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1edwinbcn
71. Bangkok people
Finished reading: 29 April 2011
Sketches, usually published in the form of columns in (local) newspapers, can be very interesting or entertaining in the community they were written, and may help understand society by lifting individual experience to a higher level.
However, the success of many such pieces of writing depends on the context. Collections, published in book form often fail, even if the weekly columns were very successful.
This book, Bangkok people by James Eckardt fails to rise above the limitation of describing local characterisations. Uninteresting, and not instructive.
Finished reading: 29 April 2011
Sketches, usually published in the form of columns in (local) newspapers, can be very interesting or entertaining in the community they were written, and may help understand society by lifting individual experience to a higher level.
However, the success of many such pieces of writing depends on the context. Collections, published in book form often fail, even if the weekly columns were very successful.
This book, Bangkok people by James Eckardt fails to rise above the limitation of describing local characterisations. Uninteresting, and not instructive.
2LolaWalser
I liked quite a bit An elephant named Maliwan, published, IIRC, in some Thai classics series (meaning there's likely more from the same imprint).
An alcoholic upper-class ne'er-do-well falls on hard times, leaves his family, ends up on a working site where he drives and befriends an elephant (or the elephant befriends him). Not a comedy; sad ending.
An alcoholic upper-class ne'er-do-well falls on hard times, leaves his family, ends up on a working site where he drives and befriends an elephant (or the elephant befriends him). Not a comedy; sad ending.
3brianjungwi
lots of stuff, depends what you are looking for. chart korbjitti has several books in translation.
Marcel Barang, who is a longtime translator of thai fiction has a good starting point website as well
http://www.thaifiction.com/
Marcel Barang, who is a longtime translator of thai fiction has a good starting point website as well
http://www.thaifiction.com/
4Larxol
John Burdett has an enjoyable series of police procedurals set in Bangkok.
5brianjungwi
4> i read one of them. ugh. not my cup of tea.
Colin Cotterill has also written detective novels set in Laos and Thailand, they capture the 'thai spirit' more than Burdett
Colin Cotterill has also written detective novels set in Laos and Thailand, they capture the 'thai spirit' more than Burdett
6wangthatsea
Four Reigns is a historical novel which does a good job of detailing Thai history while also telling an interesting story. I highly recommend Letters from Thailand: A Novel, which follows the life of a Chinese immigrant in Thailand. If you are interested in women's literature i suggest The Lioness in Bloom: Modern Thai Fiction about Women (Voices from Asia), which is an amazingly thorough anthology full of talented authors. After I read The Lioness in Bloom I found Married to the Demon King: Sri Daoruang and Her Demon Folk, a kind of modern retelling of mythology by an author I discover in the anthology.
Not much actual Thai lit is in translation and available overseas just yet, but I thoroughly enjoy what I've been able to find! Personally I tend to shy away from anything about Thailand which is written from a foreign perspective.
Not much actual Thai lit is in translation and available overseas just yet, but I thoroughly enjoy what I've been able to find! Personally I tend to shy away from anything about Thailand which is written from a foreign perspective.
7edwinbcn
Thanks for your very interesting suggestions. They all look like books that would interest me.
8margd
In no particular order;
Sightseeing (2005) by Rattawut Lapcharoensap: short stories, well reviewed.
Family Life in a Northern Thai Village: a Study in the Structural Significance of Women (1977) by Sulamith Heins Potter: observations of an academic, well reviewed.
Mai Pen Rai Means Never Mind: An American Housewife's Honest Love Affair with the Irrepressible People of Thailand (1965 but reprinted) by Carol Hollinger: fun read.
The Treasured One: the story of Rudivoravan Princess of Siam (1957) as told by her to Ruth Adams Knight: I found this in second hand book sale, then realized I had read it as a child!
My Boyhood in Siam (1970) by Kamut Chandruang: another book sale find!
Monsoon Country (1993) by Pira Sudham: nominated for Nobel Prize for Literature, a rare offering from NE Thailand. I enjoyed it the least of the lot, but learned stuff.
Dream of a Thousand Lives: A Sojourn in Thailand or Touch the Dragon: A Thai Journal (1993) by Karen Connelly: memoir of a Canadian student in Thailand.
Thai Ways and More Thai Ways by Denis Segaller: compilation of Bangkok Post columns by British expat who settled in Thailand. Very interesting.
Temples and Elephants: Travels in Siam in 1881-1882 (1884) by Carl Bock: travelling by permission of King Chulalongkorn I, son of King Mongkut whom we know from "The King and I", and who was so much more.
Speaking of King Mongkut and " The King and I", it's interesting to read Anna Leonowens' two books The English Governess at the Siamese Court and The Romance of the Harem and consider all their treatments by people such as Margaret Landon, Walt Disney, etc. Thais find it all somewhat disrespectful of King Mongkut, a learned and impressive man.
Sightseeing (2005) by Rattawut Lapcharoensap: short stories, well reviewed.
Family Life in a Northern Thai Village: a Study in the Structural Significance of Women (1977) by Sulamith Heins Potter: observations of an academic, well reviewed.
Mai Pen Rai Means Never Mind: An American Housewife's Honest Love Affair with the Irrepressible People of Thailand (1965 but reprinted) by Carol Hollinger: fun read.
The Treasured One: the story of Rudivoravan Princess of Siam (1957) as told by her to Ruth Adams Knight: I found this in second hand book sale, then realized I had read it as a child!
My Boyhood in Siam (1970) by Kamut Chandruang: another book sale find!
Monsoon Country (1993) by Pira Sudham: nominated for Nobel Prize for Literature, a rare offering from NE Thailand. I enjoyed it the least of the lot, but learned stuff.
Dream of a Thousand Lives: A Sojourn in Thailand or Touch the Dragon: A Thai Journal (1993) by Karen Connelly: memoir of a Canadian student in Thailand.
Thai Ways and More Thai Ways by Denis Segaller: compilation of Bangkok Post columns by British expat who settled in Thailand. Very interesting.
Temples and Elephants: Travels in Siam in 1881-1882 (1884) by Carl Bock: travelling by permission of King Chulalongkorn I, son of King Mongkut whom we know from "The King and I", and who was so much more.
Speaking of King Mongkut and " The King and I", it's interesting to read Anna Leonowens' two books The English Governess at the Siamese Court and The Romance of the Harem and consider all their treatments by people such as Margaret Landon, Walt Disney, etc. Thais find it all somewhat disrespectful of King Mongkut, a learned and impressive man.
