Letters From Thailand

[bermondburi]

A few months ago I came across the book " Letters From Thailand " which IMO is probably the best book that I have read about Thailand so I though I would take the time to share a little bit about it to anyone who hasn't read it. It first appeared in BKK in 1969 and it was written by a young woman called Supa Sirising under the pseudonym Botan. She was a student at Chulalongkorn University at the time and amazingly she was only twenty-one at the time that she wrote it. When the original Thai version appeared it was promptly awarded the SEATO Prize for Thai Literature. Thirteen years later it was translated into English to reach a much wider audience. It is still considered one of Thailands most entertaining and enduring novels, and one of the few portrayals of the immigrant Chinese experience in urban Thailand.

At twenty-one Botan was by far the youngest author to be honoured with a literary prize and the novel was very popular with critics and readers alike. It was also very controversial in that it was a great departure from the typical Thai novel. No one had ever written such realistic, earthy fiction about people who said what they though about anything and everything. Many people of Chinese descent complained that Botan represented them as greedy, predatory, and unwilling to assimilate into Thai society, while an equal number of Thais complained that they were depicted as shallow , vain , not very bright , and hypocritical. Anyway, after much discussion about the novel , after three years it had become assigned reading for all high school students.

It is the story of a young Chinese man who leaves China to make his fortune after the end of WW2, and ends up marrying , raising a family and operating a successful business. The story develops through his letters back to his mum in China. It describes life in Chinatown, his hopes for his family , his opinions about the country he has decided to live in and how he feels about the country he has left behind.

What I really liked about this book is the fact that it is actually a proper novel. So often when you come across a Thai based book it is a cheap thriller, bargirl / mafia related story that on an intellectual level doesn't really do anything to make you think. I like John Burdett's books but they aren't exactly stimulating. The other kind of book that there seems to be an abundance of are the stories of the " my time in Thai prison ' variety , which can get a bit repetitive. " Forget you Had a Daughter " is IMO the exception to this. So it was nice to read something totally refreshing.

What is especially interesting to the foreigner reading this for me is that when you listen to the main character talking about life in Thailand, you come to realise how absolutely nothing has changed in over forty years. He complains about the corruption of the Thais, the living for today and not planning for tomorrow, gambling, drinking , whoring etc. It's also about how well he can fit in as an immigrant and how much he wants too.

For anyone looking for some cheap tittilation then this isn't the book for you but if you are looking for a more serious read then I really recommend it, and it's a great story too.

Anyway, just though I wolud share that with anyone who is interested.

[bermondburi]

No one reads on this forum then ?

[slapout]

You point out the novel is not titillating/sexy, so that eliminates some potential interest. You brief description of the books content would be a repeat to many of the old hands who live here.

There are several authors who will combine sex, violence, Thai customs/characteristics, intrigue, etc. The all seem to use little marginality from those who were the pioneers in this type of literature. Its kind of like a 'cook book for pancakes' not too much to gain from the first one you read/use.

[bermondburi]

You point out the novel is not titillating/sexy, so that eliminates some potential interest. You brief description of the books content would be a repeat to many of the old hands who live here.

There are several authors who will combine sex, violence, Thai customs/characteristics, intrigue, etc. The all seem to use little marginality from those who were the pioneers in this type of literature. Its kind of like a 'cook book for pancakes' not too much to gain from the first one you read/use.

But this is a proper novel about the subject , of which there aren't too many around. Old hand or not it did win a literary prize so it might actually be worth reading. A lot of the stuff in a Dickens book has been done to death but that doesn't mean people stop reading them.

Also there aren't many books out there about the experience of Chinese people migrating to Thailand so a lot of people might draw comparisons with their own migration to Thailand and subsequent observations.

[MiG16]

I have a copy of the book at home somewhere. Read it yeas ago

It is a good book.

But it is not exactly new ideas to me. Growing up in Thailand one would have observed some of these elements around. Things that were before my time (early days of Chinese immigrant) are things that I heard through my grandmother and family friends who were around at the time - both as local Thai who worked with the very elite feudal Thais and the Chinese immigrants themselves. It's certainly an interesting process - to hear about how the Chinese went from social outcast in Thai society to become those that hold the purse strings of the economy. And today, to many untrained eyes, one can barely distinguish some of Chinese descent anymore.

[IanForbes]

Thanks for the reminder of an excellent book. MiG16 touches on some things that others might not think about. .. such as just WHY Chinese immigrants to Thailand were able to change their position in society in such a short time

.

[simon43]

When I was a student at Chulalongkorn, Letters from Thailand was one of the required readers. It is an excellent book and now sits amongst the 'Best Thai Beaches' and other tourist guides on my hotel bookshelf.

That bookshelf also contains many other fiction and factual books about Thailand which sometimes cause my guests to express surprise. There are a number of treaties on the troubles in the Deep South (Duncan McCargo), as well as linguistic textbooks about the Yawi (Jawi) language, Thai politics and Islam.

There are some very interesting books to read in Thailand if you dig deep enough.

Simon

[bermondburi]

When I was a student at Chulalongkorn, Letters from Thailand was one of the required readers. It is an excellent book and now sits amongst the 'Best Thai Beaches' and other tourist guides on my hotel bookshelf.

That bookshelf also contains many other fiction and factual books about Thailand which sometimes cause my guests to express surprise. There are a number of treaties on the troubles in the Deep South (Duncan McCargo), as well as linguistic textbooks about the Yawi (Jawi) language, Thai politics and Islam.

There are some very interesting books to read in Thailand if you dig deep enough.

Simon

so any other titles of books that you would recommend.

going by the response to this thread I'm probably asking in the wrong forum !

[Kwasaki]

Whow ! you learn something new everyday.

Quote " He complains about the corruption of the Thais, the living for today and not planning for tomorrow, gambling, drinking , whoring etc ".

Reading history is better e.g.

The Thais moved from their ancestral home in southern China into mainland southeast Asia around the 10th century AD. Prior to this, what is known as Greater India and the Indianized kingdoms ruled such as the Mon who settled further to the west in Myanmar or Burma as it is also known.

[bermondburi]

Whow ! you learn something new everyday.

Quote " He complains about the corruption of the Thais, the living for today and not planning for tomorrow, gambling, drinking , whoring etc ".

Reading history is better e.g.

The Thais moved from their ancestral home in southern China into mainland southeast Asia around the 10th century AD. Prior to this, what is known as Greater India and the Indianized kingdoms ruled such as the Mon who settled further to the west in Myanmar or Burma as it is also known.

You're being a bit pedantic here. The book is about one period of Chinese migration into Thailand. What's the problem with that. A lot of Chinese moved here after WW2

[Ulysses G.]

It is one of my favorite books on Thailand. Touch the Drogon by Karen Connelly is another one.

[simon43]

so any other titles of books that you would recommend.

Depends upon your interests. Here are a few titles on my hotel bookshelf:

The Muslims of Thailand - Michel Gilquin

Chamlong Srimuang and the new Thai politics - Duncan McCargo

The Thaksinizaton of Thailand - Duncan McCargo & Ukrist Pathmanand

Conflict and Terrorism in Southern Thailand - Rohan Gunaratna et Al

Simon

[Kwasaki]

Whow ! you learn something new everyday.

Quote " He complains about the corruption of the Thais, the living for today and not planning for tomorrow, gambling, drinking , whoring etc ".

Reading history is better e.g.

The Thais moved from their ancestral home in southern China into mainland southeast Asia around the 10th century AD. Prior to this, what is known as Greater India and the Indianized kingdoms ruled such as the Mon who settled further to the west in Myanmar or Burma as it is also known.

You're being a bit pedantic here. The book is about one period of Chinese migration into Thailand. What's the problem with that. A lot of Chinese moved here after WW2

I surpose I am, it's just the complaining thing again, not my kind of read, my analyses are usually careful and even painstaking, but never pedantic.

[bermondburi]

Whow ! you learn something new everyday.

Quote " He complains about the corruption of the Thais, the living for today and not planning for tomorrow, gambling, drinking , whoring etc ".

Reading history is better e.g.

The Thais moved from their ancestral home in southern China into mainland southeast Asia around the 10th century AD. Prior to this, what is known as Greater India and the Indianized kingdoms ruled such as the Mon who settled further to the west in Myanmar or Burma as it is also known.

You're being a bit pedantic here. The book is about one period of Chinese migration into Thailand. What's the problem with that. A lot of Chinese moved here after WW2

I surpose I am, it's just the complaining thing again, not my kind of read, my analyses are usually careful and even painstaking, but never pedantic.

Well if you know any good novels about Thai migration from their ancestral home in Southern China into mainland SE Asia around the 10th century then feel free to share them. Not too many about methinks so I'll have to stick with what I can get.

I like books about Chinese migration after WW2. Amy Tan is another good author for that.