailand’s Arundhati Roy.” ~ Sarinee Achavanuntakul, writer & translator “The use of language is magical. Simple words come together on the page to form an enigmatic seduction that is sexy, unorthodox and beautiful.” ~ Tomorn Sukpreecha, writer & editor “A celebration of the senses.” ~ Chamaiporn Saengkrajang, National Artist and S.E.A. Write Award Judge