JIRAT PRASERTSUP
Jirat Prasertsup is not new to SEA Write as his Kan Meung Reung Surreal ( Politics & Surrealism) made it to the long list in 2011. Pipittapan Sieng ( Museum Of Sound) is the first novel by this 30-year-old writer, who works at the Chiang Mai-based magazine Compass.
The book was inspired by his master’s degree project which examines sounds in different cultural contexts, and the narrative focuses on relationships between people, as well as how people communicate in the contemporary world as the main character is in the process of creating a museum of sound.
Is the SEA Write Award still as significant as it once was?
The SEA Write Award can only guarantee that it will boost the book’s sale. The award has framed most people’s taste in only one direction while there are actually hundreds of good books to choose. It would be better if other award standards are improved while writers should experiment with more creative ways in writing.
Why should people read your book?
I have made an attempt to narrate a story by transforming sound to text just like the characters try to capture sounds, which are intangible, into the museum. Apart from enjoying reading, I hope readers will experience sound and a different way of storytelling.
How did you feel the moment you finished writing the first sentence of this book? Did you know you had a book in you?
I realised that there is no such thing as real silence in the world we live in. Even the thoughts inside our head have their own voice. Since we have to live with it, we should be aware of this fact and try to be pleasurable with it as much as possible.
What did you read while you were writing this book?
I didn’t read any book but I did listen to many songs. I listened to The Black Keys, The Naked & Famous, Arcade Fire, Robert Johnson, Nina Simone, Muddy Waters, as well as old Thai folk songs.
Any Thai or international writers you’d recommend?
Jonathan Safran Foer is my favourite. His experimental writing in The Tree Of Code is fun. As for Thai writers, I would recommend Samut Thithat. His short stories collection book called Gorn Kwam Mhai Ja Hai Lub ( Before Meaning Vanishes) is very sharp.