“Concentrate on the most unpleasant death you can think of, then how it will be at the end, when you realize there never was a heaven or a morality and every single little thing you did to make your life and the world better was a total waste of time.”
“Why are you so hung up on desolation?”
“It’s where the treasure is hidden.”
The above passage is near the end of Chapter 4 of John Burdett’s 38 Chapters and latest Sonchai Jitpleecheep novel, The Bangkok Asset – the sixth in the best-selling series and in my opinion his best. It’s taken over 10 years but I now have a new favorite, eclipsing the inaugural novel, Bangkok 8.
There is a lot to be enjoyed for the reader or R of this novel as Sonchai has made a subtle but important change in how he converses with readers whom he previously addressed as, DFR or Dear Farang Reader in novels past.
Technology has changed a great deal since Burdett penned Bangkok 8 in the early years of the 21st century. The times are changing and so is the genre Burdett chooses. Or has it changed as some have claimed? To steal three words from The Bangkok Asset used more than once, “I’m not sure.”
Certainly the recently launched novel is Burdett’s most geopolitical and “sci-fi” oriented to date but Bangkok continues to be a vital character. Fans of the series will recognize Soi Cowboy and the bar owned by Sonchai’s mother, the Old Man’s Club. Burdett also does a masterful job of peeling back the layers of Klong Toey Slum, or KTC (Klong Toey City) in the local vernacular. The relationship between Sonchai and his wife, Chanya continues to be a favorite for me as Burdett balances the characters’ boredom of a long marriage with friendly dick jiggles, while getting in messages of husbands being tamed and freedoms lost, often with his trademark Buddhist slant. New character, Inspector Krom, a techie expert assigned to the case provides some tense moments, sexual and otherwise, as the well dressed lesbian with Butch tendencies – she has more than a passing interest for Chanya.
The plot unfolds quickly with a neatly decapitated school-girl found murdered only blocks from Sonchai’s District 8 police headquarters, along with a revealing but unclear blood written message directed at my favorite Buddhist cop: “Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep, I know who [smudge] father is.” Sonchai is a luek krung or half caste as he refers to himself. His mother is Thai and his father is American. We learn more about both in this futuristic mystery
Advanced technology and learning take center stage in this novel when Sonchai soon after witnesses a double-murder on a boat in the Chao Phraya River during a raging storm. My attention now three times grabbed. Smart writing, dark humor, morality plays, and psychological insights are what readers of the Sonchai series have come to expect and Burdett delivers big time, ambiguously and unambiguously as we are introduced to the future, Burdett’s future. It never stops being entertaining no matter how bleak the outlook and the future is bleak, according to Burdett – we will not be wearing shades. This R still found plenty to enjoy during the read – those LOL moments when the accuracy of the writing makes me laugh at the grim present and darker future which awaits. The cross as the pinnacle symbol of corporate identity and “media rats” being two examples. Burdett writes brilliant and believable scenes with plenty of dialogue. He can work in a conversation about social identities and asparagus crepes and make both interesting. Be prepared for religion as mythology along with healthy doses of skepticism or more likely, outright disbelief.
The middle portion of the book takes place in a Cambodian jungle where old ex-military and a psychiatrist by the name of Christmas Bride live and re-live the ghosts and experiments of Christmas’ past. Dr Bride is one of many Christ references to be found in The Bangkok Asset along with the devil himself. If I have a complaint with the book (I’m not sure.) it’s that Burdett is a Brit and a lot smarter than I. This made me run to the dictionary at times, and even Wikipedia, to keep up with the words and historical characters, although I was pleased to recognize one Italian painter. Smart Brits can be eccentric, I have read, and Burdett fits that mold. Understanding the eccentricities is enjoyable but attention is required. On the plus side Burdett provides interesting characters, even the short-lived ones, and their numbers were never overwhelming or burdensome for this reader.
There is much hidden treasure to be found in The Bangkok Asset by John Burdett and plenty of booty in plain sight too. This novel is well worth the price – $12.99 for Kindle or under $15.00 for the hardback. Buy the ticket and enjoy the ride.
I have received seven book reviews of Bangkok Beat so far. All positive, thankfully. This one by Christopher G. Moore is the first one I have passed along. I felt it was entertaining enough to re-blog. I hope you enjoy it a fraction as much as I did. Christopher’s blog is also worth exploring for those who take the time to click the link below:
“Begin this moment, wherever you find yourself, and take no thought of the morrow. Look not to Russia, China, India, not to Washington, not to the adjoining county, city or state, but to your immediate surroundings. Forget Buddha, Jesus, Mohammed and all the others. Do your part to the best of your ability, regardless of the consequences. Above all, do not wait for the next man to follow suit.”
― Henry Miller, The Air Conditioned Nightmare
Curiosity may well have killed a lot of cats. But I suspect those cats lived their lives in Sammy Davis Jr. years. Wandering around back alleys and tunnels the sort of which used to exist behind Checkinn99. Those cats didn’t die sitting on or on top of a couch – more likely they were on an awning that gave way in Soi Cowboy. Last Sunday there was a celebration at Checkinn99 and the catalyst was the publication of my very first book, BANGKOK BEAT. Albert Einstein has a few good quotes about curiosity. One is: “The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing.”
Curiosity is what built Bangkok Beat. From the first time I met Chris Coles on Soi Cowboy over a decade ago to my first two lunches with Christopher G. Moore. The curiosity continued when I met Collin Piprell in Ari neighborhood to discuss writing, among other things, and later had a meet-up at Cactus bar where I met Dean Barrett and James A. Newman for the first time. Memorable meetings for me. For them commonplace.
Newman would later host Night of Noir I in April of 2013 where I would learn of the noir poetry of John Gartland among the many readers that night. James Newman would, a few days later, invite me to a meet-up at Bus Stop on Sukhumvit Soi 4 where I would meet John Gartland and his new friend and photographer Eric Nelson. Through Eric I would later meet a four time Muay Ying champion by the name of Melissa Ray. Through Melissa I would meet other champions.
Newman being Newman he decided to hold a second Night of Noir less than 9 months later. That night I met the novelists Cara Black and John Burdett among others. A photographer was there that night and he took some amazing photographs – his name is Alasdair McLeod.
I read Tone Deaf in Bangkok a book of non-fiction written by a middle aged American woman and author named Janet Brown, about her adventures in Thailand as a traveler and expat during those times. There are female expats – Janet reminds us of this with truthful writing. I got to know her via email and we would later have dinner together. She brought her friend along, Jim Algie, author of a book of non-fiction called Bizarre Thailand and a book of short stories called the The Phantom Lover and other Thrilling Tales of Thailand. When I stopped off to meet Janet Brown with my wife in Seattle in the summer of 2014 at Elliot Bay Book Company she introduced me to another Seattle resident, Kevin Conroy, who happened to be a regular traveler to Bangkok and it turns out Checkinn99 for over 35 years. There is a picture of Kevin in Checkinn99 from the 1980s in Bangkok Beat which he allowed me to use.
At Checkinn99 I met for the first time Chris Catto-Smith, Jerry Hopkins, Kevin Wood, Ted Lewand, Keith Nolan, William Wait, Clifton Hardy, Chris Wegoda, Peter Montalbano, Steve Cannon, Mark Fenn, John Daysh, Bernard Servello, MOTH, Mama Noi and Uncle Wat. I introduced Timothy Hallinan to the place because he asked me to and I was delighted to do so. I introduced the author Matt Carrell to Checkinn99 because I wanted to. Tim and Matt are both curious people. I like that about them. Before long I realized I had enough material to write a book. So I asked Colin Cotterill, the well known novelist and talented cartoonist living in the south of Thailand if he could draw a book cover for me. And he did. Right away. Damn him. Now I had a great book cover, plenty of material but no book. Life is in the details. I needed a hook for my book. An anchor really. The Checkinn99 history was my anchor – ably assisted by Thom Locke with his great short story – The Beauty of Isaan. Thom and I shared some early and fun times at Checkinn99, just as we did last Sunday when he and his family flew in from Northern Thailand especially for this event. The same James Newman noted above did the introduction for Bangkok Beat while John Gartland compiled an excellent chapter of noir poems. I cannot imagine the book without the contribution of any of these three writers.
I am going to let the pictures tell the rest of the story of a remarkable run of events that really took off when I created this blog four days before Night of Noir 1 and wrote my first blog post: I Am Not A Writer And Why The World Needs Them. That was less than 2 1/2 years ago. Last Sunday, my friend and actor John Marengo, whom I also met for the first time at Checkinn99, read that post, which is included in Bangkok Beat, to a good crowd who came to what was much more than a book launch – it was a celebration of the people, history and stories of Checkinn99, Bangkok and important people and events in my life. Better now than later. I know what’s waiting for me in the long run.
Bangkok Beat became available for purchase as an eBook on Amazon today – the paperback came out June 8th, 2015. But what I learned from writing this book is that it has very little to do with selling books. What it has to do with is more aptly described in Jim Algie’s story, Tsunami – found in his Phantom Lover and Other Thrilling Tales of Thailand. You’ll learn to appreciate the value of friends and a campfire in Jim’s book and be reaffirmed that in the end it really does come down to good friends, family loyalties and the simple dignity of doing honest work and receiving honest pay. When I think of Chris Catto-Smith, Mook, Kiko, Cherry, Donna, Grace, April, Jesse and all the staff at Checkinn99 I’d say they are batting 1,000.
It’s not about tweets or Twitter followers. I’m certain of that.
Okay, enough with the sentimentality. The following is Bangkok Beat – the Live Version – July 26th, 2015. If you weren’t there, enjoy. If you were there, enjoy it again.
Anatomy of a Celebration
Welcome to the time tunnel
Have the Sunday Jazz going on when you start – no down time when Clifton Hardy and Dr. William Wait are in the house. Both Clifton and William are featured in Bangkok Beat with William getting his own chapter.
Be very pleased when the author who wrote your back cover blurb, Dean Barrett shows up early along with Alan Parkhouse of the Bangkok Post. Dean Barrett has his own Chapter in Bangkok Beat: Man of Mystery? Yes and No. Thanks to all the media members who came early and stayed late.
Sign some books now …
and again …
Turn the show over to some old show biz veterans – John Gartland and Kevin Wood
Let Kevin Wood and John from Queen Bee do their thing
Make sure the guests get along – author, journalist and editor Jim Algie speaking with retired Muay Thai Champion Melissa Ray. Both guests are featured in two chapters each of Bangkok Beat
Make sure your friend and photographer Alasdair Mcleod is never far away. Alasdair’s photographs are featured in Bangkok Beat and he has one of his poem’s published in there – City Pulse.
Have another friend and photographer, Eric Nelson in the house in case Alasdair’s battery dies. Eric gets a Chapter in Bangkok Beat called – Keeping Photography Alive in Bangkok and his photographs are also featured.
Convince the affable Keith Nolan to hang around in-between his two paying gigs that day. Keith shown with Guest of Honor Mama Noi
Have John Fengler fly down from Chiang Mai on a Saturday, wear his timeless cotton shirt to Checkinn99 and create some Bob Hope buzz on social media
Try not to be boring while talking to Jim Algie and Chris Wegoda. Chris is featured in The Rocky Horror Show Chapter as he starred as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in the Checkinn99 adaptation. Jim is the author of Bizarre Thailand and The Phantom Lover and Other Thrilling Tales of Thailand and is one of five major contributors to Americans in Thailand.
Have MOTH come out and do three quick songs. Chris Catto-Smith, Melissa Ray & Kevin Cummings
Including one rap number from Fast & Furious – Featuring the fast and fabulous Grace
Chris Catto-Smith on the microphone. Kevin Cummings enjoying the show.
Try not too talk to much. Can’t win them all.
Bring up Muay Ying Melissa Ray and present her with her All Time Hits Award for most traffic on this web site for a single-day and all time. Melissa Ray to steal a line from Muhammad Ali, is simply, “The Greatest of All Time.” On Thailand Footprint and I’m sure her Mom would agree.
Next up was Jim Algie being presented with his Reincarnation Lifetime Achievement Award – well earned
Music of the Heart Band were then presented with copies of Bangkok Beat – No one in the audience looked at the book
Bring back the Big Dog for the evening John Gartland as the readings began
James A. Newman reading his introduction to Bangkok Beat.
Terrific job by John Marengo reading I AM NOT A WRITER and Why the World Needs Them written by Kevin Cummings
John Gartland reading The Beauty of Isaan as the author Thom H. Locke and others look on followed by The Eye AKA The Mamba Hotel loosely based on Checkinn99 and its characters. A Chapter of John’s verse is contained in Bangkok Beat
Have a packed and appreciative audience which included the author of a stellar novel, Hunters in the Dark, sitting at the bar
Bring Back Kevin Wood and MOTH
K Wood killing it – long time now. L to R: Jesse, Cherry, Donna, Grace, Kevin Wood, Kiko
Check in on special guest Victoria Kirkwood and her date to see how they are doing
John Fengler and John the owner of Queen Bee during a break in the action
Collin Piprell an author, an editor, a mentor and a friend with another friend, Eric Nelson
Allow for a moment at the end of a long journey
My wife and family who had been upstairs having dinner with Melissa Ray finally arrive. It was a good night. One I have no plans to repeat for 2-3 years anyway. If you got this far you deserve some music from Music of the Heart Band. Go back and have a listen if you haven’t yet or do it again. Why not? If you buy Bangkok Beat today or whenever that would be great. If you don’t that will be okay too. But if you find yourself in Bangkok city and have never been to Checkinn99, do stop in. You never know when greatness will be in the house. Thanks to all the great people who came out on July 26, 2015. Another memorable date in Checkinn99 history, which began in 1957.
Special Thanks to the numerous Bangkok Soi Dog #1 Tshirts in Checkinn99 that night – art by Chris Coles
AND A SPECIAL SPECIAL THANKS TO PHOTOGRAPHERS ERIC NELSON AND ALASDAIR McLEOD
I’ll get attribution right one of these days.
Selected highlights from Bangkok Beat book launch as put together by Alasdair McLeod. Very useful guy, Alasdair is …
This is the calm retort the Cambodian policeman and central investigator, Davuth, provides his daughter in Lawrence Osborne’s moody and spirit laden novel, Hunters in the Dark, (Hogarth 2015) before following a set of clues that will see one American underachiever and one English school-teacher cross paths in a tale of double identities and floating indemnity. Investigators in Cambodia pursue for their own personal gain first and foremost without the benefit of much schooling. Davuth survived the history of Cambodia precisely because he comes from peasant stock, yet he wields considerable power over the educated “barangs” that frequent his country for “business or pleasure”.
When I first learned that Osborne’s latest novel would feature an English school-teacher set in Cambodia I thought, how unimaginative is that? I also thought this will be a far cry from his embezzling, on the lamb, English attorney who reinvents himself as the high-stakes playing baccarat gambler in Macao, Lord Byron in The Ballad of a Small Player, a novel I enjoyed very much, written by Osborne and published in 2014 (Hogarth).
But just as the American businessman, Simon living by the river in Battambang had come around to the idea of ghosts since living in Cambodia, I’ve come around to the idea that Lawrence Osborne can write about any character whom he wishes to, because he does it with skill and a nuanced imagination. Robert Grieve is the central character – 28 years old, a career English literature teacher from England. His life, like his present day country, is rather bland and ordinary compared to the East. When he has a bit of drowsy luck at the Diamond Club, after a border crossing from Thailand, his fortunes change forever. I see similarities between the Lord Byron and Robert Grieve characters in Osborne’s last two novels: they both assume new identities; interpersonal skills are not their strong suit; neither has any love lost for their former country; they both seem to get thrills they never came close to achieving before; they both wear tailored cloths and enjoy the details of a fine meal. Grieve is not your “cheap haircut, cargo pant wearing English teacher in flip flops.” On the contrary, Osborne gets his digs in at this expat “subculture” on more than one occasion.
Osborne’s characters and settings are equally superb, be they major or minor. The Scottish innkeeper with a penchant for munitions themed interior design I particularly liked, along with the yellow taped grounds and deer that occasionally get turned to a bloody mist. The Dutch artist painting while naked at 3:00 am with two young female models seemed vaguely familiar and believable. Other principal characters are Grieve’s driver, Ouksa, the Khmer doctor Sar, and his beautiful young daughter and love interest for Robert – the Paris educated Sophal. She is contrasted nicely with Simon’s Khmer girlfriend, Sothea who brings a semblance of balance and karmic energy to the story. Osborne gives the reader many details of the characters later rather than sooner, which enriches the story at an enjoyable pace.
But it is Cambodia and Osborne’s art of observation that ultimately seals the deal. Don’t skip a sentence of this atmospheric novel by Lawrence Osborne – you will be cheating yourself. The ending is particularly good although not flawless due to a clumsy transfer of a known vehicle. Osborne shows us the best and worst of the human experience. As the narrator observes while Robert eats at an outdoor terrace on Street 136 in Phnom Penh, “What an easy life it was. Just moments randomly pieced together.”
In other words, the exact opposite of what Lawrence Osborne has accomplished in writing Hunters in the Dark.
This book review also appeared in The Khmer Times as part of The Weekly Phnom Penh
The allegations are true – Matt Carrell does have a good book in him. I cannot speak for Christopher Hitchens but I’ll go on record as stating it is a good thing that Matt Carrell chose to share this book with the world. This is my first read of a Carrell novel and that book is named Vortex. He may well have many others out there- I will find out soon enough as I plan to read more of this UK born author. Carrell reminds me a bit of early Stephen Leather with his confident non-nonchalant writing style. Carrell provides cultural expertise whether that applies to the corporate culture of Hong Kong high finance or Thai culture, politics and customs at all levels of society. The story starts off with an oddly likable character, Andy Duncan employed in an investment firm pulling an immoral financial play which quickly gets him his just due – a promotion. Carrell knows how to wheel and deal in the world of high finance and spins a good yarn while his characters are busy spinning straw into gold – sometimes for their clients, usually for themselves. At its core this story is about income redistribution – not that there is anything wrong with that – unless the Thai mafia, gangsters, hookers, actresses and periodic murders are involved, which they are. Carrell is creative with his murders; he’s not afraid to mix a sniff kiss with his blood – lots of blood. Good on him. If I have a quibble with his writing style it’s that his dialogue reports well but doesn’t always reveal. Carrell writes in a friendly, engaging manner – his office scenes are particularly good – but just as friends don’t always reveal themselves to their friends, I felt the same way about Carrell’s characters, at times. The office politics and after work scenes were spot on – the foibles are there but they could have run deeper. Carrell saves some of his best writing for the end, which has some great cinematic qualities as well as character revealing qualities, particularly the unflattering kind that avaricious men aspire toward. The Bangkok bar scene is more of a pleasant backdrop – this is a book that just as easily could have been set equally between Hong Kong and London but Thaiophiles should be plenty happy with the inclusions and expertise Carrell blends into this financial thriller.Lots of zeros, sex, politics, and murders to keep your attention along with your present day YouTube moment and drugs to boot. Carrel ties things up nicely at the end in a believable and lethal finale. A book about the high life with plenty of low life’s. I will definitely comb over Matt Carrell’s back list to go along with Vortex The End Game, which is next up on my reading list by this author.
As an aside I am pleased to announce that the Matt Carrell interview conducted at Thailand Footprint will be included in the eBook edition of Bangkok Beat, which will launch on August 8th, 2015 and be in subsequent paperback editions available from Amazon.com. In hindsight I realize it should have been included from the get go. One reason I believe I made this error of omission is that of all the interviews I had conducted the only interview of any author of fiction whose work I had not read was Jack Fielding and, let’s face it, the mop handle story of Nobby Tirpitz made Jack a fitting choice for the book. Now that I have read one of Matt’s novel’s and re-read his excellent interview, which you can read here – the inclusion of Matt’s interview in Bangkok Beat was an easy call to make.
Tadanori Yokoo Silkscreen poster for an exhibition of art by Henry Miller, 1968
Paris Review
“I refuse to live this way forever. There must be a way out. I start tomorrow on the Paris book. First person, uncensored, formless – fuck everything!” Henry Miller in a letter written in Paris, France around 1930
“I want to write about sex and about death.” That was the opening sentence written by Christopher G. Moore on August 20th, 2010 on his great blog http://www.internationcrimeauthors.com for an essay titled: Sir Frank Kermode and Shigeo Tokudo: Scholor and Porn Star. I remember the essay, so I thought I’d borrow the opening line today. I had a pretty good week this week. More good stuff happened than bad. I’ll take that. I want to write about frogs, dogs, books and comedians. It’s just that it doesn’t make for quite as good an opening line. Are you still with me?
Frogs:
Last night I celebrated America’s Independence Day at Checkinn99 with my wife. Our server’s name was Gop. I took that as a good omen given that this blog has a prominent cartoon character by the same name.
Our server was much better behaved than this one.
Dogs:
Starting today we will be selling Bangkok Soi Dog #1 Tshirts at this web sight and a limited supply at Checkinn99 as well.
Books:
People have been sending in their pictures wearing the Bangkok Soi Dog #1 Tshirts and reading my recently published book, Bangkok Beat. Thanks for that. Here are some of the latest:
John Fengler of Chiang Mai showing that the former Emergency Medical Technician has not lost his ability to multi-task
Trevor Bide, fellow blogger and all around good guy
Muay Thai Champ Melissa Ray sent in a picture from one of two chapters she is featured in
Peter Lenderink pulls double duty in his Bangkok Soi Dog T while holding a copy of Bangkok Beat
Special thanks to Chris-Catto Smith for allowing Bangkok Beat to be sold at Checkinn99 beginning last night. Demand was brisk when Chris was in the house. Thanks a bunch. I’ll be there this afternoon during the jazz. Drop on by if you’d like a copy or just want to listen to good jazz music.
Comedians:
I made a list of my TOP TEN FAVORITE COMEDIANS this week and it made me remember the importance of laughter and the importance of those who made us laugh in the past. Here is one I had not thought of in awhile but I am glad I did:
#4 – Dick Gregory
Richard Claxton “Dick” Gregory is an American comedian, civil rights activist, social critic, conspiracy theorist, writer and entrepreneur. Wikipedia
Born: October 12, 1932 (age 82), St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Spouse: Lillian Gregory (m. 1959)
Children: Yohance Gregory, Ayanna Gregory, Stephanie Gregory, more
Books: Nigger: An Autobiography by Dick Gregory –
Great to read that Dick Gregory is alive and well in St Louis, Missouri. Dick never got the credit he deserved as a comedian because he was much more than that. But he was damn funny and a ground-breaking comic, author and civil rights activist and a fine track and field man back in his University days …
And … I am finally able to give proper attribution to one of my favorite morbid jokes of all time. Every syllable is important. Pay attention:
“When I die, I want to go peacefully like my grandfather did – in his sleep. Not yelling and screaming like the passengers in his car.’
Bob Monkhouse (1928-2003)
That’s my blog post for Sunday, July 5th, 2015. I want to write about sex and about death. Maybe next week. Until then, you’ll have to do with frogs, dogs, books, and comedians.
To go to the Bangkok Beat Big Cartel Store to purchase a Bangkok Soi Dog #1 Tshirt or a copy of the paperback of Bangkok Beat for Thailand delivery click the cartoon image of the big guy or the coconut shell
My interview with Jame DiBiasio at Asia Hacks. Thanks, Jame. I always look slimmer next to a Palm Tree. My reflections on Bangkok Noir, Henry Miller and I answer that age old questions, are there too many bargirl novels….
Thailand Footprint: Impressions left by the books, people, places and music of Thailand and South East Asia 