 |
Growing up in a small Thai village, Pran's world is small: his father, Beloved, who tells him loving stories of his mother in heaven; his father's best friend, Lek; the superstitious villagers who whisper tales of a ghost woman; and the bullies in his village school. This world is upended when his devoted father dies, leaving him in the care of a previously unknown aunt and his father's former nanny. He is belittled and humiliated for ten years until his aunt and Nanny Sook betray his trust and banish him from their home. He returns to Lek's home, where the great mystery of his father's past is finally revealed. After hearing the horrific details, Pran blames himself for his father's ill luck and drifts into alcoholism. He is contemplating suicide when he meets the Stalker, an immortal being who brings Pran into his lair and reveals that he feeds on the miseries of humanity. As World War II rages, Pran fights his own battle against his internal demons and the Stalker's force.
This haunting work provides the framework for an exploration of passion, grief, loss, and redemption. Pran and Beloved's stories are portrayed in vivid detail, yet they are edged with a dreamlike quality that prompts the reader to take a second glance. The author imbues her descriptions with great humanity and compassion even as she describes incredible loss and betrayal. Although the Stalker's malevolent presence can be felt throughout the narrative, his role is not introduced until the last third of the novel, which is a bit jarring to the reader. This is not a happy tale, but it is intensely introspective, thought-provoking, and ultimately satisfying, perfect for readers who, like Beloved and Pran, wrestle with metaphysical questions of good and evil, lust and purity, and humanity's ultimate purpose.