Books -- what are we reading lately?

[nus01 305]

Tune In- MARK LEWISHON

 

First of three books (doubt the third will ever be written considering this took him years) on the beatles this about theie childhood up until 1962

 

Excellent read

[Odense 492]

Bloody hell!!!

That's some impressive reading.

 

I feel so frivolous and shallow now

+1

I read more books - but almost only for entertainment - like Lee Child or David Baldacci

 

Posted from my mobile so I blame any spelling errors on that.

[Siam Sam 964]

I've just started reading The Journey to the East by Herman Hesse. Last year I read Steppenwolf and I thought it was brilliant so I'm expecting this to be good too.

[nkped 1,208]

If you have, or can get, a library card number from home, you may have access to a significant number of ebooks. The app for downloading and reading them is Overdrive which has its own eccentricities but is definitely usable. I was on the verge of buying the novel Ghost Fleet but thought to check the Anchorage library and discovered it had the ebook. And, yes, downloads to a Thai ISP work just fine.

[Siam Sam 964]

I finished reading The Journey to the East which I enjoyed. I'm still trying to decipher all the allegory! I'm going to give that an eight of ten. I definitely recommend Herman Hesse, that's three of his that I've read now and I've enjoyed all of them. I'm going to start reading A Clergyman's Daughter by George Orwell today. I'm a huge fan of his, I only have this one and one other and then I've read every novel he ever wrote.

[teelack 9,640]

I thought that I would share my recent reading with you. I came across these books when I was last in Thailand and they were in fact presented to me by a fellow guest at my hotel. I am fairly sure he felt that I needed them as he was well aware that I had a Thai lady living with me and saw this as a way of warning me in to the possible consequences. In retrospect, he was reasonably on the money!

 

The two books are:

Thai Private Eye & Confessions of a Bangkok Private Eye.

 

The author is a New Zealander called Warren Olsen who has now left Thailand and is an academic in his home country. In his words, he founded ‘Thailand’s most famous detective agency’.

 

I do believe that this guy knows what he is talking about. He seems to have run a successful private detective agency in Thailand for some years and picked up perfect Thai (in his opinion) as well as Kymer, Lao and Issan. He has travelled all over the area and is well versed in the culture and regional nuances.

 

The reality is that these books are almost 100% aimed at exposing scams, lies and cheating practiced by Thai girls on falang guys. This seemingly was the core of his business and he is totally of the belief that relationship between bar girls and falang are doomed to failure with the exception of a tiny percentage. The books do however go beyond that and it was his understanding and explanation of why Thai girls end up prostituting themselves that I found fascinating and well written. He does indeed have a soft spot for them and what they have to put up with. He also is quite cynical about the unrealistic wants and expectations of old, fat. smelly,unrealistic, dreaming and generally undesirable (other than cash in their pockets) falang men.

 

The books are not perfect and the odd mistake has crept in but I can only recommend anyone proposing to take on a Thai lady for other than the odd night here and there, read them. It’s a racy read and easy to digest as they really consists of a list of short stories about gullible guys and scheming women. Warren himself is keen on a serious amount of booze and Thai girls. Whilst his central thesis sounds a bit one sided, his explanations and rationalisations for the how’s and why’s are quite enlightening. I have to mention on a personal basis that I saw myself being described in a few of the stories and this can always be discomforting-but eventually, enlightening!

A definite recommendation.

[wacmedia 277]

teelack:

Thai Private Eye & Confessions of a Bangkok Private Eye.

 

I have to mention on a personal basis that I saw myself being described in a few of the stories and this can always be discomforting-but eventually, enlightening!

 

 

Hi,

 

Good stuff.

Edited December 9, 2015 by wacmedia

[teelack 9,640]

 

teelack :

Thai Private Eye & Confessions of a Bangkok Private Eye.

 

I have to mention on a personal basis that I saw myself being described in a few of the stories and this can always be discomforting-but eventually, enlightening!

 

 

Hi,

 

Good stuff.

 

 

Oh so very true. One thing that he mentions a few times is something that I may be guilty of. This is that his clients pay big money to learn the truth and the facts of their case. The client then turns around and disregards or doubts the report as in "My girl is different" and either doesn't believe or forgives.

 

The guy who gave the books to me is a quiet sort but he makes me chuckle when we talk about the books and he gives me a Hill Street Blues warning. "Its dangerous out there on the streets. Take care" and this is how he sees the Thai dating game.

[sinbinjack 251]

Since I acquired a Kindle several years ago, I've found that I can read all of an author's books in a series IN ORDER, rather than scouring 2nd hand bookstores for one of the books in a series and taking whatever was available in the order it was found.

 

So, in the last few years, I've gotten stuck into several authors that have caught my attention...

 

So, going back to the acquisition of the Kindle....authors in order and their series are:

 

Stephen Hunter, the Sniper series with Bobby Lee Swaggart -- 14 books

 

G.R.R. Martin Game of Thrones -- 5 books...months and months

 

Chris Ryan - author of the Strike Back series...SAS exploits...

 

Andy McNab - Nick Stone, ex SAS adventures...13 or so books ... good reads

 

Bernard Cornwell - Starbuck Copperhead series of 4 books about the USA Civil War - 4 books

 

I took a break and read some single books (not series), one of which was by

Tom Kratman "Caliphate", about the Islamic takeover of Europe..very interesting...let's hope it doesn't happen.

 

And finally, the series that I thought I'd never finish...

George Macdonald Fraser - Flashman Chronicles -- 12 books and I wish there were more

 

I'd have to say that the best of the last 3 years or so was the Flashman series...witty, informative, entertaining, and suspenseful. If you ever want to get a picture of the imperialism of the UK in the mid 19th century, this is the series for you. I finished book 12 last week, and now have to find something else.

 

I think I'll be trying to catch up with Bernard Cornwell's tales of pre-Norman England, but might just go for something else.

 

For the moment, however, I have just finished Midnight Train: Sidetracked, the second book in a trilogy about an Issan girl who comes to Pattaya to work...some interesting insights there, clearly written by an author (David Geoffries) who knows what he is talking about. Of course, you should read book 1 first...Midnight Train: Destination: Pattaya

 

Just yesterday, I started a book written by a pair of defense analysts, many compare it to Tom Clancy's :"RED STORM RISING". It's called GHOST FLEET, a novel of the next world war that is started by China against the USA.

 

So, if any of you are readers, fiction or otherwise, what books do you find most interesting?

Cornwells Uthred books have been started by the BBC as a series and done very well so far . The series is still on bbc under the title "The last Kingdom" might well be worth a watch for you if you enjoyed any of the books .

[MM 6,562]

Cornwells Uthred books have been started by the BBC as a series and done very well so far . The series is still on bbc under the title "The last Kingdom" might well be worth a watch for you if you enjoyed any of the books .

Finished the BBC series already and hoping for a season 2!

[Fatboyfat 361]

Finished the BBC series already and hoping for a season 2!

It does grow on you a bit. "Too much of the story and not enough history" is what struck me early on, but I have warmed to it anyway, and I believe it has been well received in UK; So maybe there will be a bit more funding for Series 2, if it happens.

[atlas2 4,329]

I was talking about this series with a friend over from the UK........He felt that it had't been all that well received.

I enjoyed it and it sent me to the history books.

[Siam Sam 964]

I finished reading A Clergyman's Daughter by George Orwell. I really enjoyed it and it's one of his best novels in my opinion. It's a wonderful tale of social reportage that deals with the hypocrisy of the middle classes in England during the thirties and, as with many of his novels, it also explores poverty. It was a heartwarming story and the end of the novel became philosophical, dealing wit the concepts of life and death. I've only got to read Coming Up For Air and I've read all of Orwell's novels. Orwell is one of my favourite authors and I highly recommend his work, the only novels of his I didn't rate much were Burmese Days and Homage to Catalonia. The rest are all ten out of ten and sublime works of literature.

 

I'm currently reading Glue by Irvine Welsh who is also one of my favourite novelists. Not surprisingly, I'm enjoying it. I'm yet to read an Irvine Welsh novel that I didn't think was brilliant. I highly recommend his work. A literary genius in my opinion and a massive inspiration. Be warned though - his books are mainly written in a broad Scottish accent which takes some getting used to.

Edited January 7, 2016 by Siam Sam

[thaidave991 17]

Just had a major re-shuffle at Canterbury Tales Bookshop Pattaya and have Thousands of Fiction hundreds of Classics, Biographies, Politics, History, Travel, War, True crime, self help and Hundreds of Thailand related books.

Google map location; https://goo.gl/maps/A9jLX83pTX82

 

 

[Siam Sam 964]

I finished reading Glue by Irvine Welsh and I thought it was brilliant. Ten out of ten. As usual it was written in a broad and raw Edinburgh accent and had a very graphic and explicit content with a mixture of sex, drugs and violence. The characters became so real I felt like I knew them when I had finished the book. As with every Welsh novel I have read it is laugh out loud funny in many places. The genius of Welsh is that his characters are not only controversial and hilarious but they have endearing qualities that evoke sympathy from the reader. In my opinion Welsh is a literary genius and one of the most influential contemporary writers in Britain. I only have to read his latest novel and the preceding two and I've read his entire canon.

 

I'm currently reading L'Assommoir by Emile Zola. It's the seventh novel in the famous Les Rougon-Maquart series. I read Germinal the year before last and I thought it was phenomenal, it's one of the best books I've read so I'm really looking forward to reading this. I was fortunate enough to visit Paris recently and I went to the famous Shakespeare and Company book shop where I also bought a copy of Nana, which is the ninth volume in the series. Quite ironic but Nana is also about a prostitute! Now I don't think I'll ever walk into NEP without remembering that!

Edited January 17, 2016 by Siam Sam

[nus01 305]

I finished reading Glue by Irvine Welsh and I thought it was brilliant. Ten out of ten. As usual it was written in a broad and raw Edinburgh accent and had a very graphic and explicit content with a mixture of sex, drugs and violence. The characters became so real I felt like I knew them when I had finished the book. As with every Welsh novel I have read it is laugh out loud funny in many places. The genius of Welsh is that his characters are not only controversial and hilarious but they have endearing qualities that evoke sympathy from the reader. In my opinion Welsh is a literary genius and one of the most influential contemporary writers in Britain. I only have to read his latest novel and the preceding two and I've read his entire canon.

 

 

I have just finished reading Tune In which was good but it was a 30 page a night read over 3 months as opposed to cant put down and i was only thinking today what can i read next and your post has prompted me to give "Porno" by irvine Welsh a go , i have had it for about a year and haven't picked it up.

[Siam Sam 964]

I have just finished reading Tune In which was good but it was a 30 page a night read over 3 months as opposed to cant put down and i was only thinking today what can i read next and your post has prompted me to give "Porno" by irvine Welsh a go , i have had it for about a year and haven't picked it up.

 

Porno is very good but if you haven't read Skagboys or Trainspotting yet I would read them first because it will allow you to appreciate the characters and the plot better. Having said that, Skagboys was brought out long after Trainspotting and Porno as a prequel. I've read all three and they're all excellent, Skagboys is my favourite. That book is phenomenal. If you are a stranger to Welsh novels then persevere with the accent, it is difficult to begin with but after I while you get used to it and you get into a rhythm. When you have finished the book you'll be glad you persevered with it, Porno is a very funny book. If you get into Welsh I highly recommend Trainspotting, Marabou Stork Nightmares, Glue, The Bedroom Secrets of the Master Chefs, Crime and Skagboys. In actual fact, I'd recommend any of his novels but those are my personal favourites.

Edited January 17, 2016 by Siam Sam

[thaidave991 17]

I will check which ones we have in the shop as I know we have 6/8 or so.

[Siam Sam 964]

I will check which ones we have in the shop as I know we have 6/8 or so.

 

Hello there. You have an impressive collection of books in your establishment and I have bought books from you before but I would like to offer a bit of constructive criticism. The condition of many of your books is pretty poor and it has put me off buying some books from you. I appreciate that many of your books come from people on holiday and they may not be in the best condition but sometimes the condition of the book does not justify the price. Also why all the stamps? I can appreciate having one stamp in the book but some of them have several and lots of pieces of paper glued to them?

[thaidave991 17]

 

Hello there. You have an impressive collection of books in your establishment and I have bought books from you before but I would like to offer a bit of constructive criticism. The condition of many of your books is pretty poor and it has put me off buying some books from you. I appreciate that many of your books come from people on holiday and they may not be in the best condition but sometimes the condition of the book does not justify the price. Also why all the stamps? I can appreciate having one stamp in the book but some of them have several and lots of pieces of paper glued to them?

HI Sam, Thanks for your custom; yes a lot of books have been read several times and normally the tattier they get the price drops, we have many at 10 and 60 baht for example and I am loathed to throw them out as you never know what people want to read.

As for the bits of paper and as we sell books to be read I add adverts to my business, I really see it as just something else to read in a book with some pictures maybe of the rooms or food etc, also I add bookmarks and sometimes there are several in each book but over the years I have had very few complaints as such as its just more reading in used books.

Also of course many books that are 390baht or 7.99 GBP for example from say Asia books or UK they are maybe a third of that in our shop plus the 50% credit refund which all the big chains do not offer so really is a good deal; also we trade unwanted books from anywhere which I think is why we have such a good healthy stock.

All the best Dave

[thaidave991 17]

Of Irvin Welsh we have Acid House, Marabou Stork Nightmares, Crime, Filth, Porno, Ecstasy, Skagboys, If You liked School You'll Love Work, Glue, train spotting,

[Siam Sam 964]

I finished reading L'Assommoir by Emile Zola. 8 out of 10. A brutal depiction of the vicissitudes of life and poverty in the slums of nineteenth century Paris, as a formerly prosperous family descend into abject poverty and alcoholism. Naturalism at its rawest.

 

I am currently reading Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. I'm currently about 140 pages in and this has to be one of the most superfluous novels I've ever read. Large amounts of text to explain very little events and if I'm honest it's boring. I will however finish all 760 pages as I rarely let a book defeat me even if I don't like it. It's considered a classic too so I'll read it just so I can say I've read it.

[MM 6,562]

I just finished a series of books by Brian Haig about a US Army JAG (lawyer), Sean Drummond, who gets into some exciting situations. I like the character...he's a no bullshit, anti-authoritarian who has a lot of dark humor in his viewpoints. The political backgrounds are very current and interesting too.

 

Brian Haig was a career military guy, the son of famous General Alexander Haig, but I don't hold that against him.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_Drummond

[atlas2 4,329]

I've got a reading list as longs your arm that I keep adding to but never get round to.

 

Along with 'stay single' and 'lose weight'...'read more' is a New Year's resolution.

 

Only light-stuff for me though.

[Lucky 47]

 

I'm thinking of getting a kindle. How easily do they interface with MacBook Pros? Ex wife No.2 gave me one and sent me 1000s of free booksin a zip file ..........And the instructions to convert but I couldn't work it out. Sold the thing and deleted the file.

 

But some publications are only available as ibooks........'Leather' for one...... so I'm sort of more 'incentif'fied' The way things are going books will soon just be things people put on shelves......I feel I'm being left behind.

 

I have a Macbook Pro as well as a Windows tablet and the kindle application works great on both of them.

 

As for what I have been reading lately I just finished Christopher Moore's Gambling On Magic and I enjoyed it. I guess one reason is that it is loosely based on a real person who is living in Thailand.