Tue, 08 Feb 2005
book review - BANGKOK 8 - John Burdett
Well I got this book on special at a local newsagent, partially cos it claimed an impeccably researched view of Thailand, and cos it came recommended by James Ellroy on the back.I though the characters and story a bit hackneyed, in fact really spooning on the cliches: the pure and honest religious cop existing in a world of pragmatism and corruption, vowing to avenge his dead partner, who dies in a particularly clever and theatrical death, working with the fish out of water US agent, the calm collected monk working with the brash and pushy westerner, to join forces against the out-of-reach Evil Person Of Influence, etc.. The Bangkok street life and nightlife scenes are well very described, and it goes into detail on a lot of pragmatic rationalizations behind the legendary entrenched corruption. There is ample opportunity for the characters to move around with a backdrop of much vaunted scenes of prostitution, drugs, transvestites, eccentric Russian underworld types. But all just settings for a fairly spindly plot. All together not bad but but can't hold a candle to Ellroy.. perhaps it's cos I have spent time in Thailand but no time in the USA? Who knows.
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