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indio_ink's review against another edition
4.0
Enjoyed it very much. Burdett's descriptions of the tattoos are worth a mention.
jakewritesbooks's review
4.0
Will Leitch is one of my favorite writers. He covers sports in word form and movies on the Grierson & Leitch podcast. All year long, he has grappled with is love for the Wes Anderson movie Isle of Dogs, which is set in Japan and has many references to famed director Akira Kurosawa but whose characters are voiced mostly by white people. The movie has been deemed (accurately in my estimation) to be culturally appropriated.
I’m not one for winning “Who’s the most woke white person?” contests. Nobody wins and it’s usually non-white folk who end up losing again at the hands of people who call themselves allies. So I’m not going to judge Will too hard for liking the movie considering how much I like this book (and its prequel).
John Burdett is a Brit. His perspective is British. His view of the east, no matter how informed and nuanced, is from the western gaze. His characterization of Thai folk and culture, no matter how well done, is appropriation at the highest level. 90% of the time, I wouldn’t bother with a book like this.
And I probably shouldn’t. But so help me, I do. Because this is the second book in the series and not only is it almost as good as the first, it’s genuinely unique among most of the books I read. Burdett captures the weird, rambling voice of Sonchai Jiptlecheep, a devoutly Buddhist biracial Bangkok police detective, in a fascinating way. As he meanders his way through the streets of Bangkok, the rural areas of Thailand and other locales in search of the perpetrator of a bizarre murder, while musing about Buddhism, sex, and culture along the way, I find myself being more and more drawn in. This isn’t the first book to use its city location as a character but it does so in a way that makes the atmosphere feel lived in, not stuffy and in need of salvation like say, Gotham City or even fictional portrayals of New York.
I wish this series was written by a Thai person. It’s disappointing that it’s not. You shouldn’t have your view of another culture filtered through the lens of someone not of said culture. I take all of Burdett’s rumination on Thailand and its people with a grain of salt. But I take them anyway. Because his books are damn good.
I’m not one for winning “Who’s the most woke white person?” contests. Nobody wins and it’s usually non-white folk who end up losing again at the hands of people who call themselves allies. So I’m not going to judge Will too hard for liking the movie considering how much I like this book (and its prequel).
John Burdett is a Brit. His perspective is British. His view of the east, no matter how informed and nuanced, is from the western gaze. His characterization of Thai folk and culture, no matter how well done, is appropriation at the highest level. 90% of the time, I wouldn’t bother with a book like this.
And I probably shouldn’t. But so help me, I do. Because this is the second book in the series and not only is it almost as good as the first, it’s genuinely unique among most of the books I read. Burdett captures the weird, rambling voice of Sonchai Jiptlecheep, a devoutly Buddhist biracial Bangkok police detective, in a fascinating way. As he meanders his way through the streets of Bangkok, the rural areas of Thailand and other locales in search of the perpetrator of a bizarre murder, while musing about Buddhism, sex, and culture along the way, I find myself being more and more drawn in. This isn’t the first book to use its city location as a character but it does so in a way that makes the atmosphere feel lived in, not stuffy and in need of salvation like say, Gotham City or even fictional portrayals of New York.
I wish this series was written by a Thai person. It’s disappointing that it’s not. You shouldn’t have your view of another culture filtered through the lens of someone not of said culture. I take all of Burdett’s rumination on Thailand and its people with a grain of salt. But I take them anyway. Because his books are damn good.
akadamo's review
4.0
So, having finished two "Bangkok" books by John Burdett I have some more developed thoughts on them. In an effort to be brief, for it is late and I must sleep, they're numbered in no particular relation to their importance, in my opinion.
#1 Burdett's shift of narration focus between the first and second book was a little frustrating, at first. In the first book, Bangkok 8, you followed the books main character through his own experience. This is, I think, a traditional way to engage a reader in a mystery book. Bangkok Tattoo, however, places the "farang" (foreigner) reader as outside the main character, almost like a parrot on their shoulder. Throughout the book, you are on the main characters shoulder and constantly addressed by Sonchai to have the finer points of Thai culture explained to you. This narration shift I think serves a larger purpose...
#2 And that purpose is to reflect the vast difference between the U.S./Western culture and Thai culture. Often we "farangs" are portrayed in the book as we are seen by others, namely Thais. And it just might dawn on us farangs, by reading these books, that others might not like what they see. For many reasons, these books could alienate readers; they could also infuriate them too. But for those who have done even a little traveling, and I have never had the privilege to travel to Thailand...yet, the books show and remind "the west" that there are other perspectives and world views in our big world.
#3 the bifurcated non-linear plot development also helps reinforce #2.
#4 Thailands sex industry and justice system remain complicated topics. For westerners these remain troubling, complex and difficult to consider. They help to illustrate the divide between the values and worldviews of East/West. They're also "exotic."
#5 the way Thailand is portrayed is fascinating.
#6 I'll be reading more of these books!
#1 Burdett's shift of narration focus between the first and second book was a little frustrating, at first. In the first book, Bangkok 8, you followed the books main character through his own experience. This is, I think, a traditional way to engage a reader in a mystery book. Bangkok Tattoo, however, places the "farang" (foreigner) reader as outside the main character, almost like a parrot on their shoulder. Throughout the book, you are on the main characters shoulder and constantly addressed by Sonchai to have the finer points of Thai culture explained to you. This narration shift I think serves a larger purpose...
#2 And that purpose is to reflect the vast difference between the U.S./Western culture and Thai culture. Often we "farangs" are portrayed in the book as we are seen by others, namely Thais. And it just might dawn on us farangs, by reading these books, that others might not like what they see. For many reasons, these books could alienate readers; they could also infuriate them too. But for those who have done even a little traveling, and I have never had the privilege to travel to Thailand...yet, the books show and remind "the west" that there are other perspectives and world views in our big world.
#3 the bifurcated non-linear plot development also helps reinforce #2.
#4 Thailands sex industry and justice system remain complicated topics. For westerners these remain troubling, complex and difficult to consider. They help to illustrate the divide between the values and worldviews of East/West. They're also "exotic."
#5 the way Thailand is portrayed is fascinating.
#6 I'll be reading more of these books!
rastephe's review
2.0
2.5 stars. Picked up in a Free Little Library, this was a quick read that I'd already had on my list to track down, as it was set in Thailand. The first person perspective of a Thai police officer who was constantly preaching to the farang reader wasn't very believable, as it was written by a white guy. Most of the characters were unrealistic or made totally unbelievable choices. Meh. Not terrible for a fast summer read, but not great.
ricksilva's review
4.0
Sonchai Jitpleecheep is a detective for the Royal Thai Police. He also happens to be the "papasan" at the brothel his mother owns. So when the establishment's top-earning prostitute murders a client, all that Sonchai wants to do is to neatly cover up the crime.
Then he finds out that the victim was a CIA agent.
Alternatingly Buddhist-philosophical and horrifically violent, Bangkok Tatoo traces a convoluted path through the Thai sex and drug trades and police and army corruption, American spy agencies, Japanese and Chinese organized crime, and Al Quaeda terrorism.
I picked this book up knowing nothing about it, just on the basis of my interest in reading anything set in Southeast Asia, having recently moved to that part of the world. I have no idea of the accuracy of Burdett's research, but he certainly manages to load the story with vivid and intricate detail without slowing the pace.
The book is populated by a good cast of nicely multifaceted characters, and I now know more about the business aspects of Thai (and American) prostitution than I expected I'd ever know.
The violence is pretty extreme in places, and creative as well.
Sonchai, the narrator, speaks is a bit of an intentionally-patronizing tone to his imagined "farang" listener, which is generally not a problem, but crosses over the line into irritating territory once or twice. The portions of the book that are told secondhand (Sonchai relating the diary of prostitute and murder suspect Chanya) came off smoother than I expected they would be, and I never felt pulled out of the narrative for those chapters.
Burdet does play the damsel-in-distress card to move the story into its climactic scene, but he at least keeps that bit brief before moving on to more interesting plot developments. And there are certainly plenty of those. The story goes in all sorts of directions with abundant twists and turns, but the narrative and pacing hold together nicely.
This is the second book in a series, and I'd definitely consider checking out some further cases from the files of Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep.
Then he finds out that the victim was a CIA agent.
Alternatingly Buddhist-philosophical and horrifically violent, Bangkok Tatoo traces a convoluted path through the Thai sex and drug trades and police and army corruption, American spy agencies, Japanese and Chinese organized crime, and Al Quaeda terrorism.
I picked this book up knowing nothing about it, just on the basis of my interest in reading anything set in Southeast Asia, having recently moved to that part of the world. I have no idea of the accuracy of Burdett's research, but he certainly manages to load the story with vivid and intricate detail without slowing the pace.
The book is populated by a good cast of nicely multifaceted characters, and I now know more about the business aspects of Thai (and American) prostitution than I expected I'd ever know.
The violence is pretty extreme in places, and creative as well.
Sonchai, the narrator, speaks is a bit of an intentionally-patronizing tone to his imagined "farang" listener, which is generally not a problem, but crosses over the line into irritating territory once or twice. The portions of the book that are told secondhand (Sonchai relating the diary of prostitute and murder suspect Chanya) came off smoother than I expected they would be, and I never felt pulled out of the narrative for those chapters.
Burdet does play the damsel-in-distress card to move the story into its climactic scene, but he at least keeps that bit brief before moving on to more interesting plot developments. And there are certainly plenty of those. The story goes in all sorts of directions with abundant twists and turns, but the narrative and pacing hold together nicely.
This is the second book in a series, and I'd definitely consider checking out some further cases from the files of Detective Sonchai Jitpleecheep.
carolsnotebook's review against another edition
3.0
I did not like Bangkok Tattoo as much as the first in the series, Bangkok 8. Sonchai is the same- a loner Buddhist cop who tends toward philosophical ruminations, but now he's also part owner of a brothel, along with his boss and his mom. The atmosphere's the same- the seedy side of an exotic city, but we do have the addition of Muslims and the mob. And Sonchai has a new partner, a transgender young man who wants to be a dancer of some kind.
The plot was interesting, if a bit meandering. The killed man was CIA, and of course the case is not as clear-cut as it might first appear. There's also drugs involved. To be honest, I finished listening to this a week or so ago and don't remember how exactly the drugs and the serial killer tied together. I think they were two separate plot lines pulled together by the corrupt superior and the good-hearted prostitute. What I do remember is one scene toward the end that was downright gruesome.
Most of this book centers around the sex trade in Bangkok. Burdett shows it as empowering for women, giving them money and freedom that they wouldn't otherwise have. I have to assume it's not that rosy. It also dwells on the lives and gay men and other sexual orientations.
I'll probably continue with the series, but only because I can pick them up from the library.
The plot was interesting, if a bit meandering. The killed man was CIA, and of course the case is not as clear-cut as it might first appear. There's also drugs involved. To be honest, I finished listening to this a week or so ago and don't remember how exactly the drugs and the serial killer tied together. I think they were two separate plot lines pulled together by the corrupt superior and the good-hearted prostitute. What I do remember is one scene toward the end that was downright gruesome.
Most of this book centers around the sex trade in Bangkok. Burdett shows it as empowering for women, giving them money and freedom that they wouldn't otherwise have. I have to assume it's not that rosy. It also dwells on the lives and gay men and other sexual orientations.
I'll probably continue with the series, but only because I can pick them up from the library.
scribal's review
1.0
I couldn't read it. Not because it isn't interesting. Not because I didn't enjoy the characters, setting and wanted to know how it ended. But because it's about how all the prostitutes in Bangkok are all over 18 years old and happily supporting their healthy farming families in the north with their work. I simply could not read it and I threw it away.
jhbandcats's review
4.0
The second in the Sonchai Jitpleecheep series, this one has to do with the murder of an undercover CIA agent stationed in southern Thailand near the Malaysian (read Muslim) border. Taking place shortly after 9/11, the US is wild in its hunt for al Qaida, seeing the boogeyman everywhere.
Was the CIA agent murdered by Muslims intent on harming the US? How is the blood-covered prostitute, one of the workers at the Jitpleecheep family business, connected? Was the murdered man just another American john getting his kicks in Bangkok or is there more going on? And why was his body mutilated?
Sonchai and his boss do a coverup when they discover the dead man is a CIA agent - they can’t afford to lose their best prostitute to a possible eternity in Gitmo. Sonchai, who’s always had a crush on the prostitute, can’t bear for that to happen. Then another CIA agent is killed and mutilated in the same way. The Americans are going mad in their frenzied search for Muslims.
Another fun mystery about the underbelly of Bangkok society, complete with quirky characters and bizarre plot points.
Was the CIA agent murdered by Muslims intent on harming the US? How is the blood-covered prostitute, one of the workers at the Jitpleecheep family business, connected? Was the murdered man just another American john getting his kicks in Bangkok or is there more going on? And why was his body mutilated?
Sonchai and his boss do a coverup when they discover the dead man is a CIA agent - they can’t afford to lose their best prostitute to a possible eternity in Gitmo. Sonchai, who’s always had a crush on the prostitute, can’t bear for that to happen. Then another CIA agent is killed and mutilated in the same way. The Americans are going mad in their frenzied search for Muslims.
Another fun mystery about the underbelly of Bangkok society, complete with quirky characters and bizarre plot points.
carlyque's review
4.0
enjoyed immensely. too easy characterizations, yet interesting. Get me to Bangkok.