Today on Thailand blog attention to the book “Private Dancer” from 2005, an oldie, but now a classic. It is a thrilling novel written by top British author Stephen Leather. Set in Bangkok's bustling nightlife scene, the book offers a disturbing look at Thai bar culture and the relationship between Western men and Thai women.
“Daddy's Hobby: The Story of Lek, a Bar Girl in Pattaya” is the first book in the “Behind The Smile – The Story Of Lek, A Bar Girl In Pattaya” series written by Owen Jones. The book tells the story of Lek, a young woman who works as a bargirl in Pattaya.
The book (and movie) 'Bangkok Hilton' is a true story written by Sandra Gregory and Michael Tierney. It is based on the experiences of Sandra Gregory, who was arrested in Thailand in 1987 for smuggling drugs.
Today on Thailandblog we pay attention to the book “Killing Smile”. It is an intriguing crime story set in Bangkok and written by Canadian author Christopher G. Moore.
“Bangkok 8” by John Burdett is a crime novel set in the heart of Bangkok. The book is the first installment of the Sonchai Jitpleecheep series and follows a Thai police detective who investigates the murder of a US naval officer. This story offers a glimpse into Thailand's complex social and political structure, as well as the colorful culture of Bangkok.
Thailand's most famous private investigator, Warren Olson, returns with even more mind-boggling true stories from his investigative files. From unfortunate cases related to the tsunami to the latest antique and racehorse scams, girls tricked into pornography and boys forced into vices, as well as eccentric American and European husbands and vengeful wives – “Thai Private Eye” covers it all.
Book review: The Kings of Ayutthaya
Anyone who wants to do serious historical research with regard to Siam is confronted with the same problem. When the Burmese destroyed the Siamese capital Ayutthaya in 1767, the country's archives and most important libraries also went up in flames. This makes it damn hard to correctly reconstruct, let alone interpret, the history of Siam before 1767.
Review 'Crazy on sticks'; a book full of tasty stories from East and West (reader submission)
Never before has the peculiarity of both the Netherlands and Thailand been so entertainingly mapped out as in 'Crazy on sticks'. Written by Robert Jan Fernhout, a Dutchman who has lived in Thailand for 16 years, the book offers a unique perspective on the cultures and residents of both countries. Fernhout dissects various themes with humor and sharpness and leaves the reader with surprising insights. From woke-ism to influencers and from airplane rage to the paradox of Gay Pride – this book exposes the fascinating contrasts and similarities between two worlds.
Learning Thai is a lot of fun and satisfaction
Do you have trouble speaking and reading Thai? Then “The Thai language, grammar, spelling and pronunciation” offers the solution. The fourth revised edition of my book has already been published.
'Bangkok Babylon' about strangers in Bangkok
Thailand and especially Bangkok sometimes seem like a melting pot of special people from all over the world. Adventurers, sailors, businessmen, but also criminals and downcasts. They seek their happiness elsewhere. The reason is guessable.
One of the most beautiful books I read in recent weeks was the book 'The Ten Great Birth Stories of the Buddha' mentioned below. It is an excellent translation from the Pali of the last ten births of the Buddha as he himself related them to his disciples. A quality of an almost-Buddha, a Bodhisatta, and a Buddha is that they can remember all their past lives. Those stories are called jataka, a word related to the Thai word châat 'birth'.
Narin Phasit, the man who fought the whole world
Narin Phasit (1874-1950) fought the whole world. Tino Kuis would like to have met him. What makes this man so special?
Here I show six cartoons with explanations that bitingly criticized the royal-noble elite in Bangkok a hundred years ago.
The Frisian preacher and the Buddha
Just under ninety-five percent of the Thai population is Buddhist to a greater or lesser extent. Buddhism is the religion/philosophy that has been gaining popularity the fastest in the Netherlands in recent years. Two observations that prompt me to take a moment to reflect today on the intriguing figure of the Anabaptist minister Joast Hiddes Halbertsma, who in 1843 published the first Dutch text on Buddhism in more than one respect.
Book review 'Destination Bangkok' (readers' submission)
Jan draws attention to the book “Destination Bangkok” in which an expat in Thailand is mercilessly punished for his missteps.
Book review – Scot Barmé: Woman, Man, Bangkok, Love, Sex and Popular Culture in Thailand
There are books that completely renew my view on aspects of countries, communities and events. The book by Scot Barmé mentioned above, already published in 2002, is such a work. I read it like a thriller in one breath, in a day and a half night.
The Jim Thompson myth
Jim Thompson's life in Thailand is almost legendary. If you have been to Thailand, then that name is known and you also know a bit about what he has done.