70 replies to this topic

[Drift Spunk]

I bought these books recently in LOS;

*Escape- About an aussie who was the only westerner escaped from the bangkok hilton.

*Private dancer- (Finnished reading this book, a great read)

*Money number one 3rd Ed

*A Farang strikes back

*Hello my big big honey (This book is painfull to read, the mind set of some guys made me cringe- some people really are pathetic and ignorant)

*My name lon, you like me?

[dixon cox]

A terrific book featuring Thailand which doesn't get mentioned much anymore is "The Beach" by Alex Garland.

It's over 10 years old now, but it does contain a rather nice ladyboy reference and can be picked up very cheaply if you haven't already read it.

Forget the film if you've seen it as the book is way, way superior. Any comparison of the two would be like Chicken Run and The Great Escape.

I've read it maybe 10 times or more, it's excellent

[dixon cox]

... like the sound of the last one you mentioned DC, where can i get it ?

Amazon do it: HERE

Be sure to check the reviews at the bottom of the page

If you never read this book in your lifetime you are really missing out, I can't recommend it high enough!

In fact, I think I'll start reading it again after just finishing it several weeks ago, I love it!

[triat45]

Guys,

I ran this topic a short time ago on another thread (and now can't find it)... But, if you generally enjoy the crime/thriller genre; then given that you are even reading this (i.e. you are a Thai LB fan who lives slightly on the edge) means you will almost certainly enjoy the following books by John Burdett:
(and read them in this sequence)
- Bangkok Eight
- Bangkok Tattoo
- Bangkok Haunts

There are memory keys galore (and a katoey offsider to the main character :wink: ) that will put your head back in your piece of LOS every time you pick it up. And, Burdett writes a bloody good book!

Am confident this is the surest tip I've ever given anyone about a book :!:

[Brit]

I've read all three and can also recommend them.

[hiiro]

Thanks Triat, I am sure picking one up next time at the airport. Finished 'Private Dancer' by S.Leather last time around. Nice read.

[fridgemagnet]

anyone know where i can get the book; MY NAME IS LON, you like me ? from, tried amazon and no luck ?

steviep

Fuck - you can HAVE mine - Gottit s/h in Bali - it is CRAP.
Written by a bleeding heart, hippie, liberal, PC liar - pretending to be a Thai girl. His moral perspective is so WESTERN, really not Thai.
He blames the entire sex scene on evil, exploitative westerners, without who's influence all Thais would be married, or virgins.
Offensive stuff.
No mention of the very seedy Thai sex for sale scene, where some real nasty stuff is commonplace - remember the brothel that burnt down, roasting girls chained to their beds?

Sheer crap - if u want it, I'll post it 2u. Get in touch.

[Rossco]

Well I would disagree with you Fridgemagnet.

If you go back in Thailand's recent history the "Bar Scene' took off in the 1960's when the US troops used Thailand as an "R&R" base (Rest and Recreation) from duty in Vietnam.

An old colleague of mine described Thailand at that time.

A bunch of horny GIs with lots of US Dollars to spend who would get a furlough in Thailand and go crazy. At that time Pattaya was full of virgins (really) and fishermen. The US air base was in U Tapao. Imagine a C130/Galaxy landing with a cargo of testosterone - awesome.

Thais saw it as a huge opportunity - guys throwing money around as if they had no tomorrow - many did not!

So the US military created the demand and Thailand responded. I have seen many photos of Pattaya/Naklua from the 1960s very different to today. The oldest (surviving) Beach side bar is "Five Star Bar" near Mike's Shopping Mall.

It is the nearest Thailand ever came to domination/occupation by a foreign power. Back then it was a simple agricultural economy - not even on the Tourist trail. Back in the 60s most people never ventured further than their own back yard, let alone fly anywhere remote. Believe me.

For most GIs it was their first (and for many their last) visit to a foreign land.

So in the 60s Pattaya/Thailand was established on the world map - the rest is history.

The West (USA initially) actually did spawn the modern 'sex tourism' of today.

For those really interested in Thailand, and the Socio/Economic/Political history, I recommend "The King Never Smiles". This is not a casual read - it can cure insomnia - but is a great insight to Thailand outside the pleasure palaces so often used to portray Thailand generally.

Not on a par with "Private Dancer" , which is more sensational and lite to read, but it is a lot more educational - an insight into principles/beliefs and attitude. Probably not any use to the casual holiday tourist but for those, on more regular trips/resident, it is well worth the effort. It may change your perspective.

[fridgemagnet]

It's worth mentioning that 'The King Never Dies' is banned in Thailand due to the lese majeste laws - read in Blighty, but do not bring it with you to Thailand - your holiday could be ruined.
Good book though.
The Yanks may well have started the 'bar girl' phenomenon in Thailand, but I don't believe that is so grim a prospect for a farm girl looking to make more money than most Thais see in a lifetime. They are all freelancers - no pimps here.
A greedy Thai family can put a lot of pressure on a girl, but that's not a problem caused by Westerners - we do not expect our kids to support us - we usually have to support them....
The ones to feel sorry for are the underage kids chained up in Thai only brothels, and this is a purely Thai proposition, not started by Western men at all. Been going for centuries. It's an Asian thing.
On the book front, authors that I have recently enjoyed include Ian Bainks, George R.R.Martin, and Charles Stross - mostly cyberpunk & fantasy.

[Ivor Biggun]

Burdett has a 4th book out now- The Godfather of Kathmandu, not read it yet though

[dixon cox]

Burdett has a 4th book out now- The Godfather of Kathmandu, not read it yet though

Nice one - I look forward to that

I've enjoyed all of John Burdett's books so far, I'm currently reading Bangkok Haunts.

[fridgemagnet]

Er - my mistake - 'My name is Lon' is not the book that was so crap - I re-read it and it was not the book that I so disliked. That one has been exchanged a while ago, & I kept 'my name is Lon' as it's pretty good. I got my facts wrong. Still, if anyone wants it, I'm happy to post it to them, as I offered before. Embarrasment rules...

anyone know where i can get the book; MY NAME IS LON, you like me ? from, tried amazon and no luck ?

steviep

Fuck - you can HAVE mine - Gottit s/h in Bali - it is CRAP.
Written by a bleeding heart, hippie, liberal, PC liar - pretending to be a Thai girl. His moral perspective is so WESTERN, really not Thai.
He blames the entire sex scene on evil, exploitative westerners, without who's influence all Thais would be married, or virgins.
Offensive stuff.
No mention of the very seedy Thai sex for sale scene, where some real nasty stuff is commonplace - remember the brothel that burnt down, roasting girls chained to their beds?

Sheer crap - if u want it, I'll post it 2u. Get in touch.