Kampol Changsamran (Bright), a five-year-old boy has been left at the mercy of his neighbors. His parents have separated, and now living with his members of tenement complex, hopping from one to the next, he discovers the adult world around him, tries to understand and absorb it, and also ventures on all the childhood adventures. Kampol's world is set around Mrs. Tongjan’s Community. It is world of mostly working class tenants, who have ups and downs in their family, but still have adapted to the way of the world. In the midst of his friends and adults Kampol has found a way to live by. He's brave at heart but also tender by nature, and while longing for his parents he's grown emotional intelligence of an adult.
“You can’t… You’re better off here—there are compas
sionate people who’ll help you. You’ll find a place to eat and
sleep. It’s just two more days. Do you understand?”
In this urban tale, we observe elements of child psychology, problems of working class, joys of childhood, and all are imbued with humor. Each chapter is like a full-fledged story on its own, and is backed by social realism. Sometimes we read it as a social drama, and at other times it crosses the boundary and we appreciate it for pure story telling. Kampol's adventurous fate often ends with a saddening unfold, but new chapters brings forth lively story and keep things going. Characters are unique, but we quickly feel attached to them because Kampol's new world cannot do without them. He does small chores and runs for them, but manages time for his friends Jua and Oan.
He combed the whole area again: neither of his parents were
anywhere to be found.
The street was empty. Everybody else had gone home.
Neighbors have developed compassion for little Kampol who tries to lift the burden of being left alone by his parents. There is lot of introspection taken care of, and details are never off the track. Lives of Kampol's neighbor also look like they are interconnected. We find things extremely funny, but they also have subtle undertone of sadness, which we feel for Kampol who wishes things to go back and become normal. Very early in his life he has understood the meaning of Hunger. We are surprised by how adult world is taken by the children. It is a coming-of-age novel that has a unique way of telling stories.
I got really fed up and found myself a toy I could play with alone.”
“What was your toy? What did you play?”
“My toy…my toy was books. Books can be fun and you
don’t need anybody to play.”
We follow Kampol and his friends around, because they keep moving, for they always have something in their mind. Lives of children and adults have profusely mixed together, and we see their world in turns. They devise ways to be happy, and also have learned to adapt to their fate. Childhood excursion and fantasies, the innocence of ordinary lives and societal ways of dealings with everyday problems of contemporary life holds the story together. The story is about KAMPOL, and KAMPOL is living it.
Translator: Mui Poopoksakul
Publisher: Two Lines Press
Page Count: 184
Price: $16.34 (Paperback)
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