RSD1

A couple of the authors I enjoyed when I first discovered Thailand were Collin Piprell, Dean Barrett and Roger Crutchley. They weren't literary geniuses, but their writing was lighthearted and entertaining. I'm trying to remember some of the other early authors that I read back then, but drawing a blank. One of my favorite travel writing authors was Pico Iyer. He wasn't a fictional writer per se, but he wrote non-fiction with a real fiction kind of flare. I would say some of his writing was some of the best back then.

From Hong Kong? The tattoos on the man in the image appear to be inspired by traditional Japanese Irezumi. The bold, intricate patterns covering his chest, shoulders, and arms resemble classic Japanese full-body or sleeve tattoos, often associated with Yakuza culture. These designs typically feature mythological creatures, koi fish, samurai, and other elements deeply rooted in Japanese tattoo tradition. His tattoos have swirling patterns, floral elements, and possibly mythical or traditional imagery, further reinforcing the connection to Irezumi. Japanese tattoos are known for their detailed and colorful designs, frequently covering large areas of the body, such as the chest, back, and arms. They often incorporate motifs like koi fish, dragons, and cherry blossoms, all of which align with the style seen here. The use of bold lines and shading also points to this cultural origin.

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I don't think I could stand to read another Thai bar girl story. The subject seems so overdone and pedestrian in 2025. But that's just me. Hope you enjoy it.

Congratulations. What a pathetic troll you are. Only a pest would put up fake news and think it's a big giggle. You've just been added to my ignore list. Well done.

Actually, if you turn the clock back about 30 years, you could probably fill a 300 page book with merely all the times I short timed inside a go-go bar. 🤣

Thank you. My pleasure.

It seems like the people in the health ministry are just trying to throw their weight around again to try and make their jobs seem relevant, but I don’t see this latest puff of smoke turning into anything. If they haven’t changed things in any way by now, it’s not going anywhere. I think most people in Thailand aren’t even focused on the subject anymore. It's found its place in local business and society and that's it. Plus, there are far more serious drug issues involving dangerous substances, and the country has too many real and pressing economic problems to deal with now than to shut down a billion-dollar plus industry that puts food on the table for tens of thousands of locals.

I read one or two of his early books ages ago—Bangkok 8 and possibly Bangkok Tattoo. I wasn’t really over the moon with either of them. They were okay, readable, but not particularly memorable. Meanwhile, I purposely split that list into two groups. The first ten are based on deeper subjects, while the second set of ten focuses on more superficial, typical go-to topics that authors gravitate toward when trying to sell lots of books to sex tourists and wannabe denizens—more in line with the genre Burnett focuses on.

Thank you for the suggestions, I'll check them out.

Fiction is often a really good type of reading if you want to learn about the nuances of a local society and customs. The stories are of course not real, but you can often learn a lot more about a place from a fictional novel than you can from some non-fiction writing.

Pretty. Decorative, small wooden boxes?

It's on the list of 20 already: Sex tourism, nightlife, and go-go bars

Thanks! But none of the other 20 I listed?

I’ve read a lot of fictional novels about Thailand over the years, and based on that, I’ve put together a list of what I consider to be the 20 most common themes authors tend to write about. Originally, I was just going to make a post listing all 20 and ask which ones resonate with people the most, but to make it easier for everyone to share their opinions, I decided to set it up as a poll instead. The idea is simple: if you enjoy reading fiction or novels, which topics or themes about Thailand do you find most engaging from the list of 20? The poll allows you to select as many options as you’d like, so you don’t have to narrow down your choice to just one or two. Please note that this is about fictional topics for reading rather than general subjects of interest about Thailand. Also, if there are any other themes or ideas you’d like to discuss regarding fictional writing about Thailand, feel free to share them below.