So I just read Private Dancer. . .

**mcatt66** · 8th July 2009 20:01

Really good book,great writing , story, characters ect. . and real easy read. .

although i did feel as though it was really negative about farangs who lived in Thailand, thai people from the north, bar girls, and any type of thai/farang relationship

anyone else read it? thoughts opinions?

**jimbo** · 8th July 2009 20:09

I liked it. Went in a little skeptical....here's another hooker novel,...yadda yadda.., but it didn't drag.

I'd recommend it.

**LDMA** · 8th July 2009 20:59

I just passed it round my office amongst all of my colleagues curious about Thailand...about 3 of them have read it now....the team manager that got shafted by his Thai wife a couple of years ago declined as he's "not a big fan of fiction"...I first read it in 2003 before it was published as a book and remains one of the only books I've ever read just on PDF. Superb book and essential reading for anyone even considering taking his rental relationship beyond that of "jizz receptical" (as it's so charmingly worded by Leather).

The epilogue just made me hoot....brilliantly wrapped up.

**refoman** · 9th July 2009 23:49

ive just read it also.thought it was quite good until the ending.was as though the guy who wrote it ran out of time to finish it!

is it meant to be a true story or is it comple fiction?

im sure not all bar girls are like that as well as farangs

**LDMA** · 10th July 2009 00:06

Stephen Leather Interviewed by the Ibiza Bangkok Web

That's an interview with Leather. He lives in Thong Lor. He cites Private Dancer as the book he's most proud of, over all of the "International Bestsellers" he writes. On another interview I've read, he reveals that the bars, and many of the ex-pat characters are based on real people, and categorically denies that Pete is based on himself!

**jonny danger** · 10th July 2009 10:41

Take a look at yourself is the latest. I love reading this stuff. Stickman has a lot of it too.

**WilliamBlake** · 10th July 2009 12:56

Originally Posted by LDMA

declined as he's "not a big fan of fiction"...

He should love it then!

**SageAndOnion** · 10th July 2009 22:38

I thought this thread had been done already? Stephen Leather

**Mr Pants** · 11th July 2009 16:14

I read it last year and would recommend it. That being said the protagonist is an idiot who I struggled to relate to. He swallows so many lies and lets far too many ridiculous things go. But a quick glance at stickman shows it does happen.

Originally Posted by mcatt66

although i did feel as though it was really negative about farangs who lived in Thailand, thai people from the north, bar girls, and any type of thai/farang relationship

Plenty of sweeping generalisations lie within it's pages

**panhunger** · 11th July 2009 16:25

Originally Posted by SageAndOnion

I thought this thread had been done already? Stephen Leather

**Guy Mandude** · 12th July 2009 09:37

Originally Posted by mcatt66

anyone else read it? thoughts opinions?

The ultimate cautionary tale for Westerner/Thai BG relationships. I think the mark of good fiction is that the writer grounds his fiction and characters in basic human truths, or at least touches on those truths. In that regard, the story was very successful and truly a tragedy of character.

**panhunger** · 7th October 2009 07:56

You've been gearing up for that one for awhile...

**Matthew** · 7th October 2009 09:32

Still haven't read it but it's on my list. I did meet the author once, at a panel discussion of (s)expat writers in Bangkok.

I wrote about it a bit on here (Expat Authors at the FCCT). I found Leather to be slightly 'non-authorly' at that event...

Originally Posted by Matthew

Leather talked exclusively about the minute dynamics of how his books sell - alphabetical placement, good sounding name, cover design, book title (hint: avoid "the"), etc. Came off as a Madison Avenue ad analyist, basically.

**Piece Train** · 19th December 2009 08:59

I read Guns, Ganja, Girls, and Gambling in Thailand...(Thailand's illegal economy and public policy). It was a pretty good book. Got through the first part with both eyes open (the part about gambling), the second part about the dangers and evils of marijuana in Thailand, and then read about prostitution and trafficking with a bit of disinterest by the time I had gotten to that part. Maybe it was all the predictability of how these things run, but it was a good book at the time.

This book, although non-fiction, would probably relate to the OP because private dancer-types would probably essentially be called part of the trafficked ones.

**Rocksteady** · 19th December 2009 09:29

Originally Posted by LDMA

I just passed it round my office amongst all of my colleagues curious about Thailand...about 3 of them have read it now....the team manager that got shafted by his Thai wife a couple of years ago declined as he's "not a big fan of fiction"...I first read it in 2003 before it was published as a book and remains one of the only books I've ever read just on PDF. Superb book and essential reading for anyone even considering taking his rental relationship beyond that of "jizz receptical" (as it's so charmingly worded by Leather).

The epilogue just made me hoot....brilliantly wrapped up.

Like you, I read in PDF before it was even on the net and was very impressed. though I haven't really met many westerners in the business community as all of my friends are teachers I could really relate to the Thai charachters in terms of realism.

It is a really good read where charachters polarise yet create empathy on both sides. I could really imagine Thai girls like Joy honestly wondering WTF - thais aren't known for their ability to put themselves in the shoes of others.

I'm watching a mate of mine go down the same road though he truly believes he has found the one bar-girl who was just using the trade as a stop gap. Despite my attempt to point out the pit falls, I'm witnessing tales similar to Private Dancer unfold before my eyes.
should be Thai girl 101 and required reading for anyone coming out here