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Vientiane: An Abrupt Journey Through Sex, Money, Guilt and Incomprehension
Two funny, charming London men set off on the jaunt of a lifetime, a tour of South East Asia - Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia. They set off with only a large-scale map and a copy of a play by Christopher Marlowe, determined to go where chance takes them. It starts with beer, drugs, beaches and great breakfasts... but soon they are drawn into the dark side of Asian tourism, the hostess bars, brothels and sex villages. They are not nearly saintly enough to resist temptation but neither are they so numb as not to see the cruelty of what they are doing... .
228 pages, Paperback
First published June 8, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 27, 2012
One word to sum it up - Amazing ! You will be counting your blessing after it's all said and done.
--- A MUST READ ---
--- A MUST READ ---
October 14, 2015
Two naive, English, pre-midlife crisis, "family men", embark on an itinerant sex tour of the standard SE Asian haunts. The morally ambidextrous narrator, uses a combination of armchair philosophy and dubious allegorial musings on a play by Marlowe to both interpret the environment around him and justify his flexi-ethics.
The story is largely self indulgent, whiny and purposeless and ends on an apathetic whimper. Oh yeah, there's a huge dollop of first world, white guilt in there too, just for good measure.
I grew up in New Zealand but have lived the last 10years of my life in SE Asia. Characters like the two men in this book are on every dodgy corner of every SE Asian city/town. At least this book gives you a possible clue as to what goes on behind their sunglasses.
The story is largely self indulgent, whiny and purposeless and ends on an apathetic whimper. Oh yeah, there's a huge dollop of first world, white guilt in there too, just for good measure.
I grew up in New Zealand but have lived the last 10years of my life in SE Asia. Characters like the two men in this book are on every dodgy corner of every SE Asian city/town. At least this book gives you a possible clue as to what goes on behind their sunglasses.
August 10, 2012
Not exactly sure what to say this book was informing and at times confusing. Its a bout two men taking girls from the street and other places and having them become toys to play with basically doing the same thing but in better circumstances...I guess. Any way if you like stories if brothels sex etc and sadness to boot this is a book for you. I won this book from goodreads and yes I would say it is a book to be read by others that may be interested but I feel it was just kind of all over the place. I'm not saying it isn't a good book it just wasn't one for me Thank you.
September 4, 2012
The book was poorly written. It jumped around too much and was filled with unnecessary processes.
It tries to justify irresponsibility and immorality. It is further deplorable he considered himself any type of a family man.
The ending was even anti-climatic and dull.
I won this and am pleased I didn't purchase it.
It tries to justify irresponsibility and immorality. It is further deplorable he considered himself any type of a family man.
The ending was even anti-climatic and dull.
I won this and am pleased I didn't purchase it.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews