Book Previews

Lollipop Fury follows the fortunes of author, Michael Deveney, as he runs the rule over the cultural intricacies of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. Solo road trips by bicycle allow plenty of time for reflection as the story becomes laced with insights and observations gained from long-term residence in the region. Whilst the travelogue steers a straight, though sometimes wobbly course, the narrative takes the reader on any number of hilarious excursions. You will experience the energy of the streets of Ho Chi Minh City, the dangers of cycling in Bangkok and the loneliness of back roads in Cambodia. But you will also have to get to grips with all manner of sundry chestnuts such as Thai-style sex for sale, being beautiful, earwax removal, deadly dogs, memes, bad dreams and, of course, accidental defecation. A ‘Lollipop’ is an easy ride by the way, a fast bit in the middle is naturally enough a ‘Fury’.

Profoundly entertaining ... Using the 2004 tsunami catastrophe as its reference point, Johnson’s book is part history, part travelogue and part love story. The questions it asks of its readers are big ones, not least: Am I living my real life, or escaping it? Far outstripping the works of Somerset Maugham or Alex Garland in its understanding of the Thai people and their many-tentacled encounter with the hedonistic West, Siamese Dreams is essential reading for anyone visiting the country.

An extremely evocative collection of stories set in contemporary Thailand by an award-winning author. Trirat Petchsingh’s masterfully-crafted stories are quirky, interesting, and always fun to read.

Faced with turning 30 and a failing marriage, life could not be worse for disenfranchised journalist Tom Banner. His glamorous estranged wife Kacey has secretly borrowed 20,000 Pound from her former boss and lover, and fled to the US. Tom is sent on assignment to South East Asia and meets Ashleigh, an Irish clairvoyant whose insight pierces his hardened heart. Just as hope returns to his life, Ashleigh vanishes and Kacey mysteriously appears, hinting at reconciliation. In a city of shadowed alleys and dark secrets, Tom journeys into the cold heart of the Bangkok underworld as he fights to rescue Ashleigh and uncover the true purpose of his wife's debt.

Tired of insider's guides that tell you all the inside information you never really cared to know? Then crack open 'The Outsider's Guide to Thailand', a collection of insightful and humorous essays and photographs by a local journalist who is still extremely confused about the actual inner workings of Thai culture.

Jarapan's dreams died the day she was raped. It wasn’t her fault, yet everyone treats her with disdain. She flees to the tourist city of Pattaya to start a new life. That decision unleashes the grinding wheels of fate. Mike Johnson has lived in Pattaya long enough to become a cynical man. Nothing has been the same since he lost Tippawan ("Math") Bongkarn, the woman who holds his heart even in her death. When he meets Jarapan, long-buried passions explode into love. Then he gets sick, really sick. It ignites a firestorm that tests their new love beyond endurance.

“I walked out the door, a bit dazed. I had ten dollars and two not-quite diamonds, and it was summer in Siam.” John Borthwick’s first day in Thailand seemed far from auspicious — but it has been uphill from then on. Dropping him in the middle of everything from three-day tribal weddings, elephant polo follies and pristine islands to Pattaya’s bacchanalian nightlife, Thailand has kept John and his pen constantly on the move. One of Australia’s leading travel authors, John Borthwick has gathered here the best of his years of Thailand adventures.

Teachers College didn’t prepare him for this! Stung by a scorpion, coerced into singing an 80’s Karaoke love duet with his tearful boss - twice, performing military drills under the guise of teacher development and living in a desolate, eerie house surrounded by swamp and jungle are a sample of Ryan Humphreys’ amazing but true experiences during his first year of teaching in a Thai school, traveling throughout Thailand and adapting to life in a new and exotic country.

Nearly a year has passed since Tippawan ("Math") Bongkot's life ended in Thailand's insane traffic. Her death made only the smallest ripple in the world, but it ignited events still felt from Pittsburgh to Bangkok. Math's sister, Nuang, cannot forget Mike Johnson, the farang who loved her sister, or the night of incredible passion they shared. When they meet again, shameful truths are revealed, and powerful emotions explode. Join Mike and Nuang as they discover the true meanings of love, hate, and forgiveness.

In hindsight, maybe fluttering off the tour guide's red line wasn't such a good idea. But Jon has neither hindsight nor foresight as his vacation unfolds in real time. Acting without consequence, he discovers that real life is funnier, crazier, and more interesting than fiction, as he encouters crooked tour guides, transvestite karaoke stars, restroom massage gangs, and angels - not with wings and halos, but g-strings and high heels.

Phuket and Beyond Poignant, ironic, heartbreakingly sad, savagely funny. Brims with a host of keenly-observed characters cast adrift on Phuket's sunny shores and beyond.

Living in Thailand where her ambitious husband works, she discovers the ultimate betrayal. She unearths blackmail, both financial and emotional, as she sees her husband torn apart by guilt and fear. Set in two continents, this is a dark, thought-provoking story which begs answers to the questions - how we may, or may not, cope with the shock of deceit and the ensuing emotional tidal-wave, whether we can really know the person closest to us and if we can ever overcome the watershed of personal loss and tragedy. And, do we ever know ourselves?

Foreign Teachers in Thailand. Dark comedy and a sometimes brutally realistic portrayal of the kinds of dubious characters who infest school staff rooms across Thailand, make this book essential reading for anyone who has ever taught English in Asia, and those who want to know why they do it!

Inside into Thai Living, Cops & Robbers, Relaxing Thai Ways, Tsunami, and much more...

Tippawan Bongkot is a young Thai woman on the run. Life as she knew it, ended the night she caught her fiance with his lover. Her world collapsed the day she lost her job. Desperate to find work, Tippawan escapes to the resort city of Pattaya hoping that things will change and her bad luck will end. When she meets the farang, a foreigner named Mike, her world does change, but in ways she could have never imagined. Her search for happiness is a haunting adventure not easily forgotten.