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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Boy meets cobra and has existential crisis. This book has a villain who though briefly described becomes a magnet for hatred from the reader.
Short story I bought for the price of a full novel but it was really good so idm
challenging
emotional
medium-paced
Snakes, Why Did It Have to be Snakes?
Review of the Peirene Press paperback (2023) translated by [a:Mui Poopoksakul|16221773|Mui Poopoksakul|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] from the Thai language original [b:อสรพิษ|15743990|อสรพิษ|แดนอรัญ แสงทอง|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1560405841l/15743990._SX50_.jpg|21432439] [Serpent] (2002).
This short story / novella about a 10-year-old Thai village boy confronting a King Cobra snake is excellent on atmosphere and setting. It gradually becomes more unrealistic and fable-like though as you begin to wonder how it can possibly end. The boy had accidentally sat down near a cobra* nest to play a game with hand-made shadow puppets while tending the family herd of oxen. The cobra (a full length monster) finally emerges and moves to strike.
The boy actually grasps the snake by its throat (don't know if that is the correct anatomical word for a snake) and proceeds to hold the grip while the snake entwines itself around his body. He then proceeds back to the village while holding the grip and everyone runs away from him in terror, including his parents. Then there is a final confrontation with the village medium (a conman who has convinced everyone of his special powers) who says the snake is the embodiment of the village goddess who has come to take revenge (the boy and his family don't respect the conman).
Despite the expectations of the buildup, the ending is a complete letdown which is both ambiguous and unsatisfactory. But everything else had been well done up to that point, so still a 3-star for me.
Footnote, Trivia and Link
* King Cobras are the longest venomous snake in the world, growing to lengths of 3 metres up to almost 6 metres (10 feet to 19 feet). Read more if you dare at Wikipedia.
Review of the Peirene Press paperback (2023) translated by [a:Mui Poopoksakul|16221773|Mui Poopoksakul|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png] from the Thai language original [b:อสรพิษ|15743990|อสรพิษ|แดนอรัญ แสงทอง|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1560405841l/15743990._SX50_.jpg|21432439] [Serpent] (2002).
This short story / novella about a 10-year-old Thai village boy confronting a King Cobra snake is excellent on atmosphere and setting. It gradually becomes more unrealistic and fable-like though as you begin to wonder how it can possibly end. The boy had accidentally sat down near a cobra* nest to play a game with hand-made shadow puppets while tending the family herd of oxen. The cobra (a full length monster) finally emerges and moves to strike.
The boy actually grasps the snake by its throat (don't know if that is the correct anatomical word for a snake) and proceeds to hold the grip while the snake entwines itself around his body. He then proceeds back to the village while holding the grip and everyone runs away from him in terror, including his parents. Then there is a final confrontation with the village medium (a conman who has convinced everyone of his special powers) who says the snake is the embodiment of the village goddess who has come to take revenge (the boy and his family don't respect the conman).
Despite the expectations of the buildup, the ending is a complete letdown which is both ambiguous and unsatisfactory. But everything else had been well done up to that point, so still a 3-star for me.
Footnote, Trivia and Link
* King Cobras are the longest venomous snake in the world, growing to lengths of 3 metres up to almost 6 metres (10 feet to 19 feet). Read more if you dare at Wikipedia.
adventurous
relaxing
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
packs a lot into not many pages, the world felt so rich ! weird and wonderful, captures a sense of childlike wonder then feels like you’re reflecting and growing up v fast with the protagonist
love a weird little read where i have no idea what’s going on and then have to think about it for several days afterwards
love a weird little read where i have no idea what’s going on and then have to think about it for several days afterwards
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No