Memories of the Memories of the Black Rose Cat

 

When Great-Grandpa Tong emigrated from China to Siam
as a young man in the early decades of the 20th century,
he unwittingly brought with him a family curse…
Spanning three generations of a Chinese-Thai family in Thailand,
Memories of the Memories of the Black Rose Cat
is an epic saga of immigrant life. In her characteristic magical
realist style, Veeraporn Nitiprapha chronicles the family’s adventures
and tragedies against the backdrop of a tumultuous century to create
a unique, vivid and poignant portrayal of Chinese diaspora life.
A best-seller in Thailand, the original Thai-language edition of
Memories of the Memories of the Black Rose Cat
won the national SEA-Write Award in 2018.
“Riveting! A fascinating melange of Marquezian magical realism
and a 21st century version of Dream of the Red Chamber. Tragically sweet
with a twisted ending that makes readers wonder – like the forgotten
history of the Chinese Diaspora in Thailand – if we really exist.”
~ Wassana Wongsurawat, Assistant Professor of
Modern Chinese History, Chulalongkorn University


Praise for Veeraporn Nitiprapha’s earlier work
(also translated by Kong Rithdee),
The Blind Earthworm in the Labyrinth:
“Engrossing and addictive.” ~ Asian Review of Books, Hong Kong
“Feverish and dreamy – a tour de force.”
~ The Straits Times, Singapore
“[A] rare glimpse into the torrid heart of modern Thai life.”
~ Washington Independent Review of Books, USA
“An immersive experience,” ~ The New York Times, USA