'Thai Love' – book review

'Thai Love' is Karel Poort's debut novel. The story is about a single man over fifty named Koop who is financially independent through an inheritance. During a holiday in Phuket, he meets the Thai bargirl Two who knows how to charm him in a refined way.

The classic story, older man falls in love with young Thai prostitute

During his vacation, Two does not leave his side. The somewhat lonely Koop brightens up completely and falls deeply in love with the beautiful, sensual and young barmaid. Returning from vacation, his friends try to get Koop off the pink cloud, but Koop only wants one thing and that is to quickly return to Thailand to meet Two again.

With Two to Isaan to meet her parents

Together with Two, Koop goes to Isaan and pretty soon it becomes clear that Two is busy lightening Koop's well-filled wallet. The journey in a rented car is accompanied by the necessary predictable events. Once in the village of Two, Koop is confronted with the special life in the countryside of Thailand. After Koop has seen it in the village, he continues with Two in the direction of Southeast Isaan. He soon finds out that he is not Two's only sweetheart. Disappointed and with a broken heart, he returns to the Netherlands.

In part two the renewed encounter with the girl Two

Part two focuses on the renewed encounter with Two. Koop cannot get her out of his mind and when he receives a text message from her after six months, his decision is made, he wants to meet her again. Koop goes to Chiang Mai with Two and at some point realizes that despite the passionate Thai nights with him, Two is mainly out to secure her future. A break is therefore unavoidable and the story seems to repeat itself when he meets the girl One in a bar at the end of the book.

What did Thailandblog think of the book?

On a rainy Sunday you can read the book in one sitting. The book confirms all the prejudices of a relationship between a bargirl and a farang. It also describes reality to an important extent. Men who have or have had a relationship with a Thai bargirl will recognize many of the situations described. Thanks to the self-mockery and humor, it is certainly a nice book to read.

I found part two significantly less than part one. The story continues a bit on the same theme and is therefore quite predictable. The lengthy and detailed descriptions of situations also take the pace out of the book a bit. I tended to skip paragraphs like that. Nevertheless, it is still worth reading.

Although it seems like the story is fictional, I wouldn't be surprised if the book is also (partly) autobiographical. Unfortunately, the author does not clarify this.

More +
– smoothly written
- Humour
– realistic situations

minus –
– part two is less
– sometimes predictable
– too long detailed descriptions of situations

The book Thai love, is for sale at Bol.com