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| Malevolence |
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Review by Daysh, John
, Author
20 Nov, 2011
Malevolence Personified
"In Malevolence Peter Jaggs has written a powerful and compelling novella that convincingly portrays a number of unnervingly real characters as they encounter a sociopathic devil hell-bent on gaining power through brutal violence and subtle manipulation.
Peter Jaggs claims to have gotten the tale, piece by piece, from an aging mamasan and has fictionalized the astonishing true story of a malevolent young man as he rises to destructive power in Pattaya.
As the unwanted son of an American G.I. and a Thai bargirl the protagonist is sold as an infant and raised by the brutal hand of a Soi Cowboy bar owning farang, quickly earning the nickname Pi Saat, or ‘Devil,’ through his vicious and violent personality.
Malevolence is a story of violence, revenge and loyalty set in the seedy underbelly of Thailand’s bar scene and in my view it is a story that could not have been told any better, signaling Peter Jaggs as a highly skilled writer supremely confident in his craft.
At just over one hundred pages I completed it in one sitting but suspect that had it been double in length I probably would not have stopped given the writer’s ability to draw the reader into such an authentically rendered tale.
Jaggs is the author of a number of very well received books on Thailand ranging from guides on freshwater fishing and metal detecting to short stories and real-life anecdotes. Malevolence is a little different but it is an absolute triumph of Thai-centric storytelling.
Reviewed by John Daysh
Thailand Writing and Book Reviews
http://www.thailandwritingreviews.com"
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| A Year in the 'Kok |
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Review by Daysh, John
, Author
14 Nov, 2011
Review by Thailand Writing and Book Reviews
"I must admit I was a little skeptical on reading the title of this book given that I am no great fan of reading about the sexploits of others. And anyone who refers to Bangkok as “the ‘Kok” is on the back foot right from the start. Upon reading the first dozen or so pages I was intrigued by the story, impressed by the writer’s easy style but quite put off by the derogatory use of one particular word beginning with “c” that refers to female genetalia. In my humble opinion it is just plain crass to refer to women as “c##ts.”
Despite my initial reservations I soon warmed to the narrator who comes off as a highly illuminated, deep-thinking man whose straight talking honesty struck enough chords with me to build some nice harmonies. The author, - presumably using a pen name - Crazy Horse, takes the reader through a guided tour of his induction to Bangkok nightlife while reflecting upon the differences of life in what he calls “Planet America” and “Hell-A”. This is where the book deviates from expectations with Crazy Horse, sometimes ranting and sometimes philosophizing, as he transforms into a self-styled guru dishing out advice in what becomes a man’s guide to empowered living.
The author sums it up nicely himself: “This book is not about fucking or about using women or getting cheap sex from prostitutes. Okay, it is about that last thing, bit it’s really about breaking free from the shackles of standard, conventional thought that has ruled the world for a thousand generations; the stupid, blind malaise and rule worship of Judeo-Christian Planet America.”
If this was indeed his mission then “A Year in the ‘Kok” does a great job at cutting through the bullshit of misguided societal expectations of male behavior. Crazy Horse gives institutions ranging from the military to feminism, from capitalism to marriage, both barrels full blast through a list of fifty-four “Lessons from Yoda” that provides the broad structure of the book.
Alongside the ongoing guru-philosophizing the reader also follows the evolution of Crazy Horse from a being neon-struck newbie, to a seasoned sex monger and pick-up artist before he comes to recognize the emptiness of sleeping with a different woman every night and yearns for a deeper connection. When he spots his dream “doe-eyed girl” on the skytrain it appears that he has come full-circle from his hellish relationship experiences in “Hell-A” and is ready once again to try to settle on one woman.
“A Year in the ‘Kok” is a blunt, in-your-face, expose of what is on offer to men in Bangkok and it pulls no punches. Crazy Horse offers no apology for this and nor should he as this book goes much deeper than recalling easy sexual conquests. Crazy Horse himself says, “I’m not trying to justify the behavior that goes down in the ‘Kok. That’s not our purpose here. I‘m trying to humanize it, illuminate it for full review with your wits and senses.” He most certainly achieves this purpose and I found his book both fascinating and insightful.
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| Bangkok Express |
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Review by Daysh, John
, Author
09 Nov, 2011
Real Deal Newman
"There is no doubt in my mind that James Newman is the next big thing in the genre of Bangkok-Thailand Literature. He is the real deal. Newman’s first novel, Bangkok Express, is compelling proof of this, despite its flaws. It is now available to the public as an e-book having been previously rejected by print publishers when Newman refused, on artistic grounds, to re-write or edit it. That may appear indulgent and naïve and it probably was given that Newman was just twenty-four and full of youthful naivety when he wrote it. But a good writer, which James Newman undoubtedly is, should not be eternally condemned by a first novel.
Given that some years later Newman has given the go ahead to have his un-edited manuscript published as an e-book, I get the impression that despite its structural and editorial deficiencies he is confident that it stands as proof that he is a very good writer; confident that the uncritical reader would either not recognize or easily overlook the defects, and that the critical reader would forgive the flaws in light of the evidence of literary excellence and promise. He must have done this knowing he has much more up his sleeve. Having read Bangkok Express I can easily forgive this naivety knowing he has gone on to write much better. Newman himself now admits that he would tear Bangkok Express apart if asked to edit it. It stands as it is or will be destroyed. When I finished reading it I was glad I had the opportunity, as behind this story lies an excellent writer and this is apparent at every turn of the page.
When another famous Bangkok writer was asked which of his books was his favorite he said it was impossible to say - that they were all like sickly children and he loved them all because they were his creations despite their weaknesses. Bangkok Express is a bit like a sickly child. Newman can see the illness within, but he loves it as it stands and even as it sometimes stumbles. It is a part of him and a part of his development as a writer.
Bangkok Express is the story of a young Private Detective sent from London to Thailand to examine a suspected insurance fraud masterminded by a Samui Police Chief in cahoots with the wealthiest landowner on the island. With the help of a bar owner, a fake doctor, a stunning mia noi, a hard-living expat insurance broker and an exotic bird, he takes on what a sane man would not. In the mean time he discovers all is not what it seems in the Land of Smiles, which seems to suit him just fine.
Bangkok Express is a great story full of fantastic writing but it is not a great novel. It is the work of a talented young man learning his trade. Novel writing is an ‘on the job education’ and I am sure James Newman would not dispute this. Polished? No. A good read? Yes. A sniff of future brilliance? Most certainly. And this is why it is well worth reading. The word on Sukhumvit Road is that he has just signed up with an established Western publishing house and his latest novel will be released with full fanfare in 2012. I, for one, can’t wait to read it.
Reviewed by John Daysh
Thailand Writing and Book Reviews
http://www.thailandwritingreviews.com
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