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3.6 AVERAGE
3.6 AVERAGE
"After awful things happen, she's found that a woman has to make herself appear inviolate, so that she can live the good life expected of her and be a productive, contributing member of the society. If she gives it her amicable face, maybe she'll also find herself loved, unconditionally if she's lucky, as her husband had loved her, as her son does, and still there'll be a lingering ache underneath, made more palpable as her years begin to wear thin. The more terrible memories manifest as more than an ache. She feels them alive and aflame within her, and she can't just abandon them to oblivion. She must tend to them. She feeds them with her heart."
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Probably 3.5 rounded up. Which was more about me and the format I read it in than the stories (loosely connected short stories) themselves. I listened on audio and while the reader was good, I often have a hard time differentiating where one story ends and the next begins when they don't also switch readers, so I would find myself somewhat confused for the beginnings of some of the stories until I clued in that we'd moved on to something new.
I think I need to read this in print at some point in the future just to figure out what was going on in a few spots.
I think I need to read this in print at some point in the future just to figure out what was going on in a few spots.
I didn’t really know what to expect going into this, and I was quite pleasantly surprised. A clean and compelling novel of a somewhat experimental structure falls in and out of history, giving us brief moments in interconnected lives spanning some centuries into the future. Definitely reminiscent and perhaps directly inspired by the structure of Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell (and his earlier Ghostwritten) - except Mitchell’s project in structuring those stories was to study interrelationships throughout characters reincarnating in different times, identities, and genres. Sudbanthad’s project, examined from the same light, must be to study the reincarnation of the city of Bangkok itself, and how it relates to different characters (or maybe the reincarnation of a haunted structural beam? Part of the issue with audiobooks is that subtle clues breeze by and are difficult to reconstruct). The strength here is the slices of life, the compassionate and interesting stories that get me invested in particular characters…just for them to be swept away in time, and me be reintroduced to them as not the main character, but the aged swim teacher of the aunt of the protagonist.
It gets a bit scifi at the end, which I fear may lose some people, but to me this is a solidly enjoyable and entertaining read.
It gets a bit scifi at the end, which I fear may lose some people, but to me this is a solidly enjoyable and entertaining read.
Odd and lovely. An interconnected series of stories from the past and future of Bangkok. I think mostly about memory and relationships.
Bangkok Wakes to Rain by Pitchaya Sudbanthad is an ambitious, multi-layered novel that weaves together the lives of various characters across different time periods in the vibrant city of Bangkok. While the writing is rich and evocative, painting a vivid picture of the city's culture and complexity, the narrative can feel disjointed at times, making it challenging to connect with the characters on a deeper level. The nonlinear structure, while intriguing, sometimes detracts from the emotional impact, leaving readers longing for a more cohesive storyline. Despite its flaws, the book offers insightful reflections on life, love, and the passage of time, making it a worthwhile read for those who appreciate intricate storytelling.
Sara | Book Confessions of an ExBallerina | Instagram
Sara | Book Confessions of an ExBallerina | Instagram
I wish I liked this book more. It has ingredients I always enjoy: cli-fi (even if depressing), interesting characters, and - for me the best bit - set in my favourite city in the world, Bangkok. However, the novel just didn't hit the mark for me. Like others, I found it a bit disjointed. While I liked how the characters were all connected to one building in Bangkok, and that the story spanned a few generations, I did not find the strands woven together as well as they could have been. All that said, this is a debut novel, and I would read more from him (especially if set in BKK or Thailand more broadly).
marvelous! i really enjoyed this hard to categorize book. says it's short stories, but all the "stories" are linked through characters and time. brilliant writing too.
Reading around the world: Thailand.
A beautifully written book of vignettes that are loosely connected and mainly set in Krung Thep (Bangkok). A few perspectives seemed unnessary (especially the bird and future children one) but mostly I was surprised by how much I enjoyed following all these different people's stories. I especially liked how it blended genres, from historical to speculative fiction.
A beautifully written book of vignettes that are loosely connected and mainly set in Krung Thep (Bangkok). A few perspectives seemed unnessary (especially the bird and future children one) but mostly I was surprised by how much I enjoyed following all these different people's stories. I especially liked how it blended genres, from historical to speculative fiction.
medium-paced