Tew Bunnag left Bangkok at age 6 for a British education and now lives in Spain, writing part-time in English while teaching tai chi and working in a hospice. With this background, what does he have to say about the intimate lives of his fellow Thais? Judging from "Slow Steps to Love," Bunnag's latest novel -- just published by Bangkok-based River Books -- the answer is: quite a lot.
Bunnag's tale centers around an unusual bond formed between Khun Chai, a spoiled, literary-minded heir to a propertied lifestyle he has never quite embraced, and Lai Yi, a lonely, reserved slum dweller whose massages carry psychic powers. Through these unlikely platonic partners and their close relationship, Bunnag moves effortlessly across various cross-sections of urban Thai society.
