Tarusa shares her favourite page-turners.
By Tatat Bunnag and Sukrit Khaepimpan
Did you know
Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel's Coat was also filmed as an episode of the TV series Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
One key to being a good writer is to always keep reading, and to read as many different types of book as you can. Tarusa Nathapindhu, also known as Pratya Paramee, is a talented author who’s well-known for her range of writing styles.
Her detective novel series, Poo-kong Sao Sueb Sabad (The Great Lady Detective), was one of last year’s best crime-solving reads.
Under her other pseudonym, Pindhunat, Tarusa wrote the romantic novel Tai Ngao Jan (Under the Moonlight), which was adapted into a popular TV drama starring Great Warintorn and Margie Balenciaga. Her latest work, Les Arun (Vague Morning), will be published soon by Post Books.
Student Weekly recently caught up with Tarusa and asked her to tell us about a few of her favourite books.
Title: James Herriot’s Dog Stories
Author: James Herriot
Translator: Parichat Samerkae
Publisher: Butterfly Publishing
This is one of the books written by British vet and gifted writer James Herriot. Its short stories about the dogs that he has treated over the years will bring a smile to your face and a tear to your eye. If you have any passion for animals you will devour this book. It's so sweet and wonderful.
Title: Mai Chur Kor Ya Chur (No Need to Believe)
Author: Various authors
Translator: Mananya
Publisher: Sam See Publishing
It’s an old collection of short stories written by many different authors. They were translated into Thai by my favourite translator, Mananya. The book has weird stories with twists at the end. My favourite is Roald Dahl’s Mrs. Bixby and the Colonel's Coat. It’s a funny story about Mrs. Bixby receiving an expensive coat from a man with whom she had an affair. She hopes to sneak the coat into her house without her husband noticing, but she realises that her husband is cheating on her as well.
Title: Level Seven
Author: Miyuki Miyabe
Translator: Bundit Pradittanuwong
Publisher: The Bliss
I’m a big fan of Japanese literature. They have a unique way of telling stories, especially mystery or horror tales. Level Seven is a crime fiction. The author also has interesting ideas, such as one of the killers is able to hypnotise his victims and make them kill another person. The title story, Level Seven, is about a man who wakes up and realises he has lost his memory. He has the words "Level 7" tattooed on his wrist, and there is some cash and a gun wrapped in a bloodstained towel in the room. He is scared and doesn’t know what happened.
Title: Blood Work
Author: Michael Connelly
Translator: Sumet Chaochuti
Publisher: Praew Publishing
I love watching TV series such as CSI, The Mentalist or 24, and Blood Work gives you the same feeling as watching those shows. It follows the life of Terry McCaleb who was a top man at the FBI until a heart problem forced him to retire. While he is recovering from a heart transplant, he’s told that the donor of his new heart had been murdered. This sets him on a mission to find the killer. The book has great twists and turns, and many surprises. I highly recommended it!
Title: A Murder Case in the Condominium
Author: Pratya Paramee
Publisher: Nanmee Books
A Murder Case in the Condominium is the first book in my Great Lady Detective series. It tells the story of an old lady who dies in her condominium. The police first suspect that her grandson could be the murderer, but after finding his dead body, they realise that the case is much more complicated. I recommend this book because it has a story that defines my style. I dreamed of becoming a detective when I was growing up. The book’s main character, Captain Matumis, is the hero that I wanted to be.
Vocabulary
- pseudonym (n): a fictitious name, especially one used by an author
adapt (v): to change a book or play so that it can be made into a TV show
vet (n): a person qualified to treat diseased or injured animals
devour (v): to read something with great interest and enthusiasm
twist (n): an unexpected change or development in a story
hypnotise (v): to influence, control, or direct somebody completely by
putting them in an unconscious state
