Review 'Crazy on sticks'; a book full of tasty stories from East and West (reader submission)

If one thought repeatedly comes to mind while reading 'Crazy on Sticks', it is 'I've never actually looked at it that way before'. The booklet is by Robert Jan Fernhout. Robert has lived in Thailand for over 16 years and in this extremely entertaining work he focuses on the Netherlands and Thailand and the curious residents of these two countries.

Because the writer has been away from the former swamp lashed by westerly winds for so long, Fernhout views his homeland with an extremely fresh perspective that those left behind often lack. Woke-ism, smearing, climate problems, political correctness, influencers, wappies, 'air rage' – the airplane version of 'road rage' – are all discussed and put into perspective and, where necessary, filtered.

Do not think that the writer in this book portrays his homeland and its inhabitants with satanic pleasure. On the contrary. He views the scene only through the eyes of a semi-outsider and thereby arrives at surprising insights. For example, how is it possible that the 'influencer' and 'recalcitrant teenager' Famke Louise and Diederik Gommers, the chairman of the Dutch Association for Intensive Care, sit at the table as equal discussion partners in a talk show? Or how during Gay Pride the participants decked out in rainbow-colored burqas float in boats through the Amsterdam canals in solidarity with Muslims, while you can accuse Muslims of many things, but acceptance of homosexuality is certainly not on that list. And if you want to know how the Dutch moorkop is actually an ode to immigrant drug dealers, then nothing prevents you from purchasing this booklet.

Over to Thailand. The writer's Thai girlfriend has developed a simple and ingenious way of ranking music: 'I born already' music – good music – and 'I not born yet' – shitty music, Robert's music. It should be noted that Robert is a die-hard fan of Siouxsie and the Banshees.

I'm not going to reveal anymore. In addition to the entertaining writing style, full of pointed finds and puns without lapsing into fancy writing or the urge to 'score', the book provides an interesting look at the inhabitants of two crazy countries that are clearly close to Robert's heart. Although he does have a clear preference.

Submitted by Wim Rooijmans

'Crazy on sticks' can be ordered at all bookstores in the Netherlands and Flanders, and via online stores such as https://www.bol.com/nl/nl/p/gekheid-op-stokjes/9300000149873451/