The Representation of the Bookstore in The Last 24-Hour Booktore, a Novel by Kittisak Kongka

Abstract

The objective of this research article was to investigate the representation of “the bookstore” in the novel The Last 24-Hour Bookstore by Kittisak Kongka. The study is documentary research emphasizing text interpretation based on theories of literature and representation concept. The representation of the bookstore comprised of two concepts: 1) an image of an expectation area and 2) an image of an escape area. The author of the novel employed four representation strategies: 1) the representation through a bookstore storyline, 2) the representation through the emotions of middle-class characters, 3) the representation through realism and magic scenes, and 4) the representation through the use of symbolic language. Each representation in the novel thoroughly portrayed human emotions and the human’s use of space in current society. In addition, it also demonstrated the healed memories of the middle-class people as they were able to stop thinking about the past that disrupted their present lives.