OldAsiaHand Posted March 20, 2005 Report Share Posted March 20, 2005 chuckwoww said:I notice in Stick's latest column he talks about a review in the local press by somebody who didn't like Stephen Leather's book. Does anybody know where I can read the review? Thanks.... It was on the Nation's so-called Farang Page a couple of weeks ago. I think it only comes out on Monday, so it would probably have been March 7. Since I can't ever remember that page ever running a book review before, I assume this was a personal hatchet job directed at Steve. Alternatively, it might just have been another case of what Stick was referring to in the column you mentioned -- the inevitable and mindless pissing done by the local hangers-on all over anybody who writes a novel that touches in any way on Bangkok nightlife. Of course, since on the whole these guys are all such successful sorts themselves, I guess we really ought to pay attention to them, huh? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gummigut Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 "Maybe because it was baed on a true story? Except the ending.. or so I heard..." I believe it's based on a number of true stories which is why character development is so poor. <<burp>> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Hippie Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 Like I said, I saw a few guys I know/knew in there as I was reading it, thought hell, I could end up that way myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nervous_Dog Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 OH - careful crossing streets! DOG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldAsiaHand Posted March 21, 2005 Report Share Posted March 21, 2005 Nervous_Dog said:OH - careful crossing streets! I don't find all that many street here that are actually worth crossing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckwoww Posted March 22, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 I like Private Dancer because its such a mish mash of characters and events. Sure Stephen has exagerated because that's how fiction works. Otherwise it's journalism. He certainly covered all the angles of Thai/farang P4P type relationships. The central character needs to be a kind of gullible caricature to show all the pitfalls and misunderstandings. I was going to mention OH here but better not. Too much psychological depth would have spoiled it I think. SL is no John Le Carre anyway. More your Jack Higgins. Different market. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Hippie Posted March 22, 2005 Report Share Posted March 22, 2005 "...The central character needs to be a kind of gullible caricature to show all the pitfalls and misunderstandings. I was going to mention OH here but better not..." Gullible? Moi? jeez, buy a few dozen dead cows, the bridge on the river kwai, and a beer bar on Soi 10, and I get labeled as gullible...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zorro Posted March 26, 2005 Report Share Posted March 26, 2005 Well i don't think it purports to be a great piece of literarature a la Dickens or Hemingway and thus it would be unfair to judge it by this criteria. I think it is a good read for the average punter as there is plenty to relate to in the various characters. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to fellow punters. It probably has a limited audience because of its very narrow focus. I can't see many people not involved in the scene to be very interested in this work. It can be read in a few hours and it does provide some interesting insights into the mindsets of some of the various characters that make up the Bangkok nightlife scene. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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