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= THE CHILD OF THE NORTHEAST (LOOK-I-SAN) =

Introduction
Son of the Northeast is a novel book written by Kampoon Boontawee. The novel got a S.E.A. Write Award (Southeast Asian Writers Award) in 1979. The author wrote a novel base on his own experience of his childhood in the northeast of Thailand.

Author
Kampoon Boontawee was born on 26 June 1928 in Sai-Moon village, Yasothorn Province. Koon is his former name. He is the oldest brother of seven children. He finished high school level from Preechabundhit School then worked in various fields in the northeast of Thailand. After that he moved to work in Bangkok as a labor at Klong Toey Port, a stableman for horse races and a tricycle driver. He passed an exam as a teacher and worked in the south of Thailand. He had worked as a teacher for 11 years then had changed his career to a prison guard. He was married to Prapith Na Phatthalung in 1961 and they had 6 children. He retired from work when he was 40s. After Prapith passed away Kampoon remarried with Lanna Charoensitthichai who wrote a novel “Jek-Ban-Nok”. They also did a publisher together named Poi Sian to publish their family’s work. He was honored as a national artist on 14 December 2001. On 4 April 2003 Kampoon passed away of acute heart failure when he was 74 years old.

Synopsis
The rural arid area called Yasothorn in the northeast of Thailand was where most of its people relied on agriculture during 1930s. Many families evacuate to wetlands to avoid drought but those who didn’t move had to adapt themselves. The center of the novel is a family. Koon was an 8 year old boy who was the oldest child of this family. He lived with his parents and 2 younger sisters, Yee-Soon 5 years old and Boon-Lai 2 years old. When the drought came, this family decided not to evacuate and lived in the area like some of their neighbors. The parents focused on education of their children. Even they poor, they sent Koon to study at a local school where he studied with his best friend named Jan dee. Trading with Vietnamese in the village made the villagers excited, especially kids. Kids always played in the wild field, and sometimes they went hunting with their parents for food. When drought came, finding food was harder. The villagers had a long journey for fishing to bring fish back home to make pickled fish that they could use to exchange with rice and for sharing. Religious rites at the temple were important events for the villagers, including the belief in Buddhism and spirit of nature.

Main Characters

 * Koon

Koon was an 8 year old boy who was very inquisitive, observant and liked to ask. He gave importance to detail that is good because the author used the kids’ perspective to describe the point to reader.


 * Koon’s Father

Koon’s father really held on to his own reason. He always encouraged Koon to learn many skills taught by him. He gives value kindness with the others very much. He always taught Koon to help and share. From his role he was a great teacher who teaches life lesson to Koon.


 * Koon’s Mother

Koon’s mother showed the role of wife and mother of this family. She followed her husband but was controversial when she disagreed.

Awards

 * Outstanding novel Award from the National Book Development Board in 1976


 * Southeast Asian Writers Award in 1979

Reference
-http://www.thaicritic.com/?p=197

-http://ronnachai92.blogspot.com/2013/10/2522-1.html

-https://www.bloggang.com/mainblog.php?id=natnm&month=21-08-2013&group=4&gblog=22