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Catching the Sun by Tony Parsons
Just how badly do you want to find paradise? When taxi driver Tom Finn is almost jailed for confronting two burglars in his own home, he leaves broken Britain and takes his wife and children to live on the tropical island of Phuket, Thailand. Phuket is all the Finn family dreamed of - a tropical paradise where the children swim with elephants, the gibbons sing love songs in the jungle, the Andaman Sea is like turquoise glass and this young family is free to grow. But both man-made disaster and the unleashed forces of nature shatter this tropical idyll. Catching the Sun is a gripping, moving story of a family who go in search of Paradise -- and end up discovering themselves.
Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
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About the author
Tony Parsons
63 books894 followersThere is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Tony Parsons (born 6 November 1953) is a British journalist broadcaster and author. He began his career as a music journalist on the NME, writing about punk music. Later, he wrote for The Daily Telegraph, before going on to write his current column for the Daily Mirror. Parsons was for a time a regular guest on the BBC Two arts review programme The Late Show, and still appears infrequently on the successor Newsnight Review; he also briefly hosted a series on Channel 4 called Big Mouth.
He is the author of the multi-million selling novel, Man and Boy (1999). Parsons had written a number of novels including The Kids (1976), Platinum Logic (1981) and Limelight Blues (1983), before he found mainstream success by focussing on the tribulations of thirty-something men. Parsons has since published a series of best-selling novels – One For My Baby (2001), Man and Wife (2003), The Family Way (2004), Stories We Could Tell (2006), My Favourite Wife (2007), Starting Over (2009) and Men From the Boys (2010). His novels typically deal with relationship problems, emotional dramas and the traumas of men and women in our time. He describes his writing as 'Men Lit', as opposed to the rising popularity of 'Chick Lit'.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Par...
Tony Parsons (born 6 November 1953) is a British journalist broadcaster and author. He began his career as a music journalist on the NME, writing about punk music. Later, he wrote for The Daily Telegraph, before going on to write his current column for the Daily Mirror. Parsons was for a time a regular guest on the BBC Two arts review programme The Late Show, and still appears infrequently on the successor Newsnight Review; he also briefly hosted a series on Channel 4 called Big Mouth.
He is the author of the multi-million selling novel, Man and Boy (1999). Parsons had written a number of novels including The Kids (1976), Platinum Logic (1981) and Limelight Blues (1983), before he found mainstream success by focussing on the tribulations of thirty-something men. Parsons has since published a series of best-selling novels – One For My Baby (2001), Man and Wife (2003), The Family Way (2004), Stories We Could Tell (2006), My Favourite Wife (2007), Starting Over (2009) and Men From the Boys (2010). His novels typically deal with relationship problems, emotional dramas and the traumas of men and women in our time. He describes his writing as 'Men Lit', as opposed to the rising popularity of 'Chick Lit'.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tony_Par...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 102 reviews
June 28, 2020
Lightweight story. Just not very good.
August 21, 2012
For a book of its type, this book is generally ok. It’s not my normal kind-of reading but it certainly more than sufficed as a ‘beach read’ on a recent holiday.
It centres around a fictive British family who, after becoming dissatisfied with their life in the UK and a brush with ‘bad business’ after the father confronts burglars in his own home, relocate to Hat Nai Yang on the island of Phuket in Southern Thailand. After this, the book acts a kind of ‘tribute to Thailand’ and elaborates on how a British family acquaint themselves with Thai life and culture as they settle. The turning point of the book involves the infamous Tsunami of Boxing Day 2004 and it’s around this point that the Finn family have to question their future in Thailand in a fight or flight manner as they continue to question wider aspects of their life in Phuket weighing up the bad, good and all their involvements.
The general downside of the book for me is that it’s a bit ‘chick-litty’ (all this despite the fact that Tony Parsons is a man of course!!) and it follows that type of pattern and plot with just a little masculine dash of crime and suspense for taste (am I being sexist here?). On the upside though, Parsons is a writer who knows how to craft a good steady plot and his sensitive acknowledgement of thoughts and feelings, added to what is undoubtedly a thorough knowledge of the natural beauty of Thai-life, works in carrying this through. He deals with a wide cast of characters and weaves them into the plotline with practised eloquence.
This book has the potential to be appreciated by a wide audience. It is, like I said earlier, extremely suitable as a quick holiday read for the lounger around the pool or the steamer on the deck. For lovers of Thailand or Thai culture, this book will also have a certain resonance and Parsons is brilliant and balanced whilst exhibiting Thai curiosities and nature through the medium of the written word.
Recommended reading for vacations far and wide!
It centres around a fictive British family who, after becoming dissatisfied with their life in the UK and a brush with ‘bad business’ after the father confronts burglars in his own home, relocate to Hat Nai Yang on the island of Phuket in Southern Thailand. After this, the book acts a kind of ‘tribute to Thailand’ and elaborates on how a British family acquaint themselves with Thai life and culture as they settle. The turning point of the book involves the infamous Tsunami of Boxing Day 2004 and it’s around this point that the Finn family have to question their future in Thailand in a fight or flight manner as they continue to question wider aspects of their life in Phuket weighing up the bad, good and all their involvements.
The general downside of the book for me is that it’s a bit ‘chick-litty’ (all this despite the fact that Tony Parsons is a man of course!!) and it follows that type of pattern and plot with just a little masculine dash of crime and suspense for taste (am I being sexist here?). On the upside though, Parsons is a writer who knows how to craft a good steady plot and his sensitive acknowledgement of thoughts and feelings, added to what is undoubtedly a thorough knowledge of the natural beauty of Thai-life, works in carrying this through. He deals with a wide cast of characters and weaves them into the plotline with practised eloquence.
This book has the potential to be appreciated by a wide audience. It is, like I said earlier, extremely suitable as a quick holiday read for the lounger around the pool or the steamer on the deck. For lovers of Thailand or Thai culture, this book will also have a certain resonance and Parsons is brilliant and balanced whilst exhibiting Thai curiosities and nature through the medium of the written word.
Recommended reading for vacations far and wide!
October 6, 2012
I hate starting a book and not finishing it ... so I struggled through this one to the end ... and it really was so bad that it felt painful to read. Anybody who has spent any time in Thailand will cringe at the picture painted of life here ... really really disappointing book.
July 6, 2012
Really liked this one. Could really associate with the wish to escape to a simpler life. Unfortunately modern life catches up with them.
January 1, 2019
This book was a bit difficult to get into. At times it struggled to keep my attention and I tended to end up skimming pages rather than being engaged within the story. However it does get more and more interesting as you get further into the story. This book shows and ultra-realistic side to the life of a foreigner in Thailand. Showing both the good and the bad sides of attempting to have a fresh start in another part of the world. One thing I enjoyed the most about this book is learning about Thai culture. The author not only includes traditions and celebrations within the book but he also adds Thai words and phrases and their deeper meanings. We get a glimpse of the animal cruelty within these countries as well as the length to which desperate humans will go to when living in poverty. This is a story that shows the intricate details of human emotion and our reliance on others as a source of comfort and strength. I don't know if it is possible to have multiple climaxes in one story but if it is then this story definitely has it. I cannot pin point one event that was more suspenseful than the others. Just when you think the book will ease into the fairytale ending something awful and unexpected happens. Not only was I educated about the environment in Thailand but also about its customs, language, their mentality towards foreigners and the hidden truths about the local bars within the city. Overall I'm glad I read this book because I learned so much from it. However, at times it did feel repetitive and hard to finish.
November 9, 2015
This book struggled to keep my attention, especially towards the end where I ended up mostly just skimming to make it to the last page rather than actually reading and engaging. The characters felt flat and the storyline was somewhat disjointed, and I simply didn't connect with the ideas or the family. The aspects of foreign culture were interesting, although I cannot comment on how accurate this book was as I have no knowledge of Thailand or the culture. Not enough depth to make this worth the read. I've heard good things about the author's other books, however, with this being the first of his I've read, sadly it's made me a bit sceptical... Never say never, but I don't see myself picking up another of this author's books any time soon.
September 16, 2012
Living in Phuket I was interested to read this novel, which is based in Phuket at the time of the 2004 tsunami. Besides the many instances of him getting the culture, the geography and the 'scene' completely wrong, it was overall poorly written. The characters were flat, the plot turns far-fetched or just plain silly. Don't recommend, especially for those who live in or know Phuket! I think Parsons phoned this one in...
August 20, 2012
I personally did not enjoy this book half as much as I expected to. Whilst Parsons must be commended for his evident research, only parts of this book kept my complete attention. Perhaps it's because I'm obviously not his target audience being a 19 year old female, but I can't name someone I know that I'd definitely recommend this to.
July 24, 2012
This book did not impress me at all. I really liked My Favourite Wife, with all the foreignness and cultural differences of another country. While Catching the Sun transports you to another part of the world, the characters are flat, stereotypical and written in black and white colours.
September 24, 2012
It was a good little read although I have to say... (spoiler- sorry)... I wished they had stayed in Thailand.
August 16, 2025
Very different kind of book for me as I like a physiological fiction book and this one was more of a holiday/swiss family Robinson kind of book.
I really enjoyed the characters and learning all about the history of the Thai people and the beaches and the gibbons.
I really enjoyed the characters and learning all about the history of the Thai people and the beaches and the gibbons.
August 12, 2019
I love how Tony Parsons captures families and relationships. This is easy reading but enjoyable.
December 28, 2024
I wouldn’t finish this book but I did because my train was having 90 min delay. Still not sure if it was worth it.
February 23, 2013
I have read a few books by Tony Parsons, so was looking forward to reading this one.
Sadly I was really disappointed. The plot was disjointed, characters were flat and editing was sloppy. For example on the first page it states:
Rory is laid on his front with a book on his lap
The story is about a father (Tom) fleeing from broken Britain to start again in Thailand. His reasons for leaving I imagine, echo those that are currently felt by many. Recession, no jobs, break down of moral values.
Tom ends up moving his young family to Thailand where he works for a corrupt property business and finds himself in prison. Then he becomes a tsunami hero, then he rescues a gibbon, then he sets his mate up with a bride, then his wife falls pregnant, then blah blah blah. There is a lot happening but the plot never seems to move on. It felt like Tony had lots of ideas and couldn't bring himself to fix on one. Worst of all, at end and out of the blue, the story contradicts everything this book is supposed to be about.
I predicted some of the plot such as the boxing day tsunami. We had obviously read the same papers at the time as some of the descriptions I feel I had read before. One being about a little girl on the beach describing to her parents how she learnt in school that the sea goes out before a tsunami.
This had the potential to be a wonderful story, but right up until the last page I was bored and confused.
Sadly I was really disappointed. The plot was disjointed, characters were flat and editing was sloppy. For example on the first page it states:
Rory is laid on his front with a book on his lap
The story is about a father (Tom) fleeing from broken Britain to start again in Thailand. His reasons for leaving I imagine, echo those that are currently felt by many. Recession, no jobs, break down of moral values.
Tom ends up moving his young family to Thailand where he works for a corrupt property business and finds himself in prison. Then he becomes a tsunami hero, then he rescues a gibbon, then he sets his mate up with a bride, then his wife falls pregnant, then blah blah blah. There is a lot happening but the plot never seems to move on. It felt like Tony had lots of ideas and couldn't bring himself to fix on one. Worst of all, at end and out of the blue, the story contradicts everything this book is supposed to be about.
I predicted some of the plot such as the boxing day tsunami. We had obviously read the same papers at the time as some of the descriptions I feel I had read before. One being about a little girl on the beach describing to her parents how she learnt in school that the sea goes out before a tsunami.
This had the potential to be a wonderful story, but right up until the last page I was bored and confused.
May 8, 2012
This was a very 'comfortable' book The book would be great as a beach read or just to get away from the usual daily life.I was totally engrossed and think that anyone reading it can imagine themselves living in Thailand. I was captivated with the daily life of the natives and the Finn family fit right in. The reason for them moving to Thailand comes quite late in the book but this made sure you were part of the 'family' first.Their compassion for the islanders and the children especially worked really well and there was an underlying current of a 'Adult' world but this didn't spoil the feeling of comfort.The newspaper writer Nick who intergrated the family and the neighbours the Botans were a great addition and seeing the situations through another persons eyes was interesting. I was very disappointed when it finished and would love to read more about the Finn's.
June 6, 2013
A book of several parts I think...the first when we learn what Tom and tess are running from, what they've got themselves into, and learn about the nature of the relationships of the four family members.
And then, surprisingly to me, the tsunami hit,I want expecting that, and for a little while this became my favourite Parsons book..although the incident itself was dealt with quickly,I liked the road the story was taking, with the family actually making this place their home...and then it changed again, and I never quite got back that fuzzy feeling I was getting...
Still rates a three, but so nearly could have been better.
And then, surprisingly to me, the tsunami hit,I want expecting that, and for a little while this became my favourite Parsons book..although the incident itself was dealt with quickly,I liked the road the story was taking, with the family actually making this place their home...and then it changed again, and I never quite got back that fuzzy feeling I was getting...
Still rates a three, but so nearly could have been better.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 28, 2012
Another excellent novel from Tony Parsons. Really got a feel for the locations and the real life in Thailand. The usual emotional roller coaster that you have come to expect from his books and an excellent read for when you are holiday.
Read
September 25, 2017Vaj pokazuje poštovanje. Vaj kaže hvala. Kaže zbogom. Kaže i radujem se što smo se upoznali. Šta god govorio, Vaj liči na malenu molitvu.
Ne dugo, i to mi je zazvučalo čudno - to što sam ovdje, na drugom kraju svijeta i što radim za čovjeka kojeg poznajem mjesec-dva. Faren me je našao u Londonu kada sam pao nisko i mislio da su dobra vremena iza mene. Vidio je u meni nešto kada sam se mučio da to i sam uočim. Što je najvažnije ponudio mi je posao kada ga za mene nije bilo. Dovoljno dugo - dodao sam.
Udarac pesnicom jači je od šuta. Udarac koljenom jači je od udarca pesnicom. Šut je jači od udarca laktom.
Vai kru - pamti i poštuj. Svoje pretke. Svog učitelja. Svoju zemlju Boga
Osjetio sam da oni imaju nešto što mi nemamo - bolje pokazuju ljubav jedni prema drugima.
Bio sam ophrvan umorom i prljavstinom onakvima kakvi ne nestaju pod tušem.
Obuzeo me je bijes. Moja porodica uzima lutalice sa ulice a i sama živi pod pozajmljenim krovom.
Stajao sam u svježim jutarnjim sijenkama a spokojna ubijedjenost molitvenog poziva smirivala mi je srce. Ponovo me proželo bolno saznanje da ništa od ovoga nije moje....sve sam to pozajmio i moraću da vratim.
Volim kišu, kiša pere ulice, bandite, ludake, sav šljam. Kiša sve spere nakratko.
Nisi mogao da plaćaš račune. Prihvatio si se taksija. Izvini - vožnje limuzina. Voziš matore poslovne ljude na aerodrom i nazad. Srozao si se pomalo, imao si sopstvenu kompaniju.
Bolje i to nego socijalna pomoć.
Njen muž je uradio ono što bi svaki čovjek uradio na njegovom mjestu. A šalju ga u zatvor.
Njih je nemoguće podučiti, zato što su im domovi takvi kakvi su, zato što je teško i zato što bi trajalo godinama. prije svega, zato što preziru znanje.
Sve zato što jedan čovjek nije mogao da se snadje poslije teškog udarca. Šta misliš o ljudima koji ne podižu sopstvenu djecu? Ne mislim baš dobro o njima.
Pomislio sam na neznane užase djeteta koje raste u sistemu socijalne zaštite, i na roditelje koji donose djecu na svijet, ali se ne zadržavaju dovoljno dugo da ih odgoje.
To si ti ako ostaneš u ovoj zemlji lišenoj merdevina. A zaslužuješ bolje. I ti i tvoja porodica. Bolji život od toga. I ti to znaš.
Osjetio sam se bolje zbog svega i povjerovao sam da nas sunce nikada neće iznevjeriti, da nam se ništa ružno neće dogoditi sve dok ima svjetla i toplote. Zaustio sam da joj objasnim da joj kažem da još nije sve gotovo, da imam još jednu priliku da sve popravim,da će doći bolji daniako bude samo još malo vjerovala u mene.
Niko ne ide u stranu zemlju da bi bio nešto drugo. U stranu zemlju ideš da bi bio ti. Ideš da bi postao osoba kakva nisi mogao postati kod kuće. Osoba kakva želiš da budeš.
U mom poslu se kaže Sve što krvari ide na naslovnu stranu. To znači da svijet najviše voli da čita i sluša o tudjoj nesreći. Ali to nije istina. Ljudi uglavnom vole priće koje im pružaju nadu.
Ovo su bili ljudi bez igdje ičega. Pritiskala nas je atmosfera razornog siromaštva. Nije bilo izlaza,nije bilo predaha. Ovo siromaštvo jelo je vrijeme kao neizlječiva bolest.
Zvučalo je tacno kao da se vjetar na pučini poigrava jedrima. Taj zvuk me radovao jer je bio zvuk rada. Zvuk obnove svega sto nam je more otelo, zvuk nade.
Sem toga svi oni i muskarci i djevojke mogu da sjebu svoje zivote i bez tvoje pomoci.
Muskarci kao sto si ti unistavaju ovo ostrvo i ovu zeemlju i ovu planetu.
Radeći sa drvetom tog prvog dana nisam mogao da vjerujem da ću jednog dana ovu tvrdu ljepotu prihvatiti zdravo za gotovo.
Kafko zamišljate sebe za pet godina?
...o tome kako niko ne bi dugo opstao da nema porodicu da ga drži čvrsto na zemlji, drvo mi je bilo svježe i glatko pod izranavljenim dlanovima.
Gospodin...pomislio sam ...kakvo glupo ime za psa.
Oboje su djelovali kao da je ono druga polovina koja im je nedostajala. Uklapali su se. Jednostavno tako. Tes me je pogledala i nasmiješila se.
Zapadnjaci na Tajlandu ne shvataju zakon ozbiljno. Ne dok se ne zakuhaju sa mamom, ambasadom ili advokatom.
Songkran znači promjena. Tajlandjani vole da izlivaju vodu kako bi saprali stare grijehe. Tu se nacionalni duh sanuka najbolje ogledao.
Nevjerovatno je koliko siromašan može biti onaj koji živi jeftino.
Andjele ti ne shvataš nestalnost slobodnjačkog života, bojim se.
...znao sam da ću uvijek rado poći tamo gdje ona želi da ode....da ću savladati svaku planinu koja iskrsne preda mnom, zato što će moj dom uvijek ono što ova žena naziva svojim domom. Tes mi je blago sklonila ruke sa stomaka i sićušnog života u njemu, tog majušnog života koji smo stvorili i zatresla je glavom gledajući rane, stare i nove, kojima su mi bili išarani dlanovi i polomljeni nokti.
Odavno u životu nisam imao nikoga sličnog roditelju. Nisam želio da se podjsetim da nsa na kraju roditelji uvijek ostave.
pomislio sam na treće dijete, na nepoznato dijete, na bebu koja raste u stomaku moje žene i pomislio sam na buduće godine, na to kako im treba mnogo da porastu.
Volio sam da sam mu mogao reći da mi je bio više otac od ikoga u života. Nekako ću naći prave riječi.
Kada vam imovinu nesto oduzme, vatra ili voda - onda je otisla zauvijek.
Ali zivot je tekao dalje...uvijek je moralo da se zaradjuje,jede, da se radi.
Moj dom,pomislio sam i u mom srcu odjednom nije bilo mjesta ni za sta drugo nego za to.
Prizor nase plaze bio je dovoljan da me ubijedi da danas necu umrijeti.
Sklonost Tajlandjana ka gajenju biljaka u saksijama se zasniva na budizmu. Bilje posadjeno u tlo djeluje mnogo trajnije. One posadjene u saksije podsjecaju nas da je sve prolazno.
Opteretilo me ovo što se odigralo ovo breme saznanja da o životu i smrti odlučuje treotaj oka, da živiš ako odeš na doručak umjesto na plažu i da je ovo dan tvoje smrti ako odeš na plažu umjesto na doručak.
Ne dugo, i to mi je zazvučalo čudno - to što sam ovdje, na drugom kraju svijeta i što radim za čovjeka kojeg poznajem mjesec-dva. Faren me je našao u Londonu kada sam pao nisko i mislio da su dobra vremena iza mene. Vidio je u meni nešto kada sam se mučio da to i sam uočim. Što je najvažnije ponudio mi je posao kada ga za mene nije bilo. Dovoljno dugo - dodao sam.
Udarac pesnicom jači je od šuta. Udarac koljenom jači je od udarca pesnicom. Šut je jači od udarca laktom.
Vai kru - pamti i poštuj. Svoje pretke. Svog učitelja. Svoju zemlju Boga
Osjetio sam da oni imaju nešto što mi nemamo - bolje pokazuju ljubav jedni prema drugima.
Bio sam ophrvan umorom i prljavstinom onakvima kakvi ne nestaju pod tušem.
Obuzeo me je bijes. Moja porodica uzima lutalice sa ulice a i sama živi pod pozajmljenim krovom.
Stajao sam u svježim jutarnjim sijenkama a spokojna ubijedjenost molitvenog poziva smirivala mi je srce. Ponovo me proželo bolno saznanje da ništa od ovoga nije moje....sve sam to pozajmio i moraću da vratim.
Volim kišu, kiša pere ulice, bandite, ludake, sav šljam. Kiša sve spere nakratko.
Nisi mogao da plaćaš račune. Prihvatio si se taksija. Izvini - vožnje limuzina. Voziš matore poslovne ljude na aerodrom i nazad. Srozao si se pomalo, imao si sopstvenu kompaniju.
Bolje i to nego socijalna pomoć.
Njen muž je uradio ono što bi svaki čovjek uradio na njegovom mjestu. A šalju ga u zatvor.
Njih je nemoguće podučiti, zato što su im domovi takvi kakvi su, zato što je teško i zato što bi trajalo godinama. prije svega, zato što preziru znanje.
Sve zato što jedan čovjek nije mogao da se snadje poslije teškog udarca. Šta misliš o ljudima koji ne podižu sopstvenu djecu? Ne mislim baš dobro o njima.
Pomislio sam na neznane užase djeteta koje raste u sistemu socijalne zaštite, i na roditelje koji donose djecu na svijet, ali se ne zadržavaju dovoljno dugo da ih odgoje.
To si ti ako ostaneš u ovoj zemlji lišenoj merdevina. A zaslužuješ bolje. I ti i tvoja porodica. Bolji život od toga. I ti to znaš.
Osjetio sam se bolje zbog svega i povjerovao sam da nas sunce nikada neće iznevjeriti, da nam se ništa ružno neće dogoditi sve dok ima svjetla i toplote. Zaustio sam da joj objasnim da joj kažem da još nije sve gotovo, da imam još jednu priliku da sve popravim,da će doći bolji daniako bude samo još malo vjerovala u mene.
Niko ne ide u stranu zemlju da bi bio nešto drugo. U stranu zemlju ideš da bi bio ti. Ideš da bi postao osoba kakva nisi mogao postati kod kuće. Osoba kakva želiš da budeš.
U mom poslu se kaže Sve što krvari ide na naslovnu stranu. To znači da svijet najviše voli da čita i sluša o tudjoj nesreći. Ali to nije istina. Ljudi uglavnom vole priće koje im pružaju nadu.
Ovo su bili ljudi bez igdje ičega. Pritiskala nas je atmosfera razornog siromaštva. Nije bilo izlaza,nije bilo predaha. Ovo siromaštvo jelo je vrijeme kao neizlječiva bolest.
Zvučalo je tacno kao da se vjetar na pučini poigrava jedrima. Taj zvuk me radovao jer je bio zvuk rada. Zvuk obnove svega sto nam je more otelo, zvuk nade.
Sem toga svi oni i muskarci i djevojke mogu da sjebu svoje zivote i bez tvoje pomoci.
Muskarci kao sto si ti unistavaju ovo ostrvo i ovu zeemlju i ovu planetu.
Radeći sa drvetom tog prvog dana nisam mogao da vjerujem da ću jednog dana ovu tvrdu ljepotu prihvatiti zdravo za gotovo.
Kafko zamišljate sebe za pet godina?
...o tome kako niko ne bi dugo opstao da nema porodicu da ga drži čvrsto na zemlji, drvo mi je bilo svježe i glatko pod izranavljenim dlanovima.
Gospodin...pomislio sam ...kakvo glupo ime za psa.
Oboje su djelovali kao da je ono druga polovina koja im je nedostajala. Uklapali su se. Jednostavno tako. Tes me je pogledala i nasmiješila se.
Zapadnjaci na Tajlandu ne shvataju zakon ozbiljno. Ne dok se ne zakuhaju sa mamom, ambasadom ili advokatom.
Songkran znači promjena. Tajlandjani vole da izlivaju vodu kako bi saprali stare grijehe. Tu se nacionalni duh sanuka najbolje ogledao.
Nevjerovatno je koliko siromašan može biti onaj koji živi jeftino.
Andjele ti ne shvataš nestalnost slobodnjačkog života, bojim se.
...znao sam da ću uvijek rado poći tamo gdje ona želi da ode....da ću savladati svaku planinu koja iskrsne preda mnom, zato što će moj dom uvijek ono što ova žena naziva svojim domom. Tes mi je blago sklonila ruke sa stomaka i sićušnog života u njemu, tog majušnog života koji smo stvorili i zatresla je glavom gledajući rane, stare i nove, kojima su mi bili išarani dlanovi i polomljeni nokti.
Odavno u životu nisam imao nikoga sličnog roditelju. Nisam želio da se podjsetim da nsa na kraju roditelji uvijek ostave.
pomislio sam na treće dijete, na nepoznato dijete, na bebu koja raste u stomaku moje žene i pomislio sam na buduće godine, na to kako im treba mnogo da porastu.
Volio sam da sam mu mogao reći da mi je bio više otac od ikoga u života. Nekako ću naći prave riječi.
Kada vam imovinu nesto oduzme, vatra ili voda - onda je otisla zauvijek.
Ali zivot je tekao dalje...uvijek je moralo da se zaradjuje,jede, da se radi.
Moj dom,pomislio sam i u mom srcu odjednom nije bilo mjesta ni za sta drugo nego za to.
Prizor nase plaze bio je dovoljan da me ubijedi da danas necu umrijeti.
Sklonost Tajlandjana ka gajenju biljaka u saksijama se zasniva na budizmu. Bilje posadjeno u tlo djeluje mnogo trajnije. One posadjene u saksije podsjecaju nas da je sve prolazno.
Opteretilo me ovo što se odigralo ovo breme saznanja da o životu i smrti odlučuje treotaj oka, da živiš ako odeš na doručak umjesto na plažu i da je ovo dan tvoje smrti ako odeš na plažu umjesto na doručak.
October 23, 2020
Izuzetno dosadna knjiga. Jedini razlog iz kog sam je završio je taj što se brzo čita jer je jezički i stilski uglavnom na mestu. Ali sama radnja i likovi vam neće pružiti ama baš ništa. Čak ni sam kraj nema mnogo poente. Preskočite ovu knjigu.
July 7, 2017
Citajuci ovu knjigu imala sam utisak kao da gledam neku reportazu o potpuno neinteresantnim ljudima. Prva polovina knjige je bez ikakvih desavanja, vrlo usporenog tempa i vise se fokusira na sam opis Puketa i ljudi koji zive tamo nego na bilo sta drugo. U drugoj polovini se kao nesto i dogadja, sto moze da drzi paznju, ali su po meni to sve potpuno nebitni dogadjaji koji deluju kao da su napisani eto samo da bi bilo koliko-toliko uzbudljivo i da bi se nesto desavalo. Na samoj polovini sam htela da prekinem sa citanjem, ali sam uspela nekako da se nateram i zavrsim je. U svakom slucaju mislim da se knjiga komotno moze zaobici jer se nista spektakularno nece propustiti. Covek i decak i covek i zena su po meni mnogo bolje knjige od ove.
November 20, 2019
Sadly, despite reading the book completely and feeling some involvement in the story, overall I was somewhat unimpressed. The story has some strong emotional threads but there is little or no symbolism and I found the sense of narrative really limited. At times the story jumps with little warning, the overall timescale is hazy and characterisation is generally weak. I've read other books by Tony Parsons but have not previously noted the weaknesses in his writing style. For me, I became aware of too much repetition in the writing, for example when he feels he has a nifty descriptive phrase, he uses it several times. In the end, the story becomes lightweight, more like a pitch for a film than a novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2020
Catching the Sun by Tony Parsons is not his best book but it's an ok read.
The book follows a family that have become disenchanted with life in the UK and decide to start again in Thailand, it moves along at a nice relaxing pace and nothing of any note happens until the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami.
All the characters here are rich and colourful and you soon feel right at home with them.
Parsons has this incredible gift to write family life so well and this along with the beauty and the culture of the location is the main story and pours from the book.
Its a nice easy read and would not offend anyone, however the slow deliberate pace won't be for everyone.
Just about worth your time and hard-earned cash.
The book follows a family that have become disenchanted with life in the UK and decide to start again in Thailand, it moves along at a nice relaxing pace and nothing of any note happens until the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami.
All the characters here are rich and colourful and you soon feel right at home with them.
Parsons has this incredible gift to write family life so well and this along with the beauty and the culture of the location is the main story and pours from the book.
Its a nice easy read and would not offend anyone, however the slow deliberate pace won't be for everyone.
Just about worth your time and hard-earned cash.
July 27, 2018
Really easy read that was well paced and kept me entertained throughout. I felt it was very well researched, but the ending was a bit of an anti climax, and I never warmed to some of the characters. The way he writes is very simple and effective, and he has just the right balance of action and description for an enjoyable journey. Perfect beach read!
August 12, 2018
I’ve always enjoyed Parsons’ writing. He does drama so well. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel the drama was balanced with enough joy to make this an enjoyable read. Maybe it’s because I don’t know this area of the world that I couldn’t warm to it... I’m not a natural reader, so tend to choose Light reads and this took me an age to finish, having nearly given up several times!
October 22, 2021
I read a couple of Tony Parsons in the past and wasn't overly keen. However this was a booksale book and I quite enjoyed it. Mostly because it took me to Thailand. I have never been to Thailand and looking at other reviews it seems this was not an accurate description.. but there were turtles, rainforests and beaches. The characters never came to life for me but I enjoyed the escapade.
June 24, 2018
I was very excited to read this book as it is set on Thailand, a country that has a special place in my heart.
The story was ok, a journey of self discovery but I’m very disappointed with how it ends.
The story was ok, a journey of self discovery but I’m very disappointed with how it ends.
February 11, 2022
Roxburgh Livrary was throwing thus book out so I wasn't expecting much from it. But I enjoyed this. I liked the characters and wanted them to have a happy life. The plot meandered a bit, and I wasn't sure what I was meant to take from it all at the end, but I still felt warm towards the family.
March 28, 2024
Beach read, literally and figuratively.
Overall, pleasant story, easy to flip through.
The most puzzling part was the duality of demonstrating the problematic parts of white tourists in Thailand mixed with a plot at its core about “white savior”ness
Overall, pleasant story, easy to flip through.
The most puzzling part was the duality of demonstrating the problematic parts of white tourists in Thailand mixed with a plot at its core about “white savior”ness
June 6, 2018
If you lived in Thailand you would like this book. Reminds me how much I miss and loved living there.
March 28, 2019
Najdosadnija Parsonsova knjiga. Vrlo razočaravajuće.
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