Books on Thailand - some favourite authors

www.stickmanbangkok.com/book.html

is always worth a look.



MY TOP TEN WRITERS



Sudham Pira, www.pirasudham.com/

Monsoon Country, Tales of Thailand, People of Esarn, The Force of Karma

Magnificent heart wrending tales of Thai life from abject poverty to immense riches. Semi autobiographical

staff from this Nobel nominated writer. So few Thai writers in English are available.



Axel Aylwen, www.dcothai.com/product_i...cts_id=576

The Falcon of Siam

A great epic historic novel of Thailand based on the amazingly true story of the son of a Greek fisherman who became the тАШPrime MinisterтАЩ of Thailand under King Narai in Ayuttaya. Happy back in print after a long hiatus this is a great holiday book which gives amazingly good insight into Thailand and itтАЩs history. Do not confuse with Falcon at the Court of Siam by John Hoskin which did not impress.



John Burdett, www.salon.com/books/revie...ex_np.html

Bangkok 8, Bangkok Tattoo

тАЬOne of the most startling and provocative mysteries IтАЩve read in years. The characters are marvellously unique, the setting intoxicating and the plot unwinds in dark illusory strandsтАЭ Carl Hiaasen I canтАЩt improve on that but would just say that his insight into Thai culture is astonishing.



Boton translated from the Thai by Susan F Kepner

Letters from Thailand

First published in 1969 this SEATO prize winning novel i the story of a young man who leaves China to make his fortune in Thailand at the close of WWII. His letters home to his mother in China are fascinating as his Chinese heritage is eroded and his children embrace urban Thai culture. His childhood idea of wealth was тАШ to eat pork every dayтАЩ.



Carol Hollinger

Mai Pen Rai - Means Never Mind

A Hawaiian American housewifeтАЩs honest love affair with the irrepressible people of Thailand. In print for 40 years this charming slim volume is full of observation and warm wonder at living in a fascinating country and teaching at Chulalonghorn University. Hugely entertaining.



Thomas DтАЩAgnes

From Condoms to Cabbages - An authorised Biography of Mechai Viravaidya

He has lead an exciting life and lead campaigned relentlessly to end poverty in Thailand through Family planning, single handedly he coerced the Thai Government into a massive campaign to educate about HIV/AIDS which lead Thailand to become one of the few countries to early achieve a static number of infected persons - all this and much more. Mechai had a Scottish Mother and rose to be a Senator and member of the Thai Cabinet. He is still going strong/



Win Lyovarin, translated from Thai by Prisna Boonsinsukh

Democracy, Shaken & Stirred, SEA Write Award 1997. Best Novel Thailand National Book Award 1995

Tantalising, behind the scenes glimpses into all the major rebellions and coups between 1933 and 1992. Fictional and real characters in events created and documented to create a historical novel of extraordinary power and perception.



Phra Peter Pannapadipo - an English monk in Thailand

Little Angels, Good Morning Buddha

Stories of real life Thai Novice monks and an insight into Buddhism. Written with deep insight and n immensely kind heart.



Jim Newport, www.vampireofsiam.com

The Vampire of Siam, Ramone, The retirn of the Vampire of Siam

The author has received nominations for the Pulitzer prize and an Emmy but not for these romps with the Vampire legend adapted to modern Bangkok - hilarious untra-realistic journey into terror.



S P Somtow

Jasmine Nights

A 12 year old Thai boy, whoтАЩs parents have dissapeared, lives in the family compound with his three aunts. тАЬIntelligent, energetic, humane, engaging, humorous, delicate and beautifulтАЭ Louis de Bernieres


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Thanks wowpow! I would like to see this as a regular feature - something like what are members reading tonight? Doesn't have to be about Thailand....


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thanks Wowpow for sharing this info.. I like to read and frequent Thais 4 Life bookstore and will look for some of the books listed..<img src=http://www.ezboard.com/images/emoticons/happy.gif ALT=":D">


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<blockquote>Quote:<hr>So few Thai writers in English are available.<hr></blockquote>



For the right royalty fee they might be.


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Neils Mulder Inside Thai society. Mulder's views are somewhat challenging to many of the notions promoted by some posters in this Forum. www.dcothai.com/product_i...cts_id=181



Chris Baker and Pasuk Phongpaichit - A History of Thailand. Pasuk Phongpaichit was gaoled for subversion when his book describing modern Thailand as a feudal society was first published. It's feudalism that gives us our place in Thai society - as patrons to our supposed boyfriends - within the Thai patronage system. www.asiapacificms.com/art..._and_wars/



Sterling Seagrave (boygeenyus' favourite author) - Lords of the Rim about the Chinese diaspora in SE Asia and its economic influence. The chapter on Thailand is particularly interesting for its discussion on the origins of the wealth of the Choonhavan family. Chatichai Choonhavan is a former Thai Prime Minister and some of his family (a son at least) are members of the current Thai parliament. www.gbn.com/BookClubSelec...srv?si=150



Michael Backman - Asian Eclipse which details the Asian cultural characteristics that contributed to the 1997 economic crisis (rather than the notion promoted by that old charlatan Mahathir that it was all the fault of naughty George Soros). www.meansbusiness.com/Fin...clipse.htm



I should warn Forum members that all of those books contain occasional long words. Those who are brain-dead in Pattaya will find grappling with their concepts particularly challenging and it's probably best that you stick with Bangkok whodunnits and other pot-boilers. For light reading I can always recommend Colonel Ken's on-going series Hardship Posting - www.hardshipposting.com/hp/


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"Is that a hydra?" called Hedda from the doorway. "There's no such thing", said her mother firmly. "Daddy and I were just making the beast with two backs. Go to bed." But Hedda was scarred for life - Jane Austin, Memoirs of a Loss Adjuster</p>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p092.ezboard.com/bsawatdeeforum.showUserPublicProfile?gid=homintern >homintern</A> at: 6/11/05 7:42 am

"Neils Mulder Inside Thai society. Mulder's views are somewhat challenging to many of the notions promoted by some posters in this Forum."



Isn't Neils Mulder the anthropologist who spent his days poking individual Thais with his anthropological stick to further his studies then complained that the same Thais wouldn't be his 'friends' when his workday was over?


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We all have a cross to bear. Look at poor old Margaret Mead


__________________________________________________ ______________________

"Is that a hydra?" called Hedda from the doorway. "There's no such thing", said her mother firmly. "Daddy and I were just making the beast with two backs. Go to bed." But Hedda was scarred for life - Jane Austin, Memoirs of a Loss Adjuster</p>

<blockquote>Quote:<hr>I should warn Forum members that all of those books contain occasional long words. Those who are brain-dead in Pattaya will find grappling with their concepts particularly challenging and it's probably best that you stick with Bangkok whodunnits and other pot-boilers.<hr></blockquote>



Hence the need to cling on religiously to every word from that oracle of Thai cultural studies cum 'nightlife businessman' - Stickman Bangkok.


</p>Edited by: <A HREF=http://p092.ezboard.com/bsawatdeeforum.showUserPublicProfile?gid=yimsuai>Y imsuai</A> at: 9/11/05 10:03 pm

I think you are being overly complimentary there, Yimsuai. Stickman is a mere English teacher and, worse, a New Zealander and even worse, one who thinks that New Zealand might be a better place to live than Thailand (or indeed everywhere ... rather than the reverse). That doesn't prevent him from making keen observations about life in Thailand from time to time - that isn't totally beyond the abilities of the ex-pat Kiwi. You know my views - any New Zealander with get-up-and-go has got up and gone


__________________________________________________ ______________________

"Is that a hydra?" called Hedda from the doorway. "There's no such thing", said her mother firmly. "Daddy and I were just making the beast with two backs. Go to bed." But Hedda was scarred for life - Jane Austin, Memoirs of a Loss Adjuster</p>

<blockquote>Quote:<hr>Those who are brain-dead in Pattaya will find grappling with their concepts particularly challenging and it's probably best that you stick with Bangkok whodunnits and other pot-boilers.<hr></blockquote>





and he accuses me of causing upset ! - that has to be one of the rudest remarks I've heard in ages!


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