Book review: Fiction debut exposes dark side of Thailand

Mai Nardone's short story collection gives a nuanced view of the country

"Welcome Me to the Kingdom," Thai American author Mai Nardone's debut story collection, portrays the lives of a handful of recurring characters. (Nikkei montage/Photos courtesy of Mai Nardone)

TOM VATER, Contributing writer

April 28, 2023 08:00 JST

"We came with the drought. From the window of the train, the rich brown of the Chao Phraya River marked the turn from the northeast into the central plains. We came for Bangkok on the delta. The thin tributaries that laced the provinces found full current at the capital. And in the city, we'd heard, the wealth was wide and deep."