Stickman's Guide
to BangkokThailand Book Reviews
All of the material on this page, both the text and the photos, is original.
It is all copyright Stickman (c) 1998 - 2008.This section will undergo a major update over the next couple of weeks.
So you've read my nonsense ramblings and you still want to know more about the expat lifestyle in Bangkok / Thailand? There are a lot of good websites out there and there are a lot of good books out there too. Here follows a list of the books that I have read that are related to, set in, or are directly about Thailand's naughty nightlife.
I have always been a big reader and when I made the decision to move to Thailand I read as much about the country as I could get my hands on. I read some very good books, and I also picked up a few crappy ones too. Them's the breaks.
Just to give you an idea of the sort of thing that I like, so that you have a yardstick by which to judge the reviews, my two favourite authors include Stephen Leather, the British thriller writer, David Baldacci, the popular American author and David Baldacci. As far as popular authors go, I don't really like John Grisham's style, as too many of his books seem a little "same same" to me. Tom Clancy's books get a little technical though I have to say that while he is a good writer, his style, like Grisham's, just doesn't sit well with me. I don't usually like reading anything academic or
anything too heavy on a topic that I have little interest in as I read predominantly for enjoyment. Other internationally known authors whose work I have enjoyed include Jack Higgins, Brad Metzler and Douglas Kennedy to name a few. Yeah, I like thrillers.
There are a lot of novels set directly in the nightlife scene and the most famous of these (within Thailand at least) are the books by Christopher G Moore. And then there are other titles which are just set in Thailand but touch on the nightlife scene such as the books written by Colin Piprell and Jake Needham. Some of the authors are based here like Chris Moore, while others float between Bangkok and Europe or the US, like Stephen Leather. Whatever your taste in books, you should be able to find something amongst this lot to satisfy your desire for more information, or entertainment, about Thailand. (Many of the authors of these books have been interviewed on this website - go to the interview section to read their interviews.)
Creating this website, I have been privileged to meet many of the authors of the books highlighted here, and some of them are now good friends. Notwithstanding this, I have reviewed all of the books honestly and objectively, just as I know the authors would want me to. All of the reviews follow the same format, information about the book, followed by what I liked about it, what I didn't like about it, and what I thought of it overall. At the end of the day, if I am going to write about something, I have to consider my reputation too - and I'm simply not prepared to call the world's most boring book a literary masterpiece!
It is important to note that all new book reviews will be added to the top of the list, so if you want to search for the newest reviews, they will be the ones immediately below.
StickmanBangkok Book Reviews I have rated these books based purely on how *I* found them - you may well disagree! Reviews by definition are subjective!
You'll Never Walk Alone
By Debbie Singh
Debbie Singh grew up in a close knit family in Liverpool, England. Her family didn't go without, but sacrifices were made and they didn't always enjoy the trimmings that wealthier families may have. This upbringing kept the family close together, and they were brought up with old-fashioned values.
The family adopts a troubled youngster and he is welcomed into the family as one of their own despite the fact that he is not a blood relation. The family shows him all the love that a child could ever ask for, but he remains a little distant.
The family emigrates to Australia and the adopted lad drifts, eventually ending up in Thailand, hardly the place for someone so unsettled and with a propensity for falling into trouble. Just like watching a car accident about to happen in slow motion, the said fellow gets himself into all sorts of bother, knocking up his girlfriend, a lady of questionable
repute, before ending up with no money, and taking the easy way out, trying to make money by passing off dud cheques. He is caught, and his nightmare in the Bangkok Hilton begins.
His family slowly finds out that he is stuck in a prison in Thailand and Debbie volunteers to go and visit him. She is horrified at the conditions he exists in and sets about on her quest to get him transferred back to a prison in Australia.
Much of the book follows Debbie's frequent visits to Thailand, the people she deals with, and the places she sees.
What I liked: This is a new perspective on the Bangkok prison book, which has been done many times before. The author of this book is truly a saint, a lady with an absolute heart of gold, and you just cannot help but warm to her. She selflessly put her troubled brother's well-being above everything else.
What I didn’t like: Parts of the book are awfully repetitive, especially in the second half, where there are numerous trips between Australia and Thailand that are very much same same, to use a Thai phrase. Much of what is written about Thailand is downright wrong and there are a few glaring, grating generalisations about the women of the night. That such comments are made is rather hypocritical given what her brother got up to.Overall: I don't know how much this title will appeal to the audience of this site as it is far more a book about a woman's struggle to assist her brother in a foreign prison, than a Bangkok prison book. Female readers may enjoy it, but male readers? I'm not so sure.
* It is worth noting that I don't always enjoy books written by females, and this should be factored in to my comments.
Bangkok DickBy David Young
Reilly is the latest in a long line of Bangkok PIs to appear in a Bangkok novel. David Young's latest hero is a clumsy, stereotypical gumshoe who makes his money through a PI's bread and butter cases, those involving infidelity.
Set almost entirely in central Bangkok, Reilly is hired by the wife of a B grade movie actor to frame her husband getting up to no good with a lady of the night so that she can get a divorce and a favourable settlement.
Reilly sets about his task and the novel follows him and a few other characters, including a sex tour group, another PI and a few extras, all in something of a comical, almost slapstick manner.
What I liked: Amazing, a locally written book that had almost zero typos or grammatical mistakes - that makes a change! The idea of a Bangkok PI novel, looking in on naughty boys and girls always has definite appeal. Has David Young ever done any PI work? You'd think so, because he had quite a lot of good ideas about how to go about it!
What I didn’t like: The characters were a little weak and in the first quarter of the book, you'd read a character's name and think back in the story, trying to work out just who he was! While clean in terms of typos, the book needed a bit more editing as I found myself reading a paragraph and then having to go back and re-read it, trying to work out just what had happened. It just doesn't flow as well as it could, in some parts.Overall: A pleasant enough read, but certainly not David Young's best.
Thai Lite 2
By S Tsow
S. Tsow is a regular columnist in The Nation and this is his second collection of short stories and dialogues about life in Thailand for both the expat and the traveller. All sorts of scenarios are covered, ranging from expat life to Khao Sarn Road - there really is something for everyone here.
S. Tsow's writing is efficient, and his observations succinct. He often looks at things from an angle you've never thought of yourself, something which I always like.
What I liked: All of the stories are short and snappy, and some are more than a little amusing. The author offers some very interesting insights and looks at things from every possible angle.
What I didn’t like: You can't help that think that while this collection is extremely well written, it really does have a lot of competition online, with so many Thailand sites and blogs offering a similar type of commentary. The stories written in dialogue fashion I personally found much less interesting.Overall: A nice collection of short stories, very well-written, and snappy. Ideal beach reading.
The Butterfly Trap
By Dennis Jon
Said to be a true story, Dennis Jon takes us on a newbie's (his?) first trip to Bangkok, away from his native US where he awaits finalisation of his divorce Stateside.
His arrival at Don Meuang, the challenges of using the public transportation and the nuances of hotels in the nightlife areas are all scenarios Dennis experiences and we are reminded of so many of the things that we experienced on our first trip to Thailand, the sights, the smells and, of course, the girls.
And it is the girls who make up a big part of the book. Dennis butterflies from girl to girl with largely unsatisfactory experiences, always looking for someone who wants him as he much has he wants her, and not a girl who just wants him for his money. Not content with his experiences in Bangkok, he heads down to the seaside City Of Sin where it is largely the same.
Throughout the book one bad guy keeps popping in various locales, up but apart from him, the story is somewhat linear, and I personally felt that it needed a stronger storyline. As a depiction of a trip, it is good, but for a novel, perhaps a bit more spice was needed?
What I liked: It took me back to parts of my first trip. In parts the writing is very good. The book starts well and ends fairly well and the cover is very nicely designed.
What I didn’t like: There are a number of typos in the book, some clearly typos, some grammar mistakes and this remains an area that Bangkok Books really needs to work on. I lost count at 12 mistakes.Overall: Nothing ground-breaking here, and definitely not a real challenger to Private Dancer as the ultimate Bangkok nightlife novel, but a pleasant enough read nonetheless.
The Wanchai Chronicles, A tale of lost innocence in Hong Kong's red-light district
By Svend Christiansen
Set against the backdrop of commercial Hong Kong, an American is sent to Asia on business and before long finds himself falling into the Wanchai nightlife scene. In his short time in Asia, he not only gets a taste of the industry in Hong Kong but also in Bangkok and
Singapore. And as seems almost inevitable for Westerners on their first time in Asia away from girlfriend or wife, he gets himself in all sorts of trouble with the infamous ladies of the night. Then it all starts to go pear-shaped, as we have to expect! His wife joins him and well, you can guess the rest.
What I liked: Same story, different setting. I enjoyed reading about life as an expat and the inevitable ventures into the naughty nightlife industry in Hong Kong, as opposed to Thailand.
What I didn’t like: The book is very short, just 87 pages long! It would seem the names of venues have been changed. Just where could Surin Plaza be, with Surin Hotel right across the road?! I can understand changing people's names, but the names of venues seems unnecessary to me.Overall: Worth picking up (at time of writing the review it is not available in Bangkok so you would have to order it over the internet or get in when you find yourself in Hong Kong.)
Welcome To Hell
By Colin Martin
Colin Martin is an Irish national who spent several years in a Thai prison and this is his account of that time.
We learn a little about his upbringing and the scene is set well in the events leading up to his arrest. It is like watching an accident about to happen, wanting to do something to stop it, but being totally unable to.
The part of the book that deals with his arrest and what followed afterwards are quite awful and are enough to make you not just scared, but petrified of ever coming to the attention of the Thai police. What this guy went through then I truly cannot imagine. That sort of treatment should only ever be reserved for the most heinous crimes, when interrogation is being conducted under the most pressing conditions i.e. the suspect has planted a bomb and information needs to be extracted from them urgently in order to save lives.
Once in prison, all of the horrors we've heard about Thai prisons and more come to the fore and the author tells of how he saw first hand the sort of things that no-one should ever have to see. Harrowing doesn't even begin to describe some of it.
Truth be told, the story seemed to be as much about his struggle, the injustice of events and a flawed legal system, as it is about life inside a Thai prison. The author contends that he did not commit the crime that he was accused of, but we are never quite sure if that was the case or not.
We learn a lot about life in a Thai prison but I couldn't help but feel at the end of it that I couldn't really picture the physical environment of a Thai prison in my mind from his words.
I find it awfully surprising that Asia Books published this. Don't get me wrong, I'm glad that they did, but Asia Books as a retailer has been known to be conservative and rather choosey about what Thailand related titles it stocks. Anything that showed Thailand in a negative light, especially when prostitution was concerned did not appear on the shelves at Asia Books, in the past at least. In my opinion, this book paints Thailand in a very bad light, showing up major inadequacies in policing, the justice department, the prison system and suggesting that Thais are always on the take, amongst other things. With the hell that the author went through, you can understand him hitting out at all and sundry. But he paints some aspects of Thailand in such a bad light that if you read this book before visiting Thailand, you might choose to avoid the country altogether!
What I liked: The build up to his arrest takes about the first quarter of the book and is well paced. The author goes into quite a lot of detail of all that happened a long the way. I loved the author's brutal honesty and he told it like it is, slamming certain institutions and showing up what would appear to be some major flaws in the justice system. You could never help but feel the author was a "decent bloke", the sort of person most people would warm to.
What I didn’t like: The author described what happened to him fairly well, and the frustration after frustration he experienced with the Thai "justice" system. But I felt his descriptions of the places he went to and the people he met were lacking. We hardly got to know any of the people he met in prison, at least at an individual level. He often pointed the finger at those who were involved in all sorts of wrong doings, but seldom mentioned those who had done him a good turn, or who he had been at least somewhat close to.Overall: This is only the second book that I have read to completion the same day I bought it, "The Damage Done" being the other one, funnily enough. Welcome To Hell is far from a literary masterpiece but it is absolutely compulsive reading.
Bangkok Babylon
By Jerry Hopkins
Jerry Hopkins moved to Thailand in 1993 and settled into a pleasant life. Through being a customer of some of the smaller, less popular Nana Plaza bars, he seems to have met and befriended a number of Bangkok personalities. This book is a profile of 25 odd expats in Bangkok, many of whom are personal friends of his.
Such well-known characters as Bernard Trink, Shrimp, Joe Cummings and Eric Rosser are profiled as well as a number of unknowns, some of whom are interesting and some of whom quite frankly, are not.
Each short essay, of which are around 10 pages on average in length, profiles the amazing expats. Some are genuinely amazing while others are less so. There is some inconsistency though in that some had amazing stories in Thailand, while others' amazing experiences happened outside of Thailand. That they all settled in Thailand seems to be the common thread.
The more I read, the harder it was to make up my mind whether this was a book about interesting expats, or a book about the author's friends! Nothing wrong with writing a book about your friends of course.
There was one profile in this book which I didn't just dislike, I strongly resented. Jerry got the knife and plunged it into Bernard Trink and then twisted it around and around before pulling it out. That the author did not care for Trink is one thing, but to the way he did it was, in my opinion, quite disgusting. Bernard deserved MUCH better.
What I liked: Some interesting characters were profiled, as well as some famous folks who we learn more about. Jerry is a good writer and the book is a very easy read. I also like it that each chapter is its own unique story so you do not have to read it in the order it appears in the book.
What I didn’t like: The hatchet job Hopkins did on Trink was quite disgusting. And then profiling yourself? WTF?! While some stories are good, others are less relevant. Writing 6 pages of a 10 page piece about someone's life in the West before they even got to Thailand won't interest too many. The author appears to know Chris Moore well, yet didn't write about Chris. Chris is very popular and a chapter on him would have been welcome.Overall: There are some interesting characters profiled here, as well as some much less interesting. A worthwhile read which with a few characters removed, and a few, more widely known, or genuinely amazing, as do exist in Thailand, could have been better.
Thai Vignettes, Phuket And Beyond
By Steve Rosse
220 odd pages of short stories set in Phuket, this is a quick read. There are a variety of stories from the inevitable, but enjoyable, bargirl stories to the visit to Immigration to more unusual stories such as one about a Singaporean derelict turned hi-society type who got caught in Phuket on his way to France.The curious thing is that while there is a disclaimer that none of the stories are based on real people or real events, most feel as if they are actually based on something or someone, such is the detail efficiently included into such short stories.
What I liked: There is a nice variety of stories and they're not all based on Bangla Road. The author captures the Thai psyche well with many of he characters acting exactly how you would expect them to.
What I didn’t like: Like so many books published locally, the typesetting isn't bad....it's awful! I only picked up a couple of typos, and a couple of confusing issues in the Immigration story. These issues are far from being just a Bangkok Books thing, but they do grate after a while.
Overall: This book reminds me of a bunch of very well polished readers' submissions, all set in Phuket. The writing is crisp and most of the stories are light. An enjoyable read.Bangkok Tattoo
By John Burdett
Following on from the hugely popular Bangkok 8, John Burdett comes back with the same characters in another Thai police district whodunnit style novel.Sonchai, the look-kreung cop helps out his mother, a former woman of the night, in their Soi Cowboy bar which specifically targets aged gentleman. There is a murder on the premises, one of the customers purportedly killed and then maimed by one of the girls. What follows is something of a whodunnit style novel with the cops investigating things here and covering things up there. The novel moves around from Bangkok, down to the troubled south of Thailand, and back.
Chunks of the story take place in Soi Cowboy, but not so much as to put you off if that is not really your thing. As seems to be Burdett's thing, there are the inevitable katoey characters and someone dying and being stuffed full of long, slithering creatures.
What I liked: The first 150 pages. Two of the characters were well done, the Colonel and the main character's mother. Both were a hoot! There are some really succinct observations of life in Thailand, religion, face and the ways of the Thai people so not only is it entertaining, you learn something too.
What I didn’t like: The introduction of a character well towards the end of the book who suddenly becomes central to everything that is going on is not something that I like in any novel. There are a few jumps in the story such as one really clumsy bit where the main character says something like "I won't tell you how I _______ but now I am there". Surprised the editor allowed this to go through. And there are some loose ends in the story, some things which do not seem to be relevant to anything. The main character's father, for instance. It is almost as if the author forgot about that.
Overall: I REALLY enjoyed the first half of the book but to me the second half was something of a let down. It was as if the story was really well set up, but then it went off in a direction that I personally didn't like. Still, I didn't really like the first one that much and most people did, so if you liked "Bangkok 8", you'll probably enjoy this too.Experience Preferred But Not Required
By Paul Murphy
Perhaps I have missed others but from what I can work out, this is the first piece of fiction specifically about English teaching in the Land of Smiles. It is a selection of short stories, ranging from half a page to the main story which is more than 50 pages.
The author has confidently attacked many of the different stereotypes that are held for English teachers and perhaps even invented one or two new ones. There is the sex tourist who doesn’t know a thing about teaching, the middle aged divorcee, and the housewife who is teaching English, and in fact only in Thailand, because her husband is on a fat expat salary. Each story is a standalone piece written in the first person. Some are good, some are not so good, though the ones I didn't like tended to be those where the main character was a female...
What I liked: It is a light, easy read, not heavy at all. And it's about time someone wrote some fiction that revolved around English teaching in Thailand.
What I didn’t like: There were a few stories I just couldn’t get into and the author’s voice for them just didn’t seem right. Many of these stories could have happened anywhere and the fact that they were about Thailand is really only because a couple of Thailand places or names were mentioned. Like so many books published in Thailand, there are a number of typos and as with some other Bangkok Books releases, the type setting is awful. Sometimes there is one line between paragraphs, sometimes not!
Overall: English teachers will have a chuckle at it and it would be a good read for prospective English teachers, fun and would give them some idea of just what they may be getting themselves into. It’s a fun read, but I guess it has somewhat limited appeal.
My Name Lon You Like Me?
by Derek Sharron
Lon is just another poor girl from rural Isaan who leaves home at a very early age in a bid to escape what she sees as a hopeless, futureless existence in the country and the pursuit of a better life for herself in Bangkok. At just 13 years of age she arrives in Bangkok not knowing anyone and with barely enough money to buy herself some food, let alone find a place to stay. Needless to say she falls into the hands of predators and this starts a chain of events that see her working initially in a brothel but soon enough as an underage prostitute for Western men.
The book follows her around Thailand and then to other parts of the world, as this obviously bright and once cheerful girl slowly gets worn down and ultimately suffers from the hell of working as a child prostitute, entering the world's oldest profession at just 14 years of age.
Interspersed in this true story are letters and articles from the two major English language newspapers that support many of the observations that Lon makes about life in Thailand. Parts of this book are damning, not only of Thailand, but of some aspects of Thai culture itself. The rich and the wealthy are slammed, as are the government. Rural Thais, especially mothers with questionable motives and most Thai males, take a hammering too. So many things that are fundamentally important to Thailand and Thai people are chastised. The country is described as a money hungry place where money is everything and without it you are nothing. For Westerners cynical about Thailand and life in the Kingdom, many of the arguments frequently used are repeated here - but from the mouth of a Thai girl!
What I liked: It is well written and well put together. The author seems to have been caught in two minds as to whether to write the story entirely from the girl's point of view or whether to make it a somewhat academic work with references to others works. It is sort of in between, with overtones of both, but it actually reads very well. It is attractively priced at 295 baht.
What I didn't like: While the book is well written, I am not sure how appropriate it is to write the book of such a supposedly uneducated girl in the first person. An uneducated girl is highly unlikely to have come up with the sort of analysis and analogies that the author has done so - but then Lon strikes us as someone somewhat more clever than the average girl fresh off the farm from Isaan. As the book spans a period of almost 10 years, but not entirely chronologically, the exchange rate of baht to dollars changes from 25 to 1 to 40 to 1 more than a few times and is a bit confusing! Also, as with so many books published in Thailand, it has more than its fair share of typos.
Overall: A highly recommended read. It is informative, damning and at times touching. At the end you really feel like you know Lon.
Thailand Fever
by Vitida Vasant and Chris Pirazzi
Written by an American man and a Thai woman, this book describes itself as a unique guide to Thai - Farang relationships, and indeed it is. Given the high numbers of Westerner / Thai couples, it is somewhat surprising that someone hasn't come out with such a title before now.
Thailand Fever has been very thoughtfully designed and the entire book is printed in both
English and Thai. English text is found on one page and on the facing page the same thing has been translated into Thai meaning that it has been produced for both of you to read. Throughout the book, it is very clearly noted who wrote each section, be it the him or her.
All of the major problems that plague such relationships are covered, from cultural differences, to family, to money and even to the girl’s background, that is, if she was an employee of the naughty nightlife, or otherwise. I was very impressed with the advice given and it answers many of the age old questions that have frustrated those of us in such relationships.
One of the problems in so many Thai / Western relationships is that the Western guy has a much greater understanding of the woman’s culture and what makes her tick, than she does of ours. A generalisation of course, but the fact that a number of the Thai women involved in relationship with a Westerner come from a modest background, educationally speaking, they are not always aware of what is going on. Guys have the luxury of a zillion websites with info on the subject as well as other books which while somewhat different from this one, have touched on various aspects of Thai culture. With this in mind, I think a lot of the advice in the book will really open her eyes as well as hers. Whether either of you choose to act on the excellent advice in this book or not is obviously up to you, but I'd suggest that those who do will give themselves a much better chance of having a successful relationship.
What I liked: A very easy read and I read it cover to cover in a couple of hours. The writing style is light and frankly, fun. The authors have not tried to take themselves too seriously and the tone is light which I feel works really well in a book that is addressing such an issue. All of the important stuff has been very well covered.
What I didn’t like: It's a little on the short side given that each partner will effectively read half of it. While background is given on the various differences between Westerners and Thais, I thought that perhaps a bit more advice could have been given on how to work through some of the common problems. The problems are highlighted, but in many cases it is left up to the individual couples to resolve them themselves. I can see why they chose to do it like that, but I think in some instances, a few more tangible pieces of advice would not have gone amiss. Still, this is a very minor criticism and where advice is given it is sensible.
Overall: This book really is very highly recommended. If ever there was a book that unlocked so much of the mystery that each partner feels in a Thai – Farang relationship, then this is it. I would go as far to say that for anyone who has not lived in Thailand but is considering a long term relationship with a Thai woman, then this is a MUST READ. And even for people who are living in, or who have lived in Thailand, this is highly recommended indeed.
Bangkok Inside Out
Please note that this book may not be available in Thailand and has effectively been banned!by Daniel Ziv and Guy Sharett
It's not a travel guide, but neither is it just a series of mini essays either. It isn't a photography book nor is it one man's journey through the city. Bangkok Inside Out is a very curious collection of mini essays about various facets of life in Bangkok, each one accompanied by fantastic photography which clearly captures the feel and vibe of the city of it.
The authors attack 50 odd issues, giving a nice overview, and background information, explaining what it is, and how it fits into the swing of things in the big city. There are several pieces which are truly excellent, such as the definition of sanuk and the amusing ways to play with your hi so friends.
The photography is not of the classic photo book style with tack sharp, over-saturated images of known landmarks, such as a shot of the sun setting behind Wat Arun with the
sky ablaze in red. Think more akin to the Bangkok classic, "Patpong Bangkok's Twilight Zone", candid photography, street photography, catching locals going about their everyday lives. We're not talking posed photos here.
In many ways, this book reminds me of the sort of thing Bangkok Phil and Shrimp would produce if they ever got together. Great writing and insight along with great photography.
While this really is an excellent book and worthy of a place on any Bangkok addict's bookshelf or coffee table, there are just a few areas where I feel improvement could have been made. There are a few errors of a factual basis, not many, but a few.
And a few of the photographs are unnecessarily "soft". While some were obviously intended to be like that, there are a few where I simply can't understand why they didn't re-shoot the scene or something similar, because the shot used is somewhat soft, and perhaps not as brilliant as most others in the book are. Incidentally, it looks like most of the photography in the book was shot with a Canon EOS 10D which is a digital model. Digital has come of age.
What I liked: The authors venture into aspects of the city that I have never seen covered by any farang authors before, and I found myself nodding and smiling quietly myself at many observations they had made. The photography is top notch and the writing is engaging.
What I didn't like: While the photography is very good, there are some shots which seem, to me at least, to be unnecessarily out of focus, or overly soft. I'm certain that that was what was intended, but for the life of me I cannot understand why.
Overall: This book is a great collection of photos and mini essays about the city we love and is streets ahead of any of the typical Bangkok souvenir pictures books that are so popular in local book stores. Put it this way, I liked it so much that I am going to hunt down the first one in the series, "Jakarta Inside Out" - and I have never even been to Jakarta!
Lady of Isan
by Michael Schemmann
Michael Schemmann is a former German, now turned Canadian, who after two failed marriages moves to Thailand where he secures a job as a lecturer at ABAC. Shortly after arriving he finds himself on an orientation trip and seminar down in Pattaya where he falls in love with a lady of the night. This book, non-fiction funnily enough, follows his mercurial relationship with an Isaan native.
It's an odd read, the subject material is always a draw, and some of what happens isn't quite what you expect, but all of the mistakes in it - and there are hundreds and hundreds - make its 150 odd pages a bit of work to get through. The author is brutally honest but at times his glaring weaknesses become horribly annoying and you wonder what the hell h must have been thinking to get himself into such bother.
What I liked: The fact that it is non-fiction i.e. the story is real. There is not a lot of non-fiction in print on this subject. The author is obviously a very clever man who makes a lot of interesting observations about life in Isaan, and life married to a lady from the lower classes of Thailand's poorest region.
What I didn't Like: It is quite amazing that the book made it into print with so many errors in it. There are hundreds and hundreds of mistakes from typos, to grammar completely screwed up to entire pages repeating themselves! This is without a doubt the most poorly edited book I have ever read, and in a country where a lot of the English language material in print is average, that is really saying something.
Overall: I couldn't say this book is a flawed jewel, because even if all of the mistakes were cleaned up, it would still require a lot of work to make it really good. And stories like this are all over the internet, many of them much better written. Still, if you are fascinated by Farang / Thai relationships, then it is worth a read.
Losing The Plot
by Chuckwoww
Writing under the pen name of Chuckwoww, the author obviously isn't scared of a bit of criticism. If you aren't fluent in the vernacular, his pen name is Thai for having a wank. His first work can be described as a somewhat esoteric mix of intertwined tales in Thailand.
I am still not sure what to think of it. Yeah, I know that sounds unusual but if you read it you will know what I mean. It is hard to know what to make of it. It's unusual in that I didn't really find it an enjoyable read as such, but I still found myself wanting to get through it. The author knows Thailand well and makes lots of succinct observations about life here and even includes some local characters. I just wonder who he could be referring to as Nok's boyfriend at the bottom of page 281? Hehehe.
At the time of writing this book cannot be found in bookshops and can only be purchased online. Check out dcothai where it is available for $US 9.95.
What I liked: You get the felling that the author just said to hell with the establishment and "I am going to write the book I want to write, and do it my way". That is all very good and well, but it could backfire too. Anyway, the author's writing is in many ways light and breezy. This title could appeal to the backpacker as much as the sex tourist or even the expat.
What I didn't Like: If I was to be pedantic, the typesetting is a bit off with the font even changing at times! The story jumps here, there and everywhere and while there is no doubt the author purposely wrote it this way. it can become confusing.
Overall: In some ways this reminded be a little bit of the movie "Natural Born Killers". It jumped around a lot and it was hard to remain focused. In many ways, this book is something of a flawed jewel, though I think Mr. Chuckwoww will be happy with what he has come up with. This book is VERY different! Worth checking out.
Fast Eddie's Lucky 7 A Gogoby David Young
David Young's third novel is set in Chiang Mai and revolves around the main gogo bar in town whose farang owner falls ill and starts to re-consider his future. One of the other characters is interested in buying the bar and there are the usual Western male / Thai female relationships.
The other main characters include his farang friends, a relative, and a host of Thai characters including a number of Thai working girls. Unlike his last book, the main character is not Thai which in a way was disappointing, because the main character in his last novel was just spot on.
The whole idea of living and working in Thailand for a long period of time is discussed by the main characters throughout the book and provides a lot of food for thought.
He might not write as slickly as Jake Needham, but he still tells a good tale.
I believe that there are a lot of farangs who enjoy reading about the Western guy / Thai bargirl stories and with the exception of Steve Leather’s superb “Private Dancer”, there really are not that many titles to choose from. Many Westerners buy novels hoping to read about that sort of thing, but the novel just touches on it without going into much detail. David Young's latest covers exactly the sort of thing I believe a lot of people want to read about - the common Westerner trying to make a good life for himself in Thailand.
What I liked: David knows how the bar industry works and explains things well. The main characters are quite believable, depressingly so Thailand bound English teachers might want to read this before they come! Unlike most authors with the exception of Christopher Moore), he gets the Thai characters just right.
What I didn’t like: There is one weird character in the book who really irritated me, who I didn’t like and who was just downright silly. There are a couple of scenes where something dramatic or semi-dramatic happens and then it just ends and jumps to the next scene.
Overall: A very good read indeed.
"Hello My Big Big Honey!" Love Letters to Bangkok Bar Girls and Their Revealing Interviews International Editionby Dave Walker and Richard S. Ehrlich
* Note: while this book has been around for a long time, this review refers to the latest edition.
This book has been around for years and has been through several editions, the latest of which I refer to as the "international edition", that is the edition that is available outside of Thailand! It contains a collection of genuine, love letters from foreigners to Thai girls and includes interviews with some bar owners & 25 colour pictures not found in previous editions. A French version is also available.
What I liked: It was a book before its time, examining the bargirl scam of suckering money out of customers, well before it was acknowledged as perhaps Thailand's biggest scam. Some of the letters really are hilarious, one of the letters seems to have coined the "sick buffalo" joke that so many expats joke about when talking of bargirls who try to sucker money out of innocent and naive newbies. This book is genuine, the real deal - and there are few readable, factual publications on Thailand's farang oriented naughty nightlife.
What I didn't like: Same same! The book is very samey, and while the first few letters are amusing, it does start to get a bit samey after a while. The older edition was a bit plain, but the newer edition has more in it.
Overall: I used to think that this book was starting to show its age due to the way the Thai girls now use the 'net and was not so hot on it, but in actual fact, it is timeless, and shows that the bargirl scams have been going on for a long time and will most likely continue for a long time to come.
Bangkok 8by John Burdett
Some authors tell a story. Some authors tell a good story. Some authors tell a good story and delved into the insight of the Thais' way of thinking. The final group of authors, and probably the best, tell a good story, explain what is happening with the locals, and perhaps most importantly of all, explain not just what is happening but WHY it is happening too. John Burdett is one of the few authors writing Bangkok novels that does this. Ever wondered why a corrupt Thai policeman would openly spend all of his money in Thailand rather than pump it into a Swiss bank account? You'll find the answer, and many other interesting things about Thailand in this novel.
The story is written in the first person with the main character a luk kreung (half Thai / half farang) from a relationship between a Thai prostitute and a customer who now finds himself as an honest cop in one of Bangkok's police districts. Boy oh boy, we're going for the really far fetched here! While there could well be such a copper out there, I have never seen nor heard of one. Thai coppers are a fairly homogenous group. And while this cop is luk kreung, he is not the biggest fan of Westerners and the West although he is honest to a fault, putting honesty ahead of honour and face.
The star follows the death of his partner and the unravelling of a peculiar case that is weird, even by Bangkok standards.
Needless to say, this book comes highly recommended and my favourite Bangkok novelist, Jake Needham, now has some real competition
What I liked: The author writes well, though his writing is not quite to my taste as say, Needham is. Purely subjective you must note! Great insight into the way the local police operate and such things as police funding.
What I didn't like: Any reference to ghosts in Thailand bores us silly and while it truly is a big thing for Thais, us farangs don't always warm to such stories. It is a running joke amongst expats about the way Thais are scared of ghosts and spirits.
Overall: Well worth reading and in my opinion one of the better Bangkok novels released in a while. My guess is that most people will enjoy it, but there will be a few who really do not like it because it is just that little bit different. Read the first chapter in the bookshop to see if it is for you. I'm looking forward to his next novel set here, though I didn't like it quite enough to buy one of his books set elsewhere, of which there are at least a couple.
Killing Platoby Jake Needham
Jake's latest features the hero from his last book The Laundry Man, Jake Shepherd, and the world's most wanted fugitive, Plato Karsakis. Most of the book is set in Phuket though obviously Bangkok also features. That Jack bumps into Plato near the start of the book is no surprise and what follows is various US law enforcement agencies trying to get their hands on Plato while Jack finds himself caught up in the middle of it. As with all of Jake's novels, there are a bunch of main characters and I particularly like the bitch of a wife that the main character has. I just wonder who the unlucky woman is that Jake may have based this character on?
There are more succinct observations and anecdotes about life in Thailand in this book than many other Bangkok novels all put together. Naughty bars do not feature prominently in the books, although the main characters do visit such bars, just as real people do.
What I liked: Jake's silky smooth writing which for me put him in a class of his own amongst Bangkok writers when it comes to prose. This book contains so much about life in Thailand that you could just about make up Oh, and the story is pretty good.
What I didn't like: The ending still doesn't have that "big bang" but then it is a book, and not too many books seem to have the Hollywood style shoot-up that movies do.
Overall: Not only is the story very good and the characters excellent, Jake also provides an outstanding amount of explanation about the way that people go about their lives in Thailand. In many ways, it makes the book almost educational and old hands will nod in agreement with many of Jake's observations while newbies to these parts will learn a huge amount.
* Due to some sort of crazy anomaly, this book is hard to come by in Thailand. The main distributor in these parts for English language books, Asia Books, has only carried a very small number. To pick up a copy, check out Jake's website at www.jakeneedham.com
Skytrain To Murderby Dean Barrett
Yet another Bangkok novel with the main character as a PI which threads itself in and out of the nightlife industry, one could be mistaken for thinking that Dean is copying Chris Moore's Calvino character.
As with so many PI stories, the story revolves around the murder of one of the characters and the main character, the PI, trying to unravel just what happened. Dean takes us through known parts of Bangkok and also into the unknown, the slums, the Thai boxing community and deep into a high class Thai naughty nightlife venue. It is obvious that Dean did his homework and included in the novel is plenty of detail and background on just how these places operate.
Knowing the author, I see so much of him in this book. Another author who I once asked for advice about writing novels told me that this is something to be avoided, but Dean writes in detail and with a real passion about all of the places where you see him around town, Washington Square and the mid Sukhumvit area around soi 33.
What I liked: Dean obviously loves Bangkok, Thailand and the Thais, and this shines through the book which has a really nice balance of nice writing, a good story and lots of interesting anecdotes and observations about life in the big city.
What I didn't like: Funnily enough, there is little I can say that I didn't like. There are one or two parts in the book that went on a little but with not much happening, but hey, that happens in every novel, doesn't it?
Overall: In many ways, this to me is what the Calvino novels should be. I really warmed to this book and it had the effect of distracting me from work and other things because I wanted to stop what I was doing and go and read it! There aren't many books I can say that about.
Thailand Joyby David Young
Now this is one book that I had really been looking forward to, the second novel by David young, author or The Scribe - a book that I thoroughly enjoyed.
The story follows the plight of Mantana, an innocent country girl who goes to Bangkok looking for work....and you can guess what happens.
There is plenty of food for thought and as the story unravels, the author raises a lot of issues about life in Thailand, the existence of country people both in the big city and the lifestyle they lead in the country, along with the way that girls end up in the bars, the things they think about, the decision they have to make and so on. Thought provoking doesn't even start to describe it. The author must have spent a fair bit of time with bargirls (and that is not meant in a derogatory way) for the portrayal in many parts is very succinct indeed.
What I liked: The author has a very nice writing style that makes the book an easy read. He doesn't try to be a Grisham or a Clancy and keeps it relatively simple which makes for an light, entertaining read. The author also displays, in parts, a very good understanding of various parts of Thai society.
What I didn't like: The big jumps in few places and the flow isn't quite there. Scenes which I thought may have been spread out over a few pages happened quickly whereas other parts were a little drawn out. There are one or two parts also where I was not entirely sure what had just happened and I had to go and re-read.
Overall: I feel that this book will appeal to anyone who is interested in Thailand's naughty nightlife. There is enough there to keep such people happy but if you are not a fan of the naughty nightlife, then this book probably won't appeal. it's sort of like drinking a Mekong Coke. It does the trick, but not in say the same way that a Jack Daniel's Coke would... Still, if you are interested in naughty nightlife, definitely pick up a copy.
Tippawan - The Joy of Mathby Jesse Gump
This book had been around for a couple of years before I was kindly presented with a copy, so while this review appears at the top, the book is not in fact a new release. With a very limited print run, it may be hard to come by but if you contact the author via his website listed below, then you should be able to track down a copy.
Tippawan is a Thai girl who goes to Pattaya to work, not as a bargirl, but to work with her brother who runs a small business there. She meets a farang who is living and working there and from then on, it is one big roller coaster ride.
Many things about the book make me wonder if this novel is in fact a story based on events that happened to the author - or perhaps even a biography of his time in Thailand. Certain things are brought up and certain observations made which have no real relevance to the story at all, but which the author seems to consider important.
Just about all of the fictional stories about there about farang boy meets Thai girl are set in Bangkok and it must be a strong potion for this book that it is set in Pattaya. It makes a pleasant change.
What I liked: Something about this book really tugs on your emotions, and in many ways, it is one of the most moving books that I have ever read.
What I didn't like: There are unfortunately more than a few typos, although that is par for the course for many Bangkok based novels (although I believe that this title was written and published Stateside). There are quite a lot of factual errors too, but I feel that these can be overcome and really do not detract from the story.
Overall: Very readable, and if you are able to get past the factual errors and typos, this book does provide a very moving story. The fellow who kindly delivered the review copy said to me said that this is the first novel that has brought him to tears.
Minor Wifeby Christopher Moore
Released early 2002, this is the latest, and indeed seventh title released, in the Vincent Calvino Private I series. The story revolves around a murdered bargirl and is a bit of a whodunit style murder mystery novel.
The novel floats around the farang areas of Bangkok as well as Rachadapisek Road, where many Thai massage parlours can be found, along with the apartments where all of the massage girls live.
What I liked: It started off very well and the first 60 or so pages really held my attention. The descriptions of Bangkok were great and some the anecdotes about life in Bangkok, most succinct. Chris talked about certain things that only happen in Bangkok, and there is a certain something about Chris's books that unlike just about any other author who write a story and plonk it into Bangkok, the stories in Chris's books could ONLY occur in Bangkok.
What I didn't like: But then the story sort of faded, well before the halfway point, and towards the end it became hard work to get through it all and really, it just didn't hold my interest.
Overall: I'd have to say it was good, and I'm glad that I read it but I just think that it could have been better. It must be said that a couple of my friends loved it.
Thailand: Land Of Beautiful Womenby Dean Barrett
The follow-up to "The Girls Of Thailand", this coffee table style photo book should appeal to all who appreciate the beauty of Thai women. The first half features pictures of regular girls while the second half has pictures of girls involved in the profession. Barrett is first and foremost an author so it should come as no surprise that the text makes good reading too. Barrett heaps praise on the girls of Thailand, not only for their physical beauty, but also for the whole way that they both approach and go about their lives.
What I liked: This book makes a wonderful souvenir for people who appreciate the beauty of Thai women. For me personally, there are quite a few girls that I recognise from the book, and with this in mind, it provides me with a lot of nice memories.
What I didn't like: Truth be told, some of the photography is not that good. If you were buying it just for the photographic content, then you may be a little disappointed. Some of the shots taken at night are not great. Dean, you should have asked me for some shots!
Overall: A wonderful souvenir and a great book to show your friends back in Farangland about the women of Thailand. At one time, it appeared that this book may be banned in Thailand, and if this turns out to be the case (though is looking increasingly unlikely), you may have to order your copy from Amazon.com, or buy it outside of Thailand.
Patpong: Bangkok's Twilight Zoneby Nick Nostitz
An almost macabre look at Bangkok's nightlife as seen through the lens of this ace photographer. Nostitz's collection of photography captures the seedy side of Bangkok's nightlife in a book that would frighten the living daylight out of your mother if she thought you were indulging in this. The book was slowly put together over a long period of time, and by the time that it was finally released, the author had more than a feeling for the industry and hence along with the photography, there is some very well written commentary too.
What I liked: The photography is absolutely first rate, pulling you into the book and demonstrating just how horrible Thailand's naughty nightlife really is. You find yourself staring into the background of pictures, searching for the chance, the smallest chance, that you might see yourself there. It is obvious that it was all put together with a very certain objective, which has absolutely been achieved.
What I didn't like: It can be a bit depressing, but then, the more you get to understand prostitution in Thailand, the more you realise that is depressing.
Overall: An outstanding book that will appeal strongly to the thinking man. People who are madly in love with the whole Thai bargirl industry might not like it, in fact they might even take offence at it.
Private Dancerby Stephen Leather
Master thriller writer Steve Leather has spent time in Bangkok and this book is a story based on the stories that he has heard during his visits in Thailand. Written completely in the first person with several main characters, the story is seen through each of these character's eyes, the story follows the main character Pete, an expat working in Thailand and how he falls in love with a girl called Joy who works in a gogo bar in Nana Plaza.
What I liked: Its a wonderful depiction of the life of a bargirl, and the life of the Bangkok expat who loses the plot. For me, Steve Leather had been my favourite author ever since I read Solitary Man and for me to read a book set in Thailand's naughty nightlife AND written by my favourite author, is something special.
What I didn't like: The recipes!
Overall: It could be argued that this is the best non fiction full length novel written about Thai bargirls and their wicked ways. Really, it is a must read and the fact that is available for free is outstanding! Do Steve a favour and if you like this, buy one of his other books - in fact buy the lot, like me!
Tea Moneyby Jake Needham
Jake Needham's second novel was anticipated by many who enjoyed his runaway best-seller, The Big Mango. The story revolves around a former lawyer from the US who moves over to Bangkok to lecture in a local university. He then goes on to get caught up in crooked dealings with a friend from the past and ends up travelling around Thailand trying to unravel just what is going on.
What I liked: The descriptions of Bangkok are delicious, probably the best of any novel I have read.
What I didn't like: I didn't feel the ending was as good as Big Mango, and while a book is not just about the ending, I have to admit that it was a bit disappointing, a bit sort of nothing really. Still, you do not read a book just for the ending and everything up until that point was very, very good.
Overall: It's a great read, but if the ending had have been different, it might have topped "The Big Mango" as my favourite Bangkok novel.
The Solitary Manby Stephen Leather
A jailbird breaks out of prison in UK and heads down to Hong Kong. He makes his way over to Bangkok where things really start to get interesting.
What I liked: This thriller gives excellent descriptions of the city and a good feel for Bangkok and touches on the nightlife scene. What I just love about Leather's writing is the way he pens the nitty gritty. Some writers just don't get the action scenes right, but in Leather's books, they are a treat to read.
What I didn't like: That the whole book was not set in Bangkok!
Overall: For me, this is one of my all time favourite novels. It is a fantastic read. Buy it and you will be a Leather fan for life. After reading this book, I went out and read everything that Leather had read in the next six months. I've lost count of the number of people that I have recommended this book to - and no-one has been disappointed.
The Big Mangoby Jake Needham
A great novel that starts off in San Francisco before heading across the Pacific to Thailand where a few beautifully described characters descend on our fair city, including parts of the nightlife. Very well written, this remains my favourite Bangkok nightlife novel. It features many
of the city's favourite nightspots and even one of the city's favourite characters, with one of the book's characters Bar Philips, resembling a certain Mr. Trink. The top selling locally written English language novel, it was this book that catapulted Jake Needham into the position as the most popular locally based novelist. This book is now available in Thai too - so pick up a copy for your girlfriend!
What I liked: This book captures the essence of Bangkok as I see it - and many expert friends have said the same to me. The story is captivating and it is a real page turner. The characters are great and you just cant help but be hauled into this book.
What I didn't like: Nothing springs to mind.
Overall: An excellent novel, and along with Private Dancer, the only other Bangkok novel that I have read more than once.
Apsara Jetby Nicolas Merriwether
Set in Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar, it is the story of a down and out pilot who gets a job offer that seems just a little too good to be true. The story takes place in this exotic part of the world, both in the air and on the ground, including some of the more salubrious locations that South East Asia is known for. It features some very heavy duty sex scenes, the sort of thing that you are more likely to find in literature aimed at females.
What I liked: Great descriptions of both places that I know, and places that I don't know. The characters are built up nicely and the story moves along at a good pace. This one would make a great movie, though certain parts of it may have to be cut for fear of it becoming the world's most expensive porn flick! There are a few references in the book that make you realise that Nicolas is a patriotic American - and good on him for not laying down and bending over to all of the politically correct bullshit that makes us white males public enemy #1 in much of the developed world. Nicolas calls it as he sees it, he's a bloke's bloke - and hell, I both like that and give him top marks for it too.
What I didn't like: There were just a few small bits here and there, where things were said by the author, that didn't need to be said, that little bit of commentary that really wasn't necessary. Still, this is nothing major and in no way makes it less enjoyable to read.
Overall: An outstanding first novel that captures SE Asia beautifully. Nicolas has got that knack of being able to write to both those who know about flying, and those who don't, not snubbing either group. Unlike Tom Clancy whose books bore me to tears, he doesn't get all technical on us, going into overdrive with all sorts of boring technical information. While I'm sure most folks will enjoy it, this is the one for people who especially like Cambodia or flying.
Chairsby Christopher G Moore
Chris Moore's first book is a collection of short stories that seems to revolve around Chris and his real life friends in Bangkok who meet each weekend in Sogo Tower to discuss life in the East, the West and their tales of debauchery. Some of the stories are set in the naughty nightlife and some aren't. Some of them may well include people that you know, or at least would be able to recognise.
What I liked: Some of the stories are really good, and some of the places are well known to me.
What I didn't like: Plagued with the sort of typos that I wouldn't grumble about if it was his first novel, Chris really should shoot his editor for having missed so many. A couple of the stories were not so interesting, but in any short story collection, that is the norm.
Overall: This work is quite different from a lot of his other books and makes a very nice change. For my money, Chris's best work - and this is coming from someone who usually does not care for short stories.
Patpong Sistersby Cleo Odzer
Cleo Odzer came to Bangkok in 1988 to do her (unauthorised) PhD on the Bangkok sex industry and while it is written by an American female, this book is often falsely labelled as an "American female's perspective of the Bangkok scene". I'm sure the average American female of today would say far, far worse things about it all than Cleo did! A good read if you're new to the scene as she explains things quite well as well as including her own personal story which is perhaps less interesting. Sadly, Cleo Odzer passed away, some time in early 2001 I believe.
What I liked: This book kills more than one bird with the same stone. First of all, it tells the story of how Cleo battled through her time in Bangkok, researching her PhD while falling in love and doing all of the other crazy things that Bangkok is known for.
What I didn't like: At times, her own story is a little too domineering, especially her relationship with that Patpong scumbag. (This has to be tempered with the fact that I read this at a time when I was intrigued by Bangkok's naughty nightlife and wanted to find out more about it all, rather than read about a woman's love life.)
Overall: Let me say straight up that I don't tend to like books written by females. But this one was a good read, in fact I enjoyed her writing style so much that I went out and bought her other book, "Goa Freaks", even though I had no interest in India whatsoever! Not only is it an interesting and honest account of her two years in Thailand, just writing this review and thinking back about it makes me want to read it again. In a way, this book is slowly becoming dated too.
Travels in The Skin Tradeby Jeremy Seabrook
A good factual summary of the scene along with personal bios of several people and their stories of Bangkok, the girls and what went wrong! With the advent of the internet, this book is starting to show its age...
What I liked: The format of the book is pretty good with a lot of good, solid factual information followed by bios of a range of people from different backgrounds who fell for Bangkok.
What I didn't like: When I read this book, it was well out of date, as was more than evidenced by the photo on the cover of a girl dancing and in the foreground was a customer sitting with one of those horrible towelling hats that were so popular in the '70s. *A new edition has been released in 2001 though flicking through it, it's hard to see what has changed without the previous edition to compare it with.
Overall: This book provides good factual information about how everything works, but frankly, you'd be better off reading my website which is far more up to date and has more info. This book has been made hopelessly out of date by the net.
The Scribeby David Young
A first up novel set in Bangkok about a former English teacher who makes a living writing bogus love letters for bargirls, this book never seems to have received the accolades that it deserves.
What I liked: Being an English teacher and having spent the odd occasion or two in some of the city's more dubious hangouts, I could really relate to this book. The author captured so many of the little things that only one who had been a teacher himself would know about.
What I didn't like: Nothing really. It is not a literary masterpiece by any stretch of the imagination, but I got the feeling that the author didn't try and do too much, and was happy to write within himself. With this in mind, it is hard to be hard on the author.
Overall: A marvellous novel, highly enjoyable and at 120 baht, this book is a BARGAIN! If you are one of the thousands of English teachers who enjoys a drink or two - or more - down at the bars, then you really should pick up a copy of this book. And even if you are not a teacher, it is still well worthwhile. There is a certain charm about the way it is written.
A Killing Smileby Christopher G Moore
First published way back in 1988, this was the first modern era novel set right amongst Bangkok's naughty nightlife. Much of the book is set in the Thermae which is referred to as "HQ" and is unofficially Chris's second home. His first book set in Thailand & in many people's opinion, this is Moore's best work. It is important to remember that when this
book was first published, there was NO Internet as far as 99.9% of the population was concerned, and this book was one of the few pieces of literature that people could read that provided some sort of information about Bangkok at night. Chris obviously learnt very fast, because I gather he had not been here that long when he wrote it. I gather this book is available in Japanese and German too.
What I liked: The story was familiar to all of us and totally believable. Like so many of the books written before the internet, the book was not only entertainment, it also educated us about the whole nightlife industry. I'll never forget some of the brilliant observations that Chris made, such as the upcountry girl who was new to Bangkok who would sit and squat on a conventional farang toilet - and how the owner would see the "paw prints" there the next morning.
What I didn't like: Parts of the book were a little drawn out, and it was in parts very slow. Some of the sentences, and indeed some the paragraphs, while descriptive, are very long, and in a way, reminded me of reading statutes back in my 210 Commercial Law class.
Overall: A timeless classic is how this book was described to me by one Bangkok expat, a devoted Moore fan. I really read to re-read it to see if I agree with those comments. This is one of the books that I read during my formative time in Bangkok's naughty nightlife, and even now, I still quote Chris on several aspects of it all, including the sickness as he refers to it, the way that people really lose the plot over the nightlife.
Two other books that may interest some folks are "Night Market" and "Thai Tourism". Both of these books could be classified as academic works and take quite a bit of getting through, good if you like that sort of thing, but personally, I don't. "Thai Tourism" is largely made up of three sections, one of which describes the farang oriented prostitution scene in great detail. If you like academic works, you'll like them but if like me, you prefer a lighter read, then they may not have so much appeal.Christopher G Moore has written about 15 novels set in Bangkok / Thailand and I believe that most of these are set in the sex scene. Chris has a very good knowledge of both Bangkok and the nightlife entertainment industry. Indeed, he can regularly be found down in the Thermae and full size framed posters of the covers of his books line the walls of Bangkok's most infamous coffee shop. Christopher Moore has a web site online where you can find out more about him and his books or even order online at: CGMoore.com. Chris's books do have quite a following!
Dean Barrett has written a couple of novels set in Thailand, one called "The Bangkok Warrior" and the other a title that escapes me. People who have read them recommend them but I have yet to have a chance to read them. More info can be found at www.deanbarrettmystery.com. This site also has various information about Bangkok, and the nightlife.
Stephen Leather, author of the SUPERB\, "The Solitary Man" along with various other novels set in Asia (though not all of his novels are set in Asia) has a website online at: www.stephenleather.com While only three of his books are set in Bangkok, and even then it is not the entire novel, I feel that he captures the essence and flavour of Bangkok better than anyone else. The website summarises all of Steve's books along with some info about him, and his favourite books.
Jake Needham, author of the some SUPERB Bangkok based novels including "The Big Mango" and "Tea Money" has a good website which offers a taste of his books at: JakeNeedham.com. This site features a handful of interesting interviews with Jake.
You can find out more about Hardship Posting here.
You can find out more about Hello My Big Big Honey here.
All of these books are available at Asia Books which has about ten stores in Bangkok – most stores are conveniently located in popular shopping centres or on Sukhumvit Road. I've never quite worked out why, but they do not have any stores outside of Bangkok. Asia Books is Thailand's leading English language book store although you can also get a very good selection at the following stores: Kinokuniya, the excellent bookshop in Emporium Shopping Centre, that in many ways, is much better than Asia Books. Bookazine have several stores around the city, as does DK Books, although each time I go there, DK Books seems to have less and less in English, and more and more in Thai.
Some of the books are available from Amazon.com but if you are in Thailand, they will be significantly cheaper if bought at Asia Books. There are many other books available at Asia Books related to Thailand's naughty nightlife.
Are you the author / publisher of a Bangkok / Thailand book? Contact me about getting a review copy my way.
All feedback is welcome - please forward email to stickmanbangkok@gmail.com.
