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A Harem Boy Saga #1
Initiation
This provocative story is about an adolescent who was initiated into a clandestine sexual society. He was spirited to the Middle East, from his UK boarding school. He attended the Bahriji School (Oasis, ) in The United Arab Emirates in preparation for serving in Harems for the wealthy and elite. It is also a love story between the young man and his 'Valet' who served as his chaperone and mentor during the boy's Harem service. Author's note: I had a privileged and unique upbringing in Malaysia. Following in my brothers' footsteps, I was sent to an exclusive boarding school in England. It is there that I was inducted into a clandestine organization, E.R.O.S. The Enlightened Royal Oracle Society. For four years, unbeknownst to my family, I was willingly and happily part of a Harem. My story has been kept under wraps for close to 45 years. The correct moment has arrived for me to make known my unique education. young@aharemboysaga.com www.aharemboysaga.com
- GenresEroticaM M Romance
546 pages, Paperback
First published February 9, 2013
61 people are currently reading
175 people want to read
About the author
Young
307 books59 followersYoung alias Bernard Foong is, first and foremost, a sensitivist. He finds nuance in everything. To experience the world he inhabits is an adventure which is mystical, childlike and refreshing. He has a rare ability to create beauty in a unique fashion. His palettes have been material, paint, words and human experiences.
Bernard Foong (designer) – A brief history
Born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. At the age of 8, he was assisting his aunt and cousin, learning the art of sewing and fabrics/colors matching. He attended an exclusive private boarding school in the United Kingdom before obtaining his Diploma in Fashion Design at the Harrow College of Art & Technology in London, England. He went on to complete his Master of Design at the Royal College of Art & Design, London, England. During his college years he won several international fashion awards and was already retailing bridal and evening dresses to several well known department stores in England. Liberty of London, Selfridges, Harrods and Harvey Nichols to name a few that carried his designs. His Royal College of Art graduation wedding/evening wear collection was sold to Liberty of London and displayed in their store windows for the entire month of June that year.
For four years, he worked for Liberty’s bridal department as their in-house designer until a trip to Hong Kong, while working on a freelance project for ‘Bird’s’(casual wear) company, he was recruited by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University as their Fashion professor for the next 6 years. During his stay in Hong Kong, he freelanced for numerous fashion companies. From designing casual wear, swimwear, lingerie, and fur garments, men’s wear, bridal and evening fashions to accessories (bags, shoes, head-wear). He also participated and organized numerous fashion shows, events, functions, and presentations in the Asia Pacific region.
Working for Keys Far East Hong Kong as chief lingerie designer - travelling extensively to the United States, he was soon recruited as an Associate Fashion Design/Illustration Professor to the University of Wisconsin, Madison and also lectured at the Minneapolis College of Art & Design for a couple of years.
Foong was then appointed as the Fashion Development Manager by an established department store – Parkson Grand (22 stores in Malaysia and one in Shanghai, China). Producing under the label, Natural Life by Bernard Foong, he designed casual-wear collections for the Parkson Grand’s flagship store in Kuala Lumpur. After a couple of years later, he was invited by the Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore to join their design school to establish a Fashion Design department. For two years, he assisted several founding members of the design school - working on the fashion department’s teaching curriculum.
The Fitzgerald Theatre Department, University of Hawaii, Manoa, Oahu, Hawaii awarded a full scholarship for Foong to complete his second Master of Art in Theatre Costuming. Now a resident on the Island of Maui, he has assisted many charity organizations in their fund raising events with his extravagant fashion and performance shows/presentations. In 2005, he and his partner, Mr. Walter Jay Bissett opened Fire Dragon Bistro Orient & Design Shop. He also designs costumes/fashions for numerous theatrical productions in Hawaii and abroad.
Appointed as chief lingerie designer for Cerie International Limited – Hong Kong, his lingerie designs can be found in major department stores in Canada and the United Kingdom.
He showcased the BERNARD FOONG R-T-W collections and BERNARD FOONG @ Modern Classic Ltd. (an established – Hong Kong bridal & evening wear company) collections in Hong Kong. His 2008 & 2009 bridal/evening/bridal lingerie fashion show, “Grace” & “Coming Up Roses” were premiered at Hong Kong Fashion Week in July 2007 and January 2008 respectively at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Center, garnering positive interest in many Asian press reviews, including a China n
Bernard Foong (designer) – A brief history
Born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. At the age of 8, he was assisting his aunt and cousin, learning the art of sewing and fabrics/colors matching. He attended an exclusive private boarding school in the United Kingdom before obtaining his Diploma in Fashion Design at the Harrow College of Art & Technology in London, England. He went on to complete his Master of Design at the Royal College of Art & Design, London, England. During his college years he won several international fashion awards and was already retailing bridal and evening dresses to several well known department stores in England. Liberty of London, Selfridges, Harrods and Harvey Nichols to name a few that carried his designs. His Royal College of Art graduation wedding/evening wear collection was sold to Liberty of London and displayed in their store windows for the entire month of June that year.
For four years, he worked for Liberty’s bridal department as their in-house designer until a trip to Hong Kong, while working on a freelance project for ‘Bird’s’(casual wear) company, he was recruited by the Hong Kong Polytechnic University as their Fashion professor for the next 6 years. During his stay in Hong Kong, he freelanced for numerous fashion companies. From designing casual wear, swimwear, lingerie, and fur garments, men’s wear, bridal and evening fashions to accessories (bags, shoes, head-wear). He also participated and organized numerous fashion shows, events, functions, and presentations in the Asia Pacific region.
Working for Keys Far East Hong Kong as chief lingerie designer - travelling extensively to the United States, he was soon recruited as an Associate Fashion Design/Illustration Professor to the University of Wisconsin, Madison and also lectured at the Minneapolis College of Art & Design for a couple of years.
Foong was then appointed as the Fashion Development Manager by an established department store – Parkson Grand (22 stores in Malaysia and one in Shanghai, China). Producing under the label, Natural Life by Bernard Foong, he designed casual-wear collections for the Parkson Grand’s flagship store in Kuala Lumpur. After a couple of years later, he was invited by the Temasek Polytechnic, Singapore to join their design school to establish a Fashion Design department. For two years, he assisted several founding members of the design school - working on the fashion department’s teaching curriculum.
The Fitzgerald Theatre Department, University of Hawaii, Manoa, Oahu, Hawaii awarded a full scholarship for Foong to complete his second Master of Art in Theatre Costuming. Now a resident on the Island of Maui, he has assisted many charity organizations in their fund raising events with his extravagant fashion and performance shows/presentations. In 2005, he and his partner, Mr. Walter Jay Bissett opened Fire Dragon Bistro Orient & Design Shop. He also designs costumes/fashions for numerous theatrical productions in Hawaii and abroad.
Appointed as chief lingerie designer for Cerie International Limited – Hong Kong, his lingerie designs can be found in major department stores in Canada and the United Kingdom.
He showcased the BERNARD FOONG R-T-W collections and BERNARD FOONG @ Modern Classic Ltd. (an established – Hong Kong bridal & evening wear company) collections in Hong Kong. His 2008 & 2009 bridal/evening/bridal lingerie fashion show, “Grace” & “Coming Up Roses” were premiered at Hong Kong Fashion Week in July 2007 and January 2008 respectively at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Center, garnering positive interest in many Asian press reviews, including a China n
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December 31, 2024
I would believe that this novel, and its successors, to be more than just porn if anyone from a Middle East country, who had lived there, knew how their societies worked and functioned, could actually read or speak any of their languages, or had any connection to them, individual Muslims, or their religion, had reviewed this book and given any credence to the author's stories. But of course they haven't and I imagine that if they had they would treat this book with disdain. Because one of the basis of this novel's story is that the Royal families and many other prominent families throughout the middle east as well as their governments and civil servants are complicit in the sexual abuse of minors on grand scale and in particular of western children who they remove, illegally, to the Middle East.
Do I really need to point out all the obvious racist tropes, and that this novel is racist in its presentation of Muslims and Muslim society, and that it uses that ancient 'legend' from the antebellum USA about the unbridled sexual drives, not forgetting big slongs, of 'dark' people. The only difference is now those uncontrollable 'darkies' are not uppity blacks but uppity wogs (the original appellation for this word was against Arabs in WWI) and their 'victims' not young blond females but young blond boys.
It is so improbable - only those who have never known how boarding, or any other type of school or organisation works, can imagine that this farrago of fantastic lies has any basis in fact. It would also be extraordinary if this secret society and its mysterious school and organisation managed to remain unknown and not betrayed by any members or anyone knowledgeable of its existence prior to Young's revelation. The reason why we know so much about secret societies and spies etc. is because they all leak like sieves. The more secrets that leak out the more likely it is that an organisation actually exists. That a bunch of paedophile/pederast child abusers could keep a society, school and organisation absolutely secret when neither CIA, KGB or Mossad can hold onto any of their secrets is unbelievable. For example look at how quickly, with all the financial and intimidatory resources available to Putin, that the details of his operations poisoning dissidents in the UK became known a few years ago. It wasn't days, it was hours after completion that the whole thing came apart. Does anyone seriously imagine that the events described in massively long detail here could be concealed for minutes let alone years?
But what is really offensive about this story, told as 'true' but written for titillation, is that it distracts from the reality of real sexual trafficking and abuse, particularly in poorer countries. They don't need to steal boys from the UK, the streets of their own countries are full of children to abuse and if they want 'white' children (a particularly racist and offensive trope of certain delusional and prejudiced people in prosperous Western countries) then there have always been the poor of Europe (depending on era that could be Mediterranean or Eastern European countries) to exploit and while it may be unknown to racists like the author, fair skinned blond boys are common in North African Berber tribes and in parts of India and Afghanistan - though I think a lot of those who read this book would not consider those boys as white.
Sexual abuse is everywhere and is not wrapped up in training schools for harem attendants - read some history - there were boys in the harem of the Topkapi palace in Istanbul and behind the walls of the Forbidden City in Beijing but they were eunuchs.
This novel is not just improbable it is racist, insulting and just trash. If anyone can provide proper evidence of anything in this book I will happily withdraw what I have written.
Do I really need to point out all the obvious racist tropes, and that this novel is racist in its presentation of Muslims and Muslim society, and that it uses that ancient 'legend' from the antebellum USA about the unbridled sexual drives, not forgetting big slongs, of 'dark' people. The only difference is now those uncontrollable 'darkies' are not uppity blacks but uppity wogs (the original appellation for this word was against Arabs in WWI) and their 'victims' not young blond females but young blond boys.
It is so improbable - only those who have never known how boarding, or any other type of school or organisation works, can imagine that this farrago of fantastic lies has any basis in fact. It would also be extraordinary if this secret society and its mysterious school and organisation managed to remain unknown and not betrayed by any members or anyone knowledgeable of its existence prior to Young's revelation. The reason why we know so much about secret societies and spies etc. is because they all leak like sieves. The more secrets that leak out the more likely it is that an organisation actually exists. That a bunch of paedophile/pederast child abusers could keep a society, school and organisation absolutely secret when neither CIA, KGB or Mossad can hold onto any of their secrets is unbelievable. For example look at how quickly, with all the financial and intimidatory resources available to Putin, that the details of his operations poisoning dissidents in the UK became known a few years ago. It wasn't days, it was hours after completion that the whole thing came apart. Does anyone seriously imagine that the events described in massively long detail here could be concealed for minutes let alone years?
But what is really offensive about this story, told as 'true' but written for titillation, is that it distracts from the reality of real sexual trafficking and abuse, particularly in poorer countries. They don't need to steal boys from the UK, the streets of their own countries are full of children to abuse and if they want 'white' children (a particularly racist and offensive trope of certain delusional and prejudiced people in prosperous Western countries) then there have always been the poor of Europe (depending on era that could be Mediterranean or Eastern European countries) to exploit and while it may be unknown to racists like the author, fair skinned blond boys are common in North African Berber tribes and in parts of India and Afghanistan - though I think a lot of those who read this book would not consider those boys as white.
Sexual abuse is everywhere and is not wrapped up in training schools for harem attendants - read some history - there were boys in the harem of the Topkapi palace in Istanbul and behind the walls of the Forbidden City in Beijing but they were eunuchs.
This novel is not just improbable it is racist, insulting and just trash. If anyone can provide proper evidence of anything in this book I will happily withdraw what I have written.
September 5, 2016
This isn't MM, nor for the titillation crowd. It's a true story about a boy and his upbringing in a place few have ever known or will understand.
September 6, 2016
Bernard Foong was born into a wealthy family in Malaysia. He attended an English public school in the 1960s, where he - along with a few other carefully chosen boys - was groomed by older boys (BBs or 'Valets') before being enrolled in a secret society (thought to have been founded by Lord Byron) to provide sexual services to members of elite and royal families of various Middle Eastern countries in a palatial household in Dubai. He calls the society E.R.O.S. (not its real name) and in his school it was run by the headmaster and a number of members of staff. The three-month stints in the various households were presented by the school as ‘cultural exchanges’. Several exclusive private schools were involved in these ‘arrangements’ (girls' schools as well as boys') and around 50 'students' aged 13-16 were on these ‘exchanges’ at any one time.
His standpoint is that it was the best thing that could have happened to him, and that he had a wonderful time in a highly privileged, totally protected environment, with his 'Big Brother' always on hand to ensure he never had to do anything that he didn't want to do (because some of their 'masters' and 'clients' were "a bit on the kinky side". The school's doctor examined them regularly to ensure they remained free of disease. The school opened a Swiss bank account for him, and deposited the thousands of pounds and the jewellery he was gifted by his prince and other wealthy 'clients' into it. In time, the money and valuables he was ‘gifted’ paid for his degree course in a top fashion school in London.
Each child swore an oath of allegiance to the society, and had it instilled into him that if he ever told anyone anything about its existence or activities, the school would deny everything. The boys were also convinced that to have been chosen for such a prestigious assignment (only 5 boys a year were selected at the end of their 'training') was a great privilege that might well open doors in the future, and would certainly cultivate in the students taking part a worldly perspective that would help them be successful in the careers of their choice.
Young thoroughly approves of what happened to him, and of course he is speaking only from his own experience. He came from a Methodist school where he was bullied to one where he was accepted and loved for who he was. He is clearly of the opinion that his acceptance into E.R.O.S. was the making of him.
He’s now in his sixties, but I would be very surprised in the current UK climate of pursuing alleged abuses of children forty years ago if his autobiography didn’t prompt a number of pertinent enquiries.
It is UTTERLY off-the-scale, a fascinating read, and I urge everyone to read it. You need to know.
His standpoint is that it was the best thing that could have happened to him, and that he had a wonderful time in a highly privileged, totally protected environment, with his 'Big Brother' always on hand to ensure he never had to do anything that he didn't want to do (because some of their 'masters' and 'clients' were "a bit on the kinky side". The school's doctor examined them regularly to ensure they remained free of disease. The school opened a Swiss bank account for him, and deposited the thousands of pounds and the jewellery he was gifted by his prince and other wealthy 'clients' into it. In time, the money and valuables he was ‘gifted’ paid for his degree course in a top fashion school in London.
Each child swore an oath of allegiance to the society, and had it instilled into him that if he ever told anyone anything about its existence or activities, the school would deny everything. The boys were also convinced that to have been chosen for such a prestigious assignment (only 5 boys a year were selected at the end of their 'training') was a great privilege that might well open doors in the future, and would certainly cultivate in the students taking part a worldly perspective that would help them be successful in the careers of their choice.
Young thoroughly approves of what happened to him, and of course he is speaking only from his own experience. He came from a Methodist school where he was bullied to one where he was accepted and loved for who he was. He is clearly of the opinion that his acceptance into E.R.O.S. was the making of him.
He’s now in his sixties, but I would be very surprised in the current UK climate of pursuing alleged abuses of children forty years ago if his autobiography didn’t prompt a number of pertinent enquiries.
It is UTTERLY off-the-scale, a fascinating read, and I urge everyone to read it. You need to know.
April 21, 2015
Having known the author for more than 20 years, I found it difficult to believe the fact that Young had gone through the numerous experiences he had mentioned in his memoirs. He had never revealed any of his secret life to me. At times, when I was reading his memoir, I had doubts as to the truth of its contents. I had wondered if the events actually transpired as described by the author or whether it was all part of his imagination in writing the book.
However, I have recently reconnected with Young after numerous years of not seeing him. He assured me that all the events depicted in A Harem Boy's Saga (7 books series) are facts rather than fiction. After reading Initiation, the first in the series, it brought me to a new understanding of Arabian cultures and traditions. A hidden world opened before my eyes, one I never knew existed. Although I have heard of women harems, male harems within the ultra-wealthy, elite Middle Eastern men was an eye opener for me.
Initiation is a fascinating account of the author's experiences. This book blew my mind many times over. A fascinating book. A MUST-READ!!! I strongly recommend A Harem Boy's Saga; a memoir by Young series, to everyone!
However, I have recently reconnected with Young after numerous years of not seeing him. He assured me that all the events depicted in A Harem Boy's Saga (7 books series) are facts rather than fiction. After reading Initiation, the first in the series, it brought me to a new understanding of Arabian cultures and traditions. A hidden world opened before my eyes, one I never knew existed. Although I have heard of women harems, male harems within the ultra-wealthy, elite Middle Eastern men was an eye opener for me.
Initiation is a fascinating account of the author's experiences. This book blew my mind many times over. A fascinating book. A MUST-READ!!! I strongly recommend A Harem Boy's Saga; a memoir by Young series, to everyone!
Want to read
October 3, 2016I am rather curious about this book. Pretty sure my reading experience of this book would be very different from other readers since I am a local. I am from Malaysia, same as the author. I took a peek at the book and there are local jargon there which of course a familiarity to me. Not sure if that is a good thing since I might judge this book too critically based on my own experience as a local. Which I am pretty sure I would. I might have difficulties believing what I am reading should there be any discrepancies.
If I am not mistaken the book is a about a secret society based in the Middle East where they train willing pleasure slaves for the aristocrats. Really? I do have my doubts yet I did felt compelled to find out. The only thing stopping me from reading on is the astounding word count of approximately 148,000 words
. You see, a normal novel length book is usually around 40,000 words or a little more. So yea, I feel intimidated to proceed. At least, for now. As I would hate to have to abandon it halfway and not knowing how it ends after putting in the effort. * October 3rd, 2016
July 6, 2018
This is really, in every respect, a most unusual story – and what’s more, it’s true! It’s the autobiography of the famous fashion designer Bernard Foong; and it’s certainly not your everyday career story.
A boy grows up in a wealthy Chinese family in Malaysia in the 1960s; his mother, after having had two boys already, wanted a girl, and Young happens to be so pretty and girlish that many people do think he is a girl. He gets to wear girls’ dresses, and he plays with dolls; and, as the years pass, he discovers his feelings for boys. His father is appalled at that and tries to make a man out of him by enrolling him in all sorts of martial arts courses – where he gets to know lots of handsome young men! Then he sends him to a private school in England – but what he doesn’t know is that this school has got ties with the secret organisation E.R.O.S., and with a different sort of school in Dubai, where they groom young boys to become harem boys for rich Arabs.
When Young, aged 12, is approached by the school, he decides to accept the offer to be sent to Dubai and trained there. He learns about the art of flirting, about tantra, about the Arabian way of life – and he falls in love with Andy, his ‘valet’, his ‘big brother’, who has been assigned to assist and instruct him. With him, he discovers what real love is all about.
They are sent to an Arab household, where Young serves both the master and his high society friends, and gives his daughters lessons in European fashion design. He’s become very interested in fashion, and when he and Andy get the chance to travel to Europe and learn about European culture, he gets to know the big designers in Italy and Paris, and decides he’ll embark on a career as a fashion designer himself.
This is the first part of the Harem Boy biography series, and it’s simply impossible for the reader not to be eager to read the next one. It’s just so beautifully written, with genuine feelings and a gentle humour, philosophising about love and relationships; and it takes us on a journey into a different, exotic world where laws and the way of life are nothing like we Westerners know.
Bernard Foong also describes in a very accurate way the long and slow development of the acceptance of gay rights – back in the Swinging Sixties, Young makes prophecies about gay marriage one day becoming legal. A fascinating, moving and also very entertaining story that will leave nobody indifferent who’s got any such thing as an open mind!
A boy grows up in a wealthy Chinese family in Malaysia in the 1960s; his mother, after having had two boys already, wanted a girl, and Young happens to be so pretty and girlish that many people do think he is a girl. He gets to wear girls’ dresses, and he plays with dolls; and, as the years pass, he discovers his feelings for boys. His father is appalled at that and tries to make a man out of him by enrolling him in all sorts of martial arts courses – where he gets to know lots of handsome young men! Then he sends him to a private school in England – but what he doesn’t know is that this school has got ties with the secret organisation E.R.O.S., and with a different sort of school in Dubai, where they groom young boys to become harem boys for rich Arabs.
When Young, aged 12, is approached by the school, he decides to accept the offer to be sent to Dubai and trained there. He learns about the art of flirting, about tantra, about the Arabian way of life – and he falls in love with Andy, his ‘valet’, his ‘big brother’, who has been assigned to assist and instruct him. With him, he discovers what real love is all about.
They are sent to an Arab household, where Young serves both the master and his high society friends, and gives his daughters lessons in European fashion design. He’s become very interested in fashion, and when he and Andy get the chance to travel to Europe and learn about European culture, he gets to know the big designers in Italy and Paris, and decides he’ll embark on a career as a fashion designer himself.
This is the first part of the Harem Boy biography series, and it’s simply impossible for the reader not to be eager to read the next one. It’s just so beautifully written, with genuine feelings and a gentle humour, philosophising about love and relationships; and it takes us on a journey into a different, exotic world where laws and the way of life are nothing like we Westerners know.
Bernard Foong also describes in a very accurate way the long and slow development of the acceptance of gay rights – back in the Swinging Sixties, Young makes prophecies about gay marriage one day becoming legal. A fascinating, moving and also very entertaining story that will leave nobody indifferent who’s got any such thing as an open mind!
June 26, 2015
A Scrumptious and Indulgent “Must” Read
In a culture that prizes the birth of male babies above all else, it is little wonder that Bernard Foong had difficulty with his father reconciling his sexuality. Given that this is a biography, the same culture prices the sexuality accordingly of young, pliant pubescent boys, just like Mr Foong. Raised and surrounded by indulgence, in a sub-culture Westerners not only do not accept but do not understand, Mr Foong emerged strong, centered, developed and extraordinarily talented in the world of design. Indentured, but no slave, the author used his wily skills to his own interests, became educated and learned, traveled the world, developed style and character and loved. If we accept his youth as an interest in another culture, without judgment, I ask: Who among us wouldn’t want to live such a pampered and indulgent lifestyle among royalty and power? Certainly not I. And because of his experiences, Mr Foong has enriched our lives with his narrative, his spectacular life told eloquently, articulately and in rich vibrant colorful detail. This is a scrumptious and indulgent “must” read to add to your collection in this series.
In a culture that prizes the birth of male babies above all else, it is little wonder that Bernard Foong had difficulty with his father reconciling his sexuality. Given that this is a biography, the same culture prices the sexuality accordingly of young, pliant pubescent boys, just like Mr Foong. Raised and surrounded by indulgence, in a sub-culture Westerners not only do not accept but do not understand, Mr Foong emerged strong, centered, developed and extraordinarily talented in the world of design. Indentured, but no slave, the author used his wily skills to his own interests, became educated and learned, traveled the world, developed style and character and loved. If we accept his youth as an interest in another culture, without judgment, I ask: Who among us wouldn’t want to live such a pampered and indulgent lifestyle among royalty and power? Certainly not I. And because of his experiences, Mr Foong has enriched our lives with his narrative, his spectacular life told eloquently, articulately and in rich vibrant colorful detail. This is a scrumptious and indulgent “must” read to add to your collection in this series.
February 11, 2019
I admit this book is not my normal genre, but I did enjoy it very much. The author tells the story of his family life and the events that enabled him to attend an exclusive boarding school. Through introductions, he was also accepted into an elite family as part of a harem. Although he was young and innocent, not yet of the age to make a consensual decision, he already knew his preferences. I did not feel he was coerced into a particular lifestyle but rather ran willingly towards his true nature and self. Young describes an opulent and lavish means of living than very few will ever be able to view or even imagine. I found the work particularly entertaining to read a man's perspective on love and passion. I also learned a few things and was particularly interested in the classes he attended. Bravo for sharing such a touching true story.
February 12, 2018
I had a hard time with this writer at first. Foong comes off as ridiculous if your reading muscles are weak and you lack the ability to observe and give him some time to make his point. I ended up loving his campy and self-obsessed writing style. It's actually very refreshing to read something that hasn't been edited (re-written) by a major publishing house. However, he isn't going to win many writing prizes with this book. Know this, and drop the critiques of his writing style-you are seriously missing the point if you insist on that. He's also establishing some important points that later will make sense. His writing style and focus on his mother at the beginning is a hidden sword that I've come to admire for reasons you will understand if you read past my spoiler warning below.
I originally ordered this book because of a New Year's resolution to read more and to force myself to read genres other than mysteries and police procedurals. This book is on many LGBT-focused lists and so I ordered it from abebooks.com because my library didn't have it. This is important because I need to establish that NO review I've read of this memoir hints at it's focus. Some people are confused because they were skimming to the sex, but some reviewers must fancy themselves as 'cultural relativists' and should really take an anthropology class to learn why that can't be applied everywhere in life. Because of this, my review is in part a response to just about every other review I've read of this book. They have all so completely missed what he was writing about that it's as though they were reading a different story. I hope, for the sake of humanity, that there is some sort of statement from the author they are all aware of establishing this book as purest fantasy. That, however, does not absolve anyone enjoying this as a sexy book from a certain allegation by me, detailed below the spoiler warning. Based on these hopefully naive skimmer's reviews, I thought it was just going to be a saucy coming of age memoir. Certainly, you could read it that way, if you ignore major aspects of his timeline. Like his AGE.
Sadly, he did not go to Hogwarts.
I am reviewing this book as it has been presented to me: a TRUE memoir. This is important. I have decided to believe Foong, mostly because it's important to believe and support victims of abuse, rape, and slavery despite a lack of traditional evidence, but also because he describes in detail a believable system for taking advantage of the much written-about abuses in the British public school system. Many writers, such as Alec Waugh, have written memoirs detailing how homosexuality in these schools is exploited as a method of control by bullies and pedophiles. Foong, bravely, details how a modern international criminal enterprise might grow from this and how it operates-from it's initial grooming of his lonely and grieving mother, to his return to school and how this criminal network "supported" him later in life-for keeping his mouth shut. This is important. People should talking about and investigating this.
SPOILERS ahead.
This book was devastating to read. The author describes exactly how and why he was able to be chosen for grooming and induction into this secret child rape "society". He writes this memoir as though he enjoyed what happened to him, but I believe his insistence on making sure the reader KNOWS he is extremely under aged is designed to spark serious investigation of his story. Because this is VERY likely still happening to children in British schools if his story is true. Also, he lays out quite clearly the threats they make should he EVER in his life tell ANYONE about EROS, the sex slave society that is pulling slaves from British boarding schools. Again, he has made these allegations and therefore we must take them seriously. I'm sure he wants it to STOP or he could have easily changed everyone's age and had the sex start AFTER he legally came of age in Great Britain, where the sex crimes start.
Foong has EVERY right to remember his life the way he wants. If he is proud of it, that is fine by me and I am happy for him that he is so strong. However, I sincerely hope this book is in the hands of Scotland Yard investigators and that they are taking Foong every bit as seriously as they did Jimmy Seville's victims. Foong is a child sex-trafficking victim and a BRITISH BOARDING SCHOOL selected him through a process they institutionalized and then groomed him with the aid of other sex-trafficking victims both grown and near Foong's age. They then LIED to his parents and sent him overseas to be enslaved and repeatedly gang raped as a twelve year old. The only way you can NOT be horrified reading this book is you either don't believe Foong AND enjoy kiddie porn, OR you style yourself a cultural relativist and assert that we can't judge other cultures while ALSO enjoying kiddie porn. Or you really haven't exercised those reading muscles in a while and don't realize you are reading kiddie porn. I had to go back several times to re-read the part where he establishes his age at the time he arrives at boarding school. His grooming begins THAT NIGHT. Rape happens on a British boarding school campus almost immediately and he is sent off to UAE that year or the year after.
He NEVER mentions his age when describing his gang rapes in graphic, yet romantic, detail. But there is no way to overlook that he is WAYYYYY underage when all this is occurring. You know, if you actually read his book and don't just skim to the "naughty" parts. Despite his glowing account of how this aided him in life, his insistence of detailing his early life with his mother establishes the boy that was victimized. It establishes the damage done when later he states his experiences left him unable to relate to both his own Malaysian culture and his own generation, due to the gravity of his experiences. That should settle it for all the cultural relativists reviewing this book as just a sexy coming of age memoir. It would be that if his sexual experiences had been just with boys his own age, but his British boarding school made sure it did NOT. Again, for those still with the other glowing reviews in mind, and coming to this book as I did, through LGBT Romance lists, this book has nothing to do with a positive portrayal of homosexuality and everything to do with pedophiles and how they exploit their victims. By the way, he is careful to note there is a 'sister' British boarding school that is secretly run by the same criminal organization. It is not just about exploiting gay children. I think I am too upset to continue writing, so let me end with this:
This book is a MUST-read, for investigators and for those strong enough to bear witness to Foong's suffering so we can take action and be of aid to all victims. Read it, and then make sure Scotland Yard knows about it.
#MeToo
I originally ordered this book because of a New Year's resolution to read more and to force myself to read genres other than mysteries and police procedurals. This book is on many LGBT-focused lists and so I ordered it from abebooks.com because my library didn't have it. This is important because I need to establish that NO review I've read of this memoir hints at it's focus. Some people are confused because they were skimming to the sex, but some reviewers must fancy themselves as 'cultural relativists' and should really take an anthropology class to learn why that can't be applied everywhere in life. Because of this, my review is in part a response to just about every other review I've read of this book. They have all so completely missed what he was writing about that it's as though they were reading a different story. I hope, for the sake of humanity, that there is some sort of statement from the author they are all aware of establishing this book as purest fantasy. That, however, does not absolve anyone enjoying this as a sexy book from a certain allegation by me, detailed below the spoiler warning. Based on these hopefully naive skimmer's reviews, I thought it was just going to be a saucy coming of age memoir. Certainly, you could read it that way, if you ignore major aspects of his timeline. Like his AGE.
Sadly, he did not go to Hogwarts.
I am reviewing this book as it has been presented to me: a TRUE memoir. This is important. I have decided to believe Foong, mostly because it's important to believe and support victims of abuse, rape, and slavery despite a lack of traditional evidence, but also because he describes in detail a believable system for taking advantage of the much written-about abuses in the British public school system. Many writers, such as Alec Waugh, have written memoirs detailing how homosexuality in these schools is exploited as a method of control by bullies and pedophiles. Foong, bravely, details how a modern international criminal enterprise might grow from this and how it operates-from it's initial grooming of his lonely and grieving mother, to his return to school and how this criminal network "supported" him later in life-for keeping his mouth shut. This is important. People should talking about and investigating this.
SPOILERS ahead.
This book was devastating to read. The author describes exactly how and why he was able to be chosen for grooming and induction into this secret child rape "society". He writes this memoir as though he enjoyed what happened to him, but I believe his insistence on making sure the reader KNOWS he is extremely under aged is designed to spark serious investigation of his story. Because this is VERY likely still happening to children in British schools if his story is true. Also, he lays out quite clearly the threats they make should he EVER in his life tell ANYONE about EROS, the sex slave society that is pulling slaves from British boarding schools. Again, he has made these allegations and therefore we must take them seriously. I'm sure he wants it to STOP or he could have easily changed everyone's age and had the sex start AFTER he legally came of age in Great Britain, where the sex crimes start.
Foong has EVERY right to remember his life the way he wants. If he is proud of it, that is fine by me and I am happy for him that he is so strong. However, I sincerely hope this book is in the hands of Scotland Yard investigators and that they are taking Foong every bit as seriously as they did Jimmy Seville's victims. Foong is a child sex-trafficking victim and a BRITISH BOARDING SCHOOL selected him through a process they institutionalized and then groomed him with the aid of other sex-trafficking victims both grown and near Foong's age. They then LIED to his parents and sent him overseas to be enslaved and repeatedly gang raped as a twelve year old. The only way you can NOT be horrified reading this book is you either don't believe Foong AND enjoy kiddie porn, OR you style yourself a cultural relativist and assert that we can't judge other cultures while ALSO enjoying kiddie porn. Or you really haven't exercised those reading muscles in a while and don't realize you are reading kiddie porn. I had to go back several times to re-read the part where he establishes his age at the time he arrives at boarding school. His grooming begins THAT NIGHT. Rape happens on a British boarding school campus almost immediately and he is sent off to UAE that year or the year after.
He NEVER mentions his age when describing his gang rapes in graphic, yet romantic, detail. But there is no way to overlook that he is WAYYYYY underage when all this is occurring. You know, if you actually read his book and don't just skim to the "naughty" parts. Despite his glowing account of how this aided him in life, his insistence of detailing his early life with his mother establishes the boy that was victimized. It establishes the damage done when later he states his experiences left him unable to relate to both his own Malaysian culture and his own generation, due to the gravity of his experiences. That should settle it for all the cultural relativists reviewing this book as just a sexy coming of age memoir. It would be that if his sexual experiences had been just with boys his own age, but his British boarding school made sure it did NOT. Again, for those still with the other glowing reviews in mind, and coming to this book as I did, through LGBT Romance lists, this book has nothing to do with a positive portrayal of homosexuality and everything to do with pedophiles and how they exploit their victims. By the way, he is careful to note there is a 'sister' British boarding school that is secretly run by the same criminal organization. It is not just about exploiting gay children. I think I am too upset to continue writing, so let me end with this:
This book is a MUST-read, for investigators and for those strong enough to bear witness to Foong's suffering so we can take action and be of aid to all victims. Read it, and then make sure Scotland Yard knows about it.
#MeToo
October 18, 2014
"Initiation (A Harem Boy's Saga Book 1)" by Bernard Foong Young is an amazing memoir revealing quite a remarkable life story. The author shares with great honesty and openess the story of his privileged, yet complicated upbringing as atypical boy in Kuala Lumpur, London and the UNited Arab Emirates. His infatuation with sewing, fashion and men and how his first encounters with the same sex played out for him.
For me, a European, the insights into Far Eastern and Middle Eastern culture were fascinating, as is the story of the secret society that the author had the opportunity to get involved with.
The consensual relationships he got into at a young age, his experience of guidance and sexual pleasure are written with thoughtful reflection and youthful honesty.
The writing is erotic and explicit at times but those scenes are important to understand the personal development the author went through and the nature of said society.
A book that I found hard to put down. Very recommendable.
For me, a European, the insights into Far Eastern and Middle Eastern culture were fascinating, as is the story of the secret society that the author had the opportunity to get involved with.
The consensual relationships he got into at a young age, his experience of guidance and sexual pleasure are written with thoughtful reflection and youthful honesty.
The writing is erotic and explicit at times but those scenes are important to understand the personal development the author went through and the nature of said society.
A book that I found hard to put down. Very recommendable.
April 4, 2017
Amazing
I understand how a series of seemingly unrelated events can make tremendous changes in you life, your self esteem, and your fortune, as I have experienced way more than I should have and traveled a lot to see places and people outside my limited home life. So I can understand unbelievable opportunities exist when the right people back you. So I feel that significant portions of this story are factual based on the journal that Yoong kept, and the conversations are generally accurate as remembered. There were enough strange things happening during this time frame that it is possible the secret society existed. But it comes down by to what you want to believe about this book. Perhaps the next four books will clarify the situations and events described.
I understand how a series of seemingly unrelated events can make tremendous changes in you life, your self esteem, and your fortune, as I have experienced way more than I should have and traveled a lot to see places and people outside my limited home life. So I can understand unbelievable opportunities exist when the right people back you. So I feel that significant portions of this story are factual based on the journal that Yoong kept, and the conversations are generally accurate as remembered. There were enough strange things happening during this time frame that it is possible the secret society existed. But it comes down by to what you want to believe about this book. Perhaps the next four books will clarify the situations and events described.
July 8, 2015
This is my second book by Young, and I enjoyed this book even more than I enjoyed the first book, if that is at all possible. As a heterosexual female, I’ve never delved into the life of a homosexual male or female. I went about my business and thought, as Young said, live and let live; however, Young brought home to me, on a very personal level, the life of a gay young man, from childhood to adult. The story had an emotional impact on me that was profound and the way the author presented the information with bare-bone honesty, no sugar-coating, made his experiences powerfully real to me.
August 15, 2015
I'm not going to lie- I downloaded this hoping for some romantic yet titilating prose. There were hints of it but it wasn't really what I was looking for or appreciate in a book at the moment.
Just not my thing. Sorry.
Just not my thing. Sorry.
May 28, 2021
There are elements to this work that are incredibly important for society to see and understand. Notably Americans, where the war on sex has been ongoing since the 1950's, could benefit from an anthropological awakening. What, exactly, does that mean? When I read reviews prior to choosing this book, I found American's applying our incredibly limited world-view onto this work. They labeled it as sinful; as demeaning; as 'grooming' and abuse. What really happens is the author takes us into a series of cultures that challenge the American view that sex is bad, and gay sex is especially bad. He tells of his homo-sexual awakening at a young age. Then he dives into an array of sexual activities and defends his choices to do so against expected objection.
That said, this work is not the best way into an American awakening. The author could have benefited from a competent Developmental Editor. There was obviously a Line Editor in that there are incredibly few spelling and grammatical errors. But. The story itself does not deliver on the promises made to a potential buyer. First promise is in the cover: an attractive young man is shown next to an attractive not-as-young man. Both are scantily clad, offering promise of some sexual fun to be found inside. Next is the title which specifically included "A Harem Boy's Saga." This most definitely builds on the promise offered in the cover image. Not delivered. While there was sex, between two guys; between three guys; between men and women; in fact a good deal of sex was mentioned. The problem was that the sex scenes were all clinical descriptions and not at all in line with the promise made by the cover and the description.
There was a huge issue with the way the book was organized. It was hell wading through multiple opening chapters that ended up having so little to do with the overall plot that this reader almost gave up by Chapter Five. I should have. There's nothing within that's worth the suffering of reading poorly composed script. Not enough compelling story. Not enough titillation. Not enough of anything, really.
There are other books in this series. I won't be reading them. I'll continue my search for good literature that explores human sexuality that goes beyond our current, puritanical, views and hope that not too many others will be drawn in by this particular misleading work.
That said, this work is not the best way into an American awakening. The author could have benefited from a competent Developmental Editor. There was obviously a Line Editor in that there are incredibly few spelling and grammatical errors. But. The story itself does not deliver on the promises made to a potential buyer. First promise is in the cover: an attractive young man is shown next to an attractive not-as-young man. Both are scantily clad, offering promise of some sexual fun to be found inside. Next is the title which specifically included "A Harem Boy's Saga." This most definitely builds on the promise offered in the cover image. Not delivered. While there was sex, between two guys; between three guys; between men and women; in fact a good deal of sex was mentioned. The problem was that the sex scenes were all clinical descriptions and not at all in line with the promise made by the cover and the description.
There was a huge issue with the way the book was organized. It was hell wading through multiple opening chapters that ended up having so little to do with the overall plot that this reader almost gave up by Chapter Five. I should have. There's nothing within that's worth the suffering of reading poorly composed script. Not enough compelling story. Not enough titillation. Not enough of anything, really.
There are other books in this series. I won't be reading them. I'll continue my search for good literature that explores human sexuality that goes beyond our current, puritanical, views and hope that not too many others will be drawn in by this particular misleading work.
October 8, 2024
Young: A Harem Boy Saga by Bernard Tristan Foong
A Book Review by AZP
October 2024
A fascinating memoir book!
Yuong is a brave, human individual. He is very accepting of exploring, to feel and to learn all the joy and sorrow his journey has to bring from his childhood up to his young adult phase. In this book, he is shaping his identity amidst and against the expectations of his father and his origin culture until his ‘freedom’ during his education at Daltonbury Hall, England and his exposures at the harems in Arab countries. He is discovering his own passion and dream of what is to become of him as a person in this world and Young is fighting and prevailing the odds it entailed in his own capable way.
At the core of Young’s journey and success in life are his self-sincerity, dedication and his acceptance of discovery: on finding communities to accept him as a gay person; of going through the feeling of being in love and discovering what is love; of exploring his sexual connections and discovering sensual pleasures; of forging friendships and gaining support among his mentors and guardians from Daltonbury Hall, his exposure, life learnings, love and friendship on Arab culture and its harems; and his mother's unconditional love, his origin country's realities and his nurturing friendship with his guardian and foster parent during his schooling years in London, all of the above, molded him to be an empathetic, grateful and compassionate, broadminded human being even at a young age.
My acquired insight about Young’s life and exposure to harems and sexual encounters during his minor years, facilitated by a school institution through observing an individual’s openness, consent and free will, brings me to ponder that the world now and the world then in the 60s are two different worlds, with different sets of values and thinking, how things are viewed and how things are being taken in and that cultures and thoughts in certain space and time, differed and relative.
The narratives are sincerely written and heart-touching! I am humbled reading as I learnt a lot. Praise to this book and the author Bernard Foong!
A Book Review by AZP
October 2024
A fascinating memoir book!
Yuong is a brave, human individual. He is very accepting of exploring, to feel and to learn all the joy and sorrow his journey has to bring from his childhood up to his young adult phase. In this book, he is shaping his identity amidst and against the expectations of his father and his origin culture until his ‘freedom’ during his education at Daltonbury Hall, England and his exposures at the harems in Arab countries. He is discovering his own passion and dream of what is to become of him as a person in this world and Young is fighting and prevailing the odds it entailed in his own capable way.
At the core of Young’s journey and success in life are his self-sincerity, dedication and his acceptance of discovery: on finding communities to accept him as a gay person; of going through the feeling of being in love and discovering what is love; of exploring his sexual connections and discovering sensual pleasures; of forging friendships and gaining support among his mentors and guardians from Daltonbury Hall, his exposure, life learnings, love and friendship on Arab culture and its harems; and his mother's unconditional love, his origin country's realities and his nurturing friendship with his guardian and foster parent during his schooling years in London, all of the above, molded him to be an empathetic, grateful and compassionate, broadminded human being even at a young age.
My acquired insight about Young’s life and exposure to harems and sexual encounters during his minor years, facilitated by a school institution through observing an individual’s openness, consent and free will, brings me to ponder that the world now and the world then in the 60s are two different worlds, with different sets of values and thinking, how things are viewed and how things are being taken in and that cultures and thoughts in certain space and time, differed and relative.
The narratives are sincerely written and heart-touching! I am humbled reading as I learnt a lot. Praise to this book and the author Bernard Foong!
April 27, 2019
I have always avoided erotica but this book is more than that, as it reveals the illegal activities of the filthy-rich and the powerful people who were in cahoots with the school authorities and could manipulate them to groom and procure young, innocent boys for their carnal pleasures. Initiation (A Harem Boy Saga #1) by Young tells the true story of a boy who was sent to a boarding school in U.K. by his parents but who was initiated into an “exclusive private club” under oath of confidentially and a pledge of allegiance that he wouldn’t reveal his new life to anyone (even to his family). He was transported to a secret place in the name of “cultural exchanges.”
Upbringing definitely shapes, as children are like clay that can be molded the way the mentors want and teenagers are most vulnerable, eager to learn and experience the ultimate. “It was not a road for the faint of heart”, says Young, a subtle hint that there must have been gloomy moments but he has mentioned only the positive aspects of his adolescent years that he spent in Arabian harems. Probably he was too young to understand that it is not “a privilege” to experience three way liaison and to gather knowledge about carnal desires. It is ironic that the topic of poetry reading contest at Sahara festival of Douz was “Our Youth and the Inculcation of National Values”!
Calling pornography artistic and “sacred sex,” trying to convince a 13 year old boy to model for nude shoots in erotic poses, by calling him spontaneous and passionate, pushing young boys into camel racing without their consent, blindfolding them whenever they were taken from one place to another is outrageous. This book is hauntingly disturbing, as the honest details raise many questions about the hypocrisy of humanity, it is an eye-opener that even those who claim to build the future of a child by providing quality education through so called elite schools could be deviating from their path. If you are unaware of such clandestine connivance, you must read this book.
Upbringing definitely shapes, as children are like clay that can be molded the way the mentors want and teenagers are most vulnerable, eager to learn and experience the ultimate. “It was not a road for the faint of heart”, says Young, a subtle hint that there must have been gloomy moments but he has mentioned only the positive aspects of his adolescent years that he spent in Arabian harems. Probably he was too young to understand that it is not “a privilege” to experience three way liaison and to gather knowledge about carnal desires. It is ironic that the topic of poetry reading contest at Sahara festival of Douz was “Our Youth and the Inculcation of National Values”!
Calling pornography artistic and “sacred sex,” trying to convince a 13 year old boy to model for nude shoots in erotic poses, by calling him spontaneous and passionate, pushing young boys into camel racing without their consent, blindfolding them whenever they were taken from one place to another is outrageous. This book is hauntingly disturbing, as the honest details raise many questions about the hypocrisy of humanity, it is an eye-opener that even those who claim to build the future of a child by providing quality education through so called elite schools could be deviating from their path. If you are unaware of such clandestine connivance, you must read this book.
May 5, 2021
I first became acquainted with Young online through a chat channel. I was fascinated by his remarkable story. To be introduced into the middle eastern world at such a young age, is appalling to western culture, but not, as he tells the story, uncommon. But there is far more to the memoir of Young's life than just the sexual world of middle eastern wealth. Raised by parents who were as different as possible--a father who rejected his son's feminine tendencies, a mother who desperately wanted a daughter. From there, the changes over time slowly begin to form. By the time he is 12, Young has an eye for fashion, art, and little talent in sports. Totally rejected by his father, who carries on an affair openly, and who believes his wealth can make others do exactly as he desires, the father and son grow miles apart while the mother becomes his support system. Sent off to a school in England, it is the first time Young has experienced life outside of Kuala Lumpur. At an all boys school where there is the acceptance and expectation of sexual experimentation with each other, Young begins to confirm what he has always felt deep inside, that he is gay. In his memoir he tells the story of this exploration, his relationships and his joining of a secret institutional society called E.R.O.S. where he agrees to go into the harem of a middle eastern family. The book is not totally about sex, although there is a good bit of that involved, and sometimes a bit graphic; but tells of the learning curve he experienced in the middle east and how he came to be in the fashion designer world. The story begins in the 1950s and this book will take you to the late and early 70s. It is riveting reading, written in one of the sweetest voices I've encountered in memoir writing. I felt as though I had known Young for years.
September 20, 2019
This was an extraordinary and fascinating read! It was indeed a veritable erotic read. I would like not to comment on all the erotic parts of this book, especially as I regard sex as something private and not to be so openly discussed or thrown at people’s face. Having said this, I would go into the beauty of the story surrounding the sexual escapades.
This young boy of fourteen was exposed to the most secret experiences and practices that I never knew existed. The life in a Harem. Coming from a predominantly Moslem country, myself, I never knew anything about the double standard of the sex lives of the men and women in the Moslem world. This book was an eye-opener.
Because this young man offered himself to this way of life, I would have considered his experiences nothing short of child abuse. But he chose it, lived it and enjoyed it.
The life itself afforded him the chance of an extraordinary life and experiences. He got to travel and see places he would never have seen or experienced. He got to meet people he would not have met or interacted with. He got to learn things and live the life that seemed to be parallel to life as we know it. I was awed at what this child of fourteen had to learn and remember. His descriptive sense was superb. He told his story as if he was reliving it.
Without the explicit sex in the book, this was a great, informative and very interesting read. The formatting was off here and there, and I also found a couple of editing issues. Otherwise, this was indeed a great read.
June 22, 2017
From the age of 6, he knew what he desired to do with his life. He wanted to be a fashion designer. Opportunities manifested to help him learn a variety of skills which would further aid him to achieve this goal. For him, talking fashion was a way for him to bond with a wide range of people. Who knew his love of fashion would unlock even more doors.
I won’t mention Yoong’s father for he was unaccepting of his son’s choices and therefore provides little to no positive reflection from my standpoint. Even though he occasionally took advantage of his son’s skills, he continually signed him up for classes such as karate and judo. How else was he to turn his effeminate son into a manly man?
I admire the young Malayan’s outlook on life. He was respectful of others; often asking others for advice. He was fearless, even when he wasn’t. He was dedicated; working hard to master each skill he set out to learn. He was open to adventure; he looked inward and allowed his heart to direct him towards his destination. Yoong accepted and cherished each opportunity as a stepping stone towards his dream.
From this memoir, I learned intimacy can be so much greater than just sex. Yes, I skimmed over much of the physical interactions (sorry), but it was so much more than that. When actions and gestures come straight from the heart, the effect of loving can be limitless.
I won’t mention Yoong’s father for he was unaccepting of his son’s choices and therefore provides little to no positive reflection from my standpoint. Even though he occasionally took advantage of his son’s skills, he continually signed him up for classes such as karate and judo. How else was he to turn his effeminate son into a manly man?
I admire the young Malayan’s outlook on life. He was respectful of others; often asking others for advice. He was fearless, even when he wasn’t. He was dedicated; working hard to master each skill he set out to learn. He was open to adventure; he looked inward and allowed his heart to direct him towards his destination. Yoong accepted and cherished each opportunity as a stepping stone towards his dream.
From this memoir, I learned intimacy can be so much greater than just sex. Yes, I skimmed over much of the physical interactions (sorry), but it was so much more than that. When actions and gestures come straight from the heart, the effect of loving can be limitless.
November 16, 2021
"A Harem Boy's Saga," by Young (also known as Bernard Tristan Foong) is a memoir about a young Malaysian boy, who becomes accomplished in fashion, design, and in pleasing men sexually.
The first book in this memoir is titled "Initiation: Book I." It was amazing to read about other cultures: Asian, Middle Eastern, French, Italian, etc.
It was fascinating to read about Young's early experiences with his parents and brothers in Malaysia, his higher education in England, his studies abroad in the Middle East, Italy, France, and in other places.
Although I AM certainly no prude, I enjoyed learning about Young, about his challenges and triumphs, about the men he loved and the men who loved him, about his excitement and passion for fashion and design, about his immense, immeasurable gratitude for his family in Malaysia, for his teachers in both high school and university, for the kindness of friends, lovers and strangers, etc.
Recently, I stated that I do not read enough LGBTQIAPlus Literature, and I have begun changing that, and happily so.
Needless to say, I look forward to reading "A Harem's Boy Saga: Book II: Unbridled."
The first book in this memoir is titled "Initiation: Book I." It was amazing to read about other cultures: Asian, Middle Eastern, French, Italian, etc.
It was fascinating to read about Young's early experiences with his parents and brothers in Malaysia, his higher education in England, his studies abroad in the Middle East, Italy, France, and in other places.
Although I AM certainly no prude, I enjoyed learning about Young, about his challenges and triumphs, about the men he loved and the men who loved him, about his excitement and passion for fashion and design, about his immense, immeasurable gratitude for his family in Malaysia, for his teachers in both high school and university, for the kindness of friends, lovers and strangers, etc.
Recently, I stated that I do not read enough LGBTQIAPlus Literature, and I have begun changing that, and happily so.
Needless to say, I look forward to reading "A Harem's Boy Saga: Book II: Unbridled."
February 3, 2019
A beautiful story about survival and coming of age
Young takes us into a forbidden world that many could not possibly understand. The life Young endured and experienced is beyond survival. He brings us into a world, and teaches us cultural acceptance as well as self acceptance. The concept of being a Harem boy is not as uncommon as we think, living in "western society". There is much we can learn from others even if it causes us social and cultural dissonance. The world is much different then most people in Western Society can truly understand. Beautiful book, and beautiful series.
Young takes us into a forbidden world that many could not possibly understand. The life Young endured and experienced is beyond survival. He brings us into a world, and teaches us cultural acceptance as well as self acceptance. The concept of being a Harem boy is not as uncommon as we think, living in "western society". There is much we can learn from others even if it causes us social and cultural dissonance. The world is much different then most people in Western Society can truly understand. Beautiful book, and beautiful series.
August 7, 2020
This memoir is a detailed recollection of the early life of a boy. Adored by his mother, but never accepted by his father, Young is thrust into a seldom discussed environment, where he is schooled in the art of entertainment for the rich. In that underground world, he is taught the intricate details of physical relationships, both as a pass time and as an expression of love. A slow moving story, “Initiation” introduces an unusual way of life that is seldom openly discussed. Initiation is a well-written book, and the author succeeded with his description of the emotions and confusion of a child as he becomes a young man, who finds himself and his identity.
June 13, 2020
A young boy's introduction to sexuality
Yoong's (Young) memoir of his early years up until his adolescence is a striking story of how a young Chinese boy from a wealthy, privileged family in Kuala Lumpur, Malaya grew to become part of a secret society. This secret society introduced young boys to a sexuality that emphasized love, compassion, honesty and happiness.
Beautifully written, it is tender and touching.
Yoong's (Young) memoir of his early years up until his adolescence is a striking story of how a young Chinese boy from a wealthy, privileged family in Kuala Lumpur, Malaya grew to become part of a secret society. This secret society introduced young boys to a sexuality that emphasized love, compassion, honesty and happiness.
Beautifully written, it is tender and touching.
June 21, 2019
The author opens up a whole new world to the reader. It is quite graphic and for me it was difficult to read the explicit sexual acts so frequently. The story of Mr. Young's life is fascinating and I am glad that he has written about it. A few areas that need editing.
July 6, 2020
Just no
10% in and we’re still talking about way early childhood like this is an autobiography. Pages of shopping and purchases. Just a very bad slow uninvigorating read. Don’t waste your time time
10% in and we’re still talking about way early childhood like this is an autobiography. Pages of shopping and purchases. Just a very bad slow uninvigorating read. Don’t waste your time time
Read
August 21, 2022OMG. DNF about halfway through. That is time I will never get back. Please grab a barf bag before you start reading this. I told you so.
January 26, 2023
You'll find a full review of “Initiaion” at my web site.
April 24, 2015
As Bernard Foong says about his induction into a secret sexual society as a young boy, it was not slavery. Instead it was a lavish experience that made Young the man he became - of which gentleness and humility are both a part. As he quotes the word of Jesus of Nazareth, let alone those who are unblemished cast the first stone at the the sinner. It leaves us with one question, “What is sin?”
When a university prices itself permanently out of reach of most aspiring candidates, is that sin? Or is a candidate who pays for it with money earned in a flesh trade the real sinner? Is sin, then, simply a matter of good marketing and effective social integration - those that make it and hide all else can have a dignity while the rest must bow down for not having followed an invisible book established in our minds, and changing from generation to generation? Or can there be some degree of allowance and patience we can afford towards someone who is trying to speak his heart out? For he has not killed, nor has he intended to hurt anyone. And that’s more than most of us can say of the famed Kings and warriors of old with causes deemed more noble. That’s more than most of us can say for ourselves.
Young addresses himself as a sissy boy very early in the story, for he does not subscribe to traditional male roles. If sissy implies a drift from manliness in its generic version, then perhaps Young stands corrected. After all, to face, accept and be at peace with a life such as his requires strength. That’s far cry from any form of sissiness. For, to be a man requires not a constant expression of being strict - that is often used as a show designed to justify one’s manliness when his inner character and its insecurities cannot. To be a man is to harbour the strength it takes to endure, to comply with what’s required, and to face facts - a judgement that cannot and should not get influenced by what other men believe.
“Initiation” is filled with moments - most of which you have to read to believe - that I find myself in a great degree of disagreement with, starting with the very existence of sexual clubs run by a society that otherwise thwarts it in principle. As the author notes, “This game, played behind closed doors by the rich and the powerful, is as old as time. Many believe it has become extinct, but it will always be there, morphing to accommodate or avoid the standards of the day, sometimes going underground.” The protagonist joins it willingly and for the most part, happily treads as far as it takes him. But how many schools and how many such secret societies around the world can guarantee that about the recruited? Perhaps all said and done, I am simply not open-minded enough to be comfortable around expressions of homosexuality. That, however, is not a pre-requisite to respect and grasp the lesson Young is trying to deliver. For, there is one aspect of this book that cannot be denied - it makes peace where most fail to.
Bernard’s writing helps this story as he does not shy away. And the words remain simplistic, affirming that he only intends to tell a tale - his own. As Young’s Uncle James tells him, “Eventually, we are bound to outgrow our roots, and become our own person.” So read this book if you have had little guilts hidden away in life’s closet. Read it if you are strong enough to not judge, to accept the reality of our world as it is and to still care.
When a university prices itself permanently out of reach of most aspiring candidates, is that sin? Or is a candidate who pays for it with money earned in a flesh trade the real sinner? Is sin, then, simply a matter of good marketing and effective social integration - those that make it and hide all else can have a dignity while the rest must bow down for not having followed an invisible book established in our minds, and changing from generation to generation? Or can there be some degree of allowance and patience we can afford towards someone who is trying to speak his heart out? For he has not killed, nor has he intended to hurt anyone. And that’s more than most of us can say of the famed Kings and warriors of old with causes deemed more noble. That’s more than most of us can say for ourselves.
Young addresses himself as a sissy boy very early in the story, for he does not subscribe to traditional male roles. If sissy implies a drift from manliness in its generic version, then perhaps Young stands corrected. After all, to face, accept and be at peace with a life such as his requires strength. That’s far cry from any form of sissiness. For, to be a man requires not a constant expression of being strict - that is often used as a show designed to justify one’s manliness when his inner character and its insecurities cannot. To be a man is to harbour the strength it takes to endure, to comply with what’s required, and to face facts - a judgement that cannot and should not get influenced by what other men believe.
“Initiation” is filled with moments - most of which you have to read to believe - that I find myself in a great degree of disagreement with, starting with the very existence of sexual clubs run by a society that otherwise thwarts it in principle. As the author notes, “This game, played behind closed doors by the rich and the powerful, is as old as time. Many believe it has become extinct, but it will always be there, morphing to accommodate or avoid the standards of the day, sometimes going underground.” The protagonist joins it willingly and for the most part, happily treads as far as it takes him. But how many schools and how many such secret societies around the world can guarantee that about the recruited? Perhaps all said and done, I am simply not open-minded enough to be comfortable around expressions of homosexuality. That, however, is not a pre-requisite to respect and grasp the lesson Young is trying to deliver. For, there is one aspect of this book that cannot be denied - it makes peace where most fail to.
Bernard’s writing helps this story as he does not shy away. And the words remain simplistic, affirming that he only intends to tell a tale - his own. As Young’s Uncle James tells him, “Eventually, we are bound to outgrow our roots, and become our own person.” So read this book if you have had little guilts hidden away in life’s closet. Read it if you are strong enough to not judge, to accept the reality of our world as it is and to still care.
October 13, 2015
Not your typical LBGT:
I received this novel for an honest review. I should start out by saying that I don’t usually read these books and therefore have no basis on what to rank it with its kind. Having said that, this is not that bad of a story. It is a memoir to tell the truth.
Although it is a memoir and depicts the truth, the thing that made it a hard read for me wasn’t the homosexuality of the story, but the writing style. I don’t know if it was because of the language barrier or not, but it is the thing that hurt the story the most. There were more than a couple of instances that I struggled to get through the story.
Speaking of the story, it is a tale of a boy who was raised by the loving care of his mother who treated him as a girl. He grew up loving girly things and once he found the opportunity to be a “sissy boy” (in his words) he jumped at it. He was taught a different lifestyle than most people, one that he loved very well.
Even if the story wasn’t a true story, it still would have made for a good story. Like I said before, it was just the fact that several times it was hard for me to get through parts of it due to the writing.
4/5
That’s it for me folks. Go check out this sites, and don’t forget to check out my book A Family Affair. I have added the sites to the bottom of the page.
Twitter: @TimYingling
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timyinglinga...
Publisher: www.solsticepublishing.com
A Family Affair sites:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1COZHPb
Solstice: http://bit.ly/1J7OXfZ
CreateSpace: http://bit.ly/1HrsQvz
I received this novel for an honest review. I should start out by saying that I don’t usually read these books and therefore have no basis on what to rank it with its kind. Having said that, this is not that bad of a story. It is a memoir to tell the truth.
Although it is a memoir and depicts the truth, the thing that made it a hard read for me wasn’t the homosexuality of the story, but the writing style. I don’t know if it was because of the language barrier or not, but it is the thing that hurt the story the most. There were more than a couple of instances that I struggled to get through the story.
Speaking of the story, it is a tale of a boy who was raised by the loving care of his mother who treated him as a girl. He grew up loving girly things and once he found the opportunity to be a “sissy boy” (in his words) he jumped at it. He was taught a different lifestyle than most people, one that he loved very well.
Even if the story wasn’t a true story, it still would have made for a good story. Like I said before, it was just the fact that several times it was hard for me to get through parts of it due to the writing.
4/5
That’s it for me folks. Go check out this sites, and don’t forget to check out my book A Family Affair. I have added the sites to the bottom of the page.
Twitter: @TimYingling
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/timyinglinga...
Publisher: www.solsticepublishing.com
A Family Affair sites:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1COZHPb
Solstice: http://bit.ly/1J7OXfZ
CreateSpace: http://bit.ly/1HrsQvz
December 8, 2014
Where to begin? Seldom am I at a loss for words, but this book, an autobiography, not a work of fiction, has left me speechless and deeply moved. I know Young's intention is to educate the world about a lifestyle which he considers a blessing, but to me, he has done much more than that. We all hear the nature versus nurture argument, and I've wondered how much it actually does affect a person's sexual and emotional development. Parental love and approval play a huge role in a child's development, and my heart went out to the boy. Even before he was conceived, his fate was written in the stars. While I found parts of the book deeply disturbing, I couldn't put it down. It was an eye-opening, jaw-dropping look at a culture I never even suspected existed, written 9in simple, easy to follow prose. Well done.
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