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Thai Girl
Book by ANDREW HICKS
- GenresFiction
296 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
July 22, 2016
You know how some people think they have a story to tell and they should write a book? Well, not everyone is a writer. And Andrew Hicks should find another job. Or get a ghostwriter. It was so bad that I had to look up the publishing house after believing that perhaps he had self-published (which I thought would be the only justification).
I picked up this book from the Phuket airport on my way back from Thailand (I’d exhausted all of my reading material). It took me awhile to get back to it and I just tried to push through hurriedly.
The main character Ben, who likely mirrors Hicks in reality, tries to appear as though he’s on some moral high ground. Oh he’d never pay for a prostitute… And it was just horrible what was being done to the girls by old farangs. No, he’s an even worse type of man. He wants to find a woman that is destitute so he can ride through on his white horse and save the MFing day. I’ve seen his type all throughout my travels. She will cook, clean and do everything he tells her to which is basically be obedient the way a good woman would. And of course he’d be giving the woman - in this case, Fon - a better life than she had. Give me a break.
I see where he was “trying” (and I use that word very loosely) to go with explaining elements to Thai culture. He wanted to tackle the misconceptions and the hardships faced by a poor, impoverished society. As someone else commented, Hicks tried to cram too many ideas into a small space. As a result (again, in addition to poor writing skills), he lacked follow-through and had some definite continuity problems.
Another writing flaw he had was trying to imitate all the various language nuances by different nationalities. Dear Andrew, please stop. Stop writing now. You don’t seem understand that you can give a one line quote and then go into the conversation that took place in third person.
If you’re looking for more insight into Thailand, I suggest picking up another book. Any book. Or perhaps read the one interesting thing that Thai Girl actually mentioned: an old American writer who had a column Nite Owl for about four decades in the Bangkok Post, Bernard Trink.
I picked up this book from the Phuket airport on my way back from Thailand (I’d exhausted all of my reading material). It took me awhile to get back to it and I just tried to push through hurriedly.
The main character Ben, who likely mirrors Hicks in reality, tries to appear as though he’s on some moral high ground. Oh he’d never pay for a prostitute… And it was just horrible what was being done to the girls by old farangs. No, he’s an even worse type of man. He wants to find a woman that is destitute so he can ride through on his white horse and save the MFing day. I’ve seen his type all throughout my travels. She will cook, clean and do everything he tells her to which is basically be obedient the way a good woman would. And of course he’d be giving the woman - in this case, Fon - a better life than she had. Give me a break.
I see where he was “trying” (and I use that word very loosely) to go with explaining elements to Thai culture. He wanted to tackle the misconceptions and the hardships faced by a poor, impoverished society. As someone else commented, Hicks tried to cram too many ideas into a small space. As a result (again, in addition to poor writing skills), he lacked follow-through and had some definite continuity problems.
Another writing flaw he had was trying to imitate all the various language nuances by different nationalities. Dear Andrew, please stop. Stop writing now. You don’t seem understand that you can give a one line quote and then go into the conversation that took place in third person.
If you’re looking for more insight into Thailand, I suggest picking up another book. Any book. Or perhaps read the one interesting thing that Thai Girl actually mentioned: an old American writer who had a column Nite Owl for about four decades in the Bangkok Post, Bernard Trink.
February 14, 2012
The best part about this book was the setting. I had visited so many of the places the author described and his strength was in conveying Thailand. The book was entertaining and well-intentioned, but the author tries to include far too much about Thailand's sex industry for it to read as a novel. So often, the dialogue was stilted because the author had too many points to make. The characters were uneven and not especially well-developed. At the same time, I learned a couple of things about Thai culture I didn't know.
June 5, 2013
I have to say, when I picked up this book I wasn't expecting a deep read. I was just in the mood for another Thai-based novel after reading Warren Olson's Thai Private Eye. This novel, however, thoroughly surprised me with its beautiful prose and solid pacing. For Asia lovers, this is a precious story of a young man torn between two women (as most young men often are in Thailand), and the inner turmoil most men face when confronted by Thailand's dangerous beauty.
December 16, 2011
I just noticed this book in my list of books but saw I hadn't written a review. I read this in Thailand (shockingly) about 5 years ago - when I'm on vacation I'm pretty willing to read some pretty crappy books, but this? This is quite possibly THE worst book I have EVER read in my entire life. And I've read a lot of books.
April 20, 2025
Andrew Hicks’ Thai Girl is a modestly engaging novel that treads the familiar path of East-meets-West romantic entanglement, set against the sun-drenched backdrop of Thailand. At its core, it follows the journey of Ben, a young English backpacker, as he meanders through cultural landscapes both literal and metaphorical, eventually encountering Fon, a Thai woman whose presence challenges his assumptions and draws him into deeper emotional waters.
The novel’s strength lies in its readability. Hicks writes with a straightforward style that’s easy to digest, making it a suitable companion for a long-haul flight or a lazy beach day. His observations on the clash between Western expectations and Thai cultural realities are sometimes insightful, sometimes clunky, but always earnest. The pacing moves along briskly enough to hold a reader’s interest, and the narrative voice is conversational, occasionally laced with gentle humor.
However, what Thai Girl gains in accessibility it loses in depth. The character development, particularly of Fon, often feels two-dimensional, bordering on archetypal. While Hicks seems aware of the stereotypes that pervade "farang" (foreigner) portrayals of Thai women, his attempt to subvert them doesn’t quite hit the mark. The result is a story that gestures toward complexity but ultimately settles for a rather simplified exploration of cross-cultural relationships.
In the broader landscape of expat literature or novels set in Southeast Asia, Thai Girl doesn’t offer much that’s new or particularly resonant. Readers seeking a more layered or literary take on similar themes might find themselves disappointed. Books like Stephen Leather's Private Dancer, or even Alex Garland’s The Beach (which, for all its flaws, offers a more psychologically textured take on Western escapism) provide more satisfying depth and nuance.
In summary, Thai Girl is a readable, light novel that may appeal to those newly curious about Thailand or the cultural dynamics of Western-Asian relationships, but for seasoned readers or those looking for a more compelling narrative, there are far richer selections in the genre.
The novel’s strength lies in its readability. Hicks writes with a straightforward style that’s easy to digest, making it a suitable companion for a long-haul flight or a lazy beach day. His observations on the clash between Western expectations and Thai cultural realities are sometimes insightful, sometimes clunky, but always earnest. The pacing moves along briskly enough to hold a reader’s interest, and the narrative voice is conversational, occasionally laced with gentle humor.
However, what Thai Girl gains in accessibility it loses in depth. The character development, particularly of Fon, often feels two-dimensional, bordering on archetypal. While Hicks seems aware of the stereotypes that pervade "farang" (foreigner) portrayals of Thai women, his attempt to subvert them doesn’t quite hit the mark. The result is a story that gestures toward complexity but ultimately settles for a rather simplified exploration of cross-cultural relationships.
In the broader landscape of expat literature or novels set in Southeast Asia, Thai Girl doesn’t offer much that’s new or particularly resonant. Readers seeking a more layered or literary take on similar themes might find themselves disappointed. Books like Stephen Leather's Private Dancer, or even Alex Garland’s The Beach (which, for all its flaws, offers a more psychologically textured take on Western escapism) provide more satisfying depth and nuance.
In summary, Thai Girl is a readable, light novel that may appeal to those newly curious about Thailand or the cultural dynamics of Western-Asian relationships, but for seasoned readers or those looking for a more compelling narrative, there are far richer selections in the genre.
July 23, 2017
This is clunky, unbelievable in places, and with characters so wafer-thin that they become caricature. The story is a simple one, clichéd beyond belief in many many places and with occasional, ridiculous polemics included in the text disguised as 'real' conversation or debate amongst the characters. I read this book because it was set in Koh Samet and I read it whilst on the island. I completed the reading in two beach days and left the book in the hotel. I won't be searching out anything else written about Thailand by Hicks.
May 3, 2025
omg, the uncomfortable feeling you get when you see a couple argue in public? yeah, this book is that. college age girl and guy goes to Thailand and the dude is a major dickhead. and the girl nags him instead just frickin leaving him there...given up in 52 pages
October 20, 2013
Bangkok and Kor Cowpat Moo* on Thailand's Islands
Allow a little sanuk into your life.... This terrrific novel from Andrew Hicks tells the story of Ben and Emma, a mismatched couple who set off for a holiday in Thailand. You just know it is not going to work out well when, early on, Ben says to Emma "You had a great body". From bustling Bangkok they head over to Koh Samet where Ben is drawn to Fon, a young woman from Isaan working on the island as a masseuse (non sexual, we hasten to add!).
This is not so much a story of their relationship, more an exploration of travelling through the written word - which is exactly what TripFiction is about! It touches on the sordid side of the sex industry, yet there is a real curiosity to understand the culture that is behind the flashing neon and 'come hither' facade. Thailand and its culture are absolutely central to this novel. From the hardships of bar girls, to the toiling the land, very little comes easily, and day to day life for many is laid bare in the writing. It becomes increasingly clear that Ben, the self absorbed Westerner, coaxes Fon to drop her defences, although at some level he knows only too well that nothing can come of this passing love interest - for him, it is exotic and far removed from the grey environment of Northern Europe. He inveigles himself to such an extent that he even gets invited to meet her family, fabulous for him, but risky for Fon. She has to give so much, risk her reputation, yet he, on the other hand, holds most of the cards. He can choose to go back to his "regular" life, which is firmly rooted in South-East England. The draw of a western lifestyle and money is a huge attraction for poor folk in Thailand, who eke out a living with minimal pay. This is a sobering and rivetting account of what lies behind Thailand's bar culture.
This is one of the biggest-selling English language novels ever published in Thailand. Through words, transport yourself to Bangkok: "By the big intersection on Ratanakosin Avenue, twenty four hours a day, the traffic pauses when the lights go red. As they turn to green, the race is on, the motorbikes in the lead leaping forward noisily over the canal bridge. The girls riding pillion sit side saddle, rather than compromise their modesty by sitting astride the machine. They are closely followed by speeding pick-ups, buses, taxis, tuk tuks and trucks, engines roaring, spewing fumes into the humid evening air. Under the arch of the road bridge, people are sleeping by the edge of the canal. On the pavement a family assembles sweet-scented white jasmine blossoms on strings for sale as offerings to Buddha and the spirits. Every bit of luck must be carefully nurtured; life on the streets is precarious and unforgiving".... Definitely a novel to take, to just add that little something extra on a trip to Thailand!
*What you need to say to order Pork Fried Rice
Allow a little sanuk into your life.... This terrrific novel from Andrew Hicks tells the story of Ben and Emma, a mismatched couple who set off for a holiday in Thailand. You just know it is not going to work out well when, early on, Ben says to Emma "You had a great body". From bustling Bangkok they head over to Koh Samet where Ben is drawn to Fon, a young woman from Isaan working on the island as a masseuse (non sexual, we hasten to add!).
This is not so much a story of their relationship, more an exploration of travelling through the written word - which is exactly what TripFiction is about! It touches on the sordid side of the sex industry, yet there is a real curiosity to understand the culture that is behind the flashing neon and 'come hither' facade. Thailand and its culture are absolutely central to this novel. From the hardships of bar girls, to the toiling the land, very little comes easily, and day to day life for many is laid bare in the writing. It becomes increasingly clear that Ben, the self absorbed Westerner, coaxes Fon to drop her defences, although at some level he knows only too well that nothing can come of this passing love interest - for him, it is exotic and far removed from the grey environment of Northern Europe. He inveigles himself to such an extent that he even gets invited to meet her family, fabulous for him, but risky for Fon. She has to give so much, risk her reputation, yet he, on the other hand, holds most of the cards. He can choose to go back to his "regular" life, which is firmly rooted in South-East England. The draw of a western lifestyle and money is a huge attraction for poor folk in Thailand, who eke out a living with minimal pay. This is a sobering and rivetting account of what lies behind Thailand's bar culture.
This is one of the biggest-selling English language novels ever published in Thailand. Through words, transport yourself to Bangkok: "By the big intersection on Ratanakosin Avenue, twenty four hours a day, the traffic pauses when the lights go red. As they turn to green, the race is on, the motorbikes in the lead leaping forward noisily over the canal bridge. The girls riding pillion sit side saddle, rather than compromise their modesty by sitting astride the machine. They are closely followed by speeding pick-ups, buses, taxis, tuk tuks and trucks, engines roaring, spewing fumes into the humid evening air. Under the arch of the road bridge, people are sleeping by the edge of the canal. On the pavement a family assembles sweet-scented white jasmine blossoms on strings for sale as offerings to Buddha and the spirits. Every bit of luck must be carefully nurtured; life on the streets is precarious and unforgiving".... Definitely a novel to take, to just add that little something extra on a trip to Thailand!
*What you need to say to order Pork Fried Rice
April 21, 2016
Read Asia Challenge 06
I had been initially planning to read another book set in Thailand when I was captivated by the premise of Andrew Hicks' Thai Girl. I mean, interracial relationships and language and culture barriers? Sign me up! I couldn't be more excited to dive into this read. Unfortunately, my hopes for an exciting book about Thailand were dashed when the second chapter rolled around.
First of all, the main characters, Ben and Emma, were total shitheads. I could muster up no iota of empathy or connection for them. Both of them wore their first-world problems right on their sleeves and I absolutely hated the way they turned their noses up and acted superior towards life in Southeast Asia. Yes, prostitution is wrong and so is getting a white boyfriend to pay for all your expenses, but I wish that Emma and Ben had put themselves in the shoes of the local bar girls for even a single minute. Doing so would have awakened any of my sympathetic feelings for them.
Thai Girl, while fictional, tackles extremely real issues that plague Thailand and its people. However, Hicks' writing style wasn't exactly right for this aspect. There were thousands of moments when information was unsubtly and suddenly dumped on the reader and I wish that those problems had been inserted into the fictional part of the book with more delicacy. To be honest, I felt like I was reading a textbook during some points of the novel and as a matter of fact, I skimmed most of these parts.
Another thing that I didn't really like about Thai Girl was its pacing. It felt too slow and too lethargic most of the time and the same thing kept happening over and over again. I also felt that Ben and Fon's relationship moved too fast for it to be actually based on anything other than mutual infatuation. People tend to fall in love when placed in a different country where the rules, environment, and culture are different. I should know - I, myself, have done the same thing plenty of times. Oops.
What I liked the best about Thai Girl, and the only reason that I didn't DNF this book, actually, was the amazing Thailand scenery as illustrated by Hicks. Every aspect of Thailand, especially Bangkok, came alive on the page. I read Thai Girl only a few weeks after my week-long trip to Bangkok and I have to say, everything was as is. The bustle, the houses by the river, the boat rides: every single thing was spot on and true to the point. Thailand came alive on the page and that, I'm sorry to say, was the only redeeming feature of Thai Girl. My two-star rating for this book is solely for the amazing setting. Hicks definitely did justice to that beautiful, breathtaking, Asian country.
Would I recommend Thai Girl? If you want to immerse yourself in the beauty of Thailand, then yes. But, if you're looking for a great read about Thailand, then I suggest you go look for another book.
I had been initially planning to read another book set in Thailand when I was captivated by the premise of Andrew Hicks' Thai Girl. I mean, interracial relationships and language and culture barriers? Sign me up! I couldn't be more excited to dive into this read. Unfortunately, my hopes for an exciting book about Thailand were dashed when the second chapter rolled around.
First of all, the main characters, Ben and Emma, were total shitheads. I could muster up no iota of empathy or connection for them. Both of them wore their first-world problems right on their sleeves and I absolutely hated the way they turned their noses up and acted superior towards life in Southeast Asia. Yes, prostitution is wrong and so is getting a white boyfriend to pay for all your expenses, but I wish that Emma and Ben had put themselves in the shoes of the local bar girls for even a single minute. Doing so would have awakened any of my sympathetic feelings for them.
Thai Girl, while fictional, tackles extremely real issues that plague Thailand and its people. However, Hicks' writing style wasn't exactly right for this aspect. There were thousands of moments when information was unsubtly and suddenly dumped on the reader and I wish that those problems had been inserted into the fictional part of the book with more delicacy. To be honest, I felt like I was reading a textbook during some points of the novel and as a matter of fact, I skimmed most of these parts.
Another thing that I didn't really like about Thai Girl was its pacing. It felt too slow and too lethargic most of the time and the same thing kept happening over and over again. I also felt that Ben and Fon's relationship moved too fast for it to be actually based on anything other than mutual infatuation. People tend to fall in love when placed in a different country where the rules, environment, and culture are different. I should know - I, myself, have done the same thing plenty of times. Oops.
What I liked the best about Thai Girl, and the only reason that I didn't DNF this book, actually, was the amazing Thailand scenery as illustrated by Hicks. Every aspect of Thailand, especially Bangkok, came alive on the page. I read Thai Girl only a few weeks after my week-long trip to Bangkok and I have to say, everything was as is. The bustle, the houses by the river, the boat rides: every single thing was spot on and true to the point. Thailand came alive on the page and that, I'm sorry to say, was the only redeeming feature of Thai Girl. My two-star rating for this book is solely for the amazing setting. Hicks definitely did justice to that beautiful, breathtaking, Asian country.
Would I recommend Thai Girl? If you want to immerse yourself in the beauty of Thailand, then yes. But, if you're looking for a great read about Thailand, then I suggest you go look for another book.
May 4, 2014
The plot is good - fresh,innocent - with endless opportunities to give readers a story dipped in different colors of relevant categories:love, philosophy and travel. The author seems to fail in all of these; the story lacked consistent flow, depth and resolution - maybe the naivety of the protagonist, given his young age, didn't allow for deeper construction.
The two main ideas of the book are sex industry in Thailand - its origin & effects - and the position of women in Thai culture especially in relation to tourists. The various parts of the story are ill-fitted - at times, extremely out of place,irrelevant and boring. The first half of the novel, though, has a better flow.
Still, I won't undermine the effort by the author as fruitless- certain details and issues discussed are worth reading and discussing about. The author, it seems, has traveled a lot which is quite evident in the story.
Overall, I'll recommend it to those who especially wants to read something on Thailand, and don't mind poor story telling
The two main ideas of the book are sex industry in Thailand - its origin & effects - and the position of women in Thai culture especially in relation to tourists. The various parts of the story are ill-fitted - at times, extremely out of place,irrelevant and boring. The first half of the novel, though, has a better flow.
Still, I won't undermine the effort by the author as fruitless- certain details and issues discussed are worth reading and discussing about. The author, it seems, has traveled a lot which is quite evident in the story.
Overall, I'll recommend it to those who especially wants to read something on Thailand, and don't mind poor story telling
September 5, 2007
An easy-to-read story of a couple having their ups and downs in the lovely and mysterious Thailand. I take it as a lesson for us macho men who just take what we have for granted... and it is sometimes too late when we realise that we lack the courage to face our own blunders; then, we have to go the long way to get things back. It was easy to relate to the description of the wonderful setting as I had been there myself.
March 25, 2009
I feel the need to defend my choice in reading this book. I was at the airport in Thailand thumbing through the English books, and this one caught my eye. I didn't have enough baht at the time to purchase it, so requested it on paperbackswap as soon as I got home. It took almost a year for me to get it...and it was not worth the wait. Trite. Silly. Simplistic. The Beach is a much better Thailand theme book (I'm sure there are plenty MUCH better than that).
August 2, 2007
Borrowed this from a friend, and I am not really amused with the book. I even scanread almost two chapters of the book. Many things about Thailand, including how and why the sex industry. Which is, apparently, not merely sex industry.
Interesting to know the story behind those under-aged girls walking around with --expectedly-- rich guys. If it's all real, that is.
Interesting to know the story behind those under-aged girls walking around with --expectedly-- rich guys. If it's all real, that is.
March 7, 2008
badly written, way too many exclamation marks initially and the prose is about level with a secondary school student. interesting story which developed well, I learned a lot about thai bar girls but the only place this novel soared was when the action moved to NE thailand. some of the language used in the conversations between the british guy and his girlfriend made me wince.
July 5, 2016
Apparently the strength of the book is what it conveys about Thailand and its culture. This sucked for me since I already knew all that stuff having been here on and off for a few years. All that was left was the painfully boring story and dopey main character. I was glad when the women dumped him.
October 17, 2007
hey..it should be pretty clear, that not everything that seems glamorous IS glamorous. because there's always something more than meets the eye :)
September 15, 2008
So-so. But it was good to read about the truths of the sex industry in Thailand.
Read
August 2, 2009this book sucks. the author should keep his day job. dialouge was contrived
March 30, 2012
I thought it would get better, but it didn't.
February 6, 2016
Interesting insight into cross-cultural relationships. Definitely food for thought. Gives a flavour of backpacking life in Thailand. Weak story-line and ending.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews