What do you think?
Rate this book
My Driver Tulong
The author, M P Joseph, a Civil Servant from the distant Indian state of Kerala spent many delightful years in Cambodia working for the UN when the country had just morphed from a war-torn Communist moth into a fascinating free market butterfly.
Through mesmerizing characters who personify the ancient soul of Cambodia and epitomize its modernizing mind, the author conjures up a vision of contemporary Cambodia and its people. Their lives and loves, their joys and tribulations, their hopes and their anguish, and most of all their innocence is captured in these delightfully inter-connected stories. The characters come alive to etch a never-before known Cambodia.
Written with a Maughamian touch, the book delves deep into the soul of Cambodia, a soul moulded by the ancient culture of Angkor and shaped by the more recent excesses of Pol Pot.
The fortitude of its people, their pluck and their courage in the face of adversities, their survival skills, as well as Cambodia’s Indian past - both Hindu and Buddhist - and its present Indo-Chinese zest are woven seamlessly into the stories.
The book is an amusing essay into the modern soul of this ancient land. Now populated by a GenNext, who cannot yet forget their chilling past, the book is a journey into the heart of its people. A heart of innocence.
The author’s Valentinian love for Cambodia, his honed observation and delightful humour makes this fictional stretched-travelogue a genre apart.
A must read for everyone - whether a traveller or not – interested in South East Asia, Indo-China or Cambodia.
Through mesmerizing characters who personify the ancient soul of Cambodia and epitomize its modernizing mind, the author conjures up a vision of contemporary Cambodia and its people. Their lives and loves, their joys and tribulations, their hopes and their anguish, and most of all their innocence is captured in these delightfully inter-connected stories. The characters come alive to etch a never-before known Cambodia.
Written with a Maughamian touch, the book delves deep into the soul of Cambodia, a soul moulded by the ancient culture of Angkor and shaped by the more recent excesses of Pol Pot.
The fortitude of its people, their pluck and their courage in the face of adversities, their survival skills, as well as Cambodia’s Indian past - both Hindu and Buddhist - and its present Indo-Chinese zest are woven seamlessly into the stories.
The book is an amusing essay into the modern soul of this ancient land. Now populated by a GenNext, who cannot yet forget their chilling past, the book is a journey into the heart of its people. A heart of innocence.
The author’s Valentinian love for Cambodia, his honed observation and delightful humour makes this fictional stretched-travelogue a genre apart.
A must read for everyone - whether a traveller or not – interested in South East Asia, Indo-China or Cambodia.
332 pages, Paperback
Published February 20, 2017
2 people are currently reading
199 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
July 6, 2017
In “My Driver Tulong” which I won through Goodreads Giveaways M.P. Joseph takes the reader on a memorable journey to Cambodia, blending his personal experiences and travels into a fictional story that begins when a Civil Servant in the Indian State of Kerala is assigned to the International Toilers’ Organization (ITO), a branch of the UN in Cambodia; a land that rose from the ashes and bloodshed of the Khmer Rouge killing machine into a prosperous industrial nation. In a story that blends humorous anecdotes from M.P. Joseph’s time in contemporary Cambodia with the heartbreak of a terrifying episode in their history the reader glimpses a nation of resilient and courageous survivors who want to forget their chilling past as they work towards a bright future.
Told in a first-person narrative the story is set in the contemporary city of Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia where M.P. Joseph (a character with the same name as the author) is sent on assignment for a year, only to stay for over seven years. A land struggling under the shadow of the 1970’s reign of the terror, brutality and bloody killings of the Communist Khmer Rouge, for years it had to deal with the political turmoil of switched allegiances and the fear of a land grab by neighboring countries.
Skilfully structured the author brings to life the land, language and people of Cambodia with their diversity of religion and ethnicity in a novel that’s far more than a travel log as M.P. Joseph interacts with some very colourful characters starting with his driver Tulong. In short tales that show this character’s loyalty, protection, and devotion to his boss as well as his interaction with the police, you are drawn to a figure representative of those who survived the suffering and pain of the Khmer Rouge becoming GenNext, resourceful, stoic, patient and committed.
Masterfully the author creates characters that epitomize the “lives and hopes, joys and tribulations, anguish and innocence” of the people like Lin Lin Sim whose shining hope for her future is crushed by a tragic encounter, her dreams and ambition lost. Personalities like M.P.’s impressionable young cook Dam, his friend Goswami, the Tamil Sri Lankan Rajah Curry restaurant owner and conspirator, the refugee Lucki Pushkaran who struggles to emulate the success of his namesake, Hun Vathana, the Fixer add their mesmerizing stories to the colourful tapestry that’s Cambodia.
I thoroughly enjoyed “My Driver Tulong” filled with M.P. Joseph’s humor and insights as he writes about Cambodia, a land he loves.
Told in a first-person narrative the story is set in the contemporary city of Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia where M.P. Joseph (a character with the same name as the author) is sent on assignment for a year, only to stay for over seven years. A land struggling under the shadow of the 1970’s reign of the terror, brutality and bloody killings of the Communist Khmer Rouge, for years it had to deal with the political turmoil of switched allegiances and the fear of a land grab by neighboring countries.
Skilfully structured the author brings to life the land, language and people of Cambodia with their diversity of religion and ethnicity in a novel that’s far more than a travel log as M.P. Joseph interacts with some very colourful characters starting with his driver Tulong. In short tales that show this character’s loyalty, protection, and devotion to his boss as well as his interaction with the police, you are drawn to a figure representative of those who survived the suffering and pain of the Khmer Rouge becoming GenNext, resourceful, stoic, patient and committed.
Masterfully the author creates characters that epitomize the “lives and hopes, joys and tribulations, anguish and innocence” of the people like Lin Lin Sim whose shining hope for her future is crushed by a tragic encounter, her dreams and ambition lost. Personalities like M.P.’s impressionable young cook Dam, his friend Goswami, the Tamil Sri Lankan Rajah Curry restaurant owner and conspirator, the refugee Lucki Pushkaran who struggles to emulate the success of his namesake, Hun Vathana, the Fixer add their mesmerizing stories to the colourful tapestry that’s Cambodia.
I thoroughly enjoyed “My Driver Tulong” filled with M.P. Joseph’s humor and insights as he writes about Cambodia, a land he loves.
August 13, 2018
Wherever you go in the world, you will find that the concerns of the people remain the same. And some fine and intimately personal stories are told here. Joseph’s book is one of the best travelogue sort of book that I have read in some time. Written from the heart, My Driver Tulong and other stories give us a glimpse of Cambodia’s rustic life as well as its more sophisticated urban culture.
The reader is instantly drawn to characters like our narrator, Tulong, Damu, and the restaurant owner. Above all we are intrigued by the narrator, a person falling in love with everything around him and at the same time getting exasperated by it all. Joseph’s excellent character development makes us feel for these people and their lives by the end of the book. It makes us care about what happens to them. His description of the places and the political background of the country is another plus point. Very apt reading!
This is a book that has been written with a lot of passion. You should definitely read it.
The reader is instantly drawn to characters like our narrator, Tulong, Damu, and the restaurant owner. Above all we are intrigued by the narrator, a person falling in love with everything around him and at the same time getting exasperated by it all. Joseph’s excellent character development makes us feel for these people and their lives by the end of the book. It makes us care about what happens to them. His description of the places and the political background of the country is another plus point. Very apt reading!
This is a book that has been written with a lot of passion. You should definitely read it.
August 1, 2018
Awesome
I was not able to put this book down after I began reading it.
Sorry to start off with a cheesy and clichéd line like this. But My Driver Tulong was full of love, joy and life centered around a bunch of memorable characters. We can all learn some important life lessons from them. The short stories had a wonderful thread of positivity and were filled with memorable characters. They came with all the flaws a human could possibly have.
I don’t know which book I should compare this to. I can’t think of any at the moment. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to live life vicariously through the books they are reading.
It was witty and dramatic, and the shenanigans that happen in the lives of these characters will stay with you for long.
An interesting story and great character development.
I was not able to put this book down after I began reading it.
Sorry to start off with a cheesy and clichéd line like this. But My Driver Tulong was full of love, joy and life centered around a bunch of memorable characters. We can all learn some important life lessons from them. The short stories had a wonderful thread of positivity and were filled with memorable characters. They came with all the flaws a human could possibly have.
I don’t know which book I should compare this to. I can’t think of any at the moment. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to live life vicariously through the books they are reading.
It was witty and dramatic, and the shenanigans that happen in the lives of these characters will stay with you for long.
An interesting story and great character development.
September 9, 2018
The book deserves all the praise it has received from fellow reviewers. All praise Mr. Joseph! This is such a feel good book. What fantastic people, what fantastic scenes and situations. Start reading this and you will want to know more about what’s happening in the world of these fantastic characters. As the story progresses you will get immersed in their lives and you will feel like you are a part of the narrator’s life in Cambodia. The characters make a strong connection and you will immediately start loving them. The past, the present and the future come alive in the author’s writing. The writing will keep you interested in the story till the end.
Write more, I am game for it. The author has done his research and the book is factually correct with regards to the history part.
Write more, I am game for it. The author has done his research and the book is factually correct with regards to the history part.
September 22, 2018
I’ll get straight into what I liked and didn’t like in this novel. First up, the characters. They were some of the most well-developed and candidly depicted ones I have seen in a book in quite a while. They are the jewels of the novel and your liking or not liking of the book will completely depend on how much you are able to connect with them. For me, I was able to connect instantaneously and so there’s no complaint there. What I didn’t like so much was the almost painfully detailed description of the war and the terror. I know why this was done but I would have been fine with a more concise history. There’s no doubt that the author is extremely talented. He has been able to capture the beauty and the uncertainty of life in a never before seen manner.
September 30, 2018
I am really happy with this book. Once I began reading I couldn’t put it down and I ended up doing nothing else in between. I really fell for the narrative and the narrator in My driver Tulong. I got to know the characters, I liked them and I wanted more. And by the time I got to the end of the book I was disappointed my journey with these characters had come to an end. I really wanted more!! I wanted my questions answered. Questions like - where would they go next and so on. This was my first book by this author, and if he keeps writing like this then I would definitely read more from him. You should go for this one guys. Read it for the people in them, their lives, and their sorrows. It is a book that celebrates life, love and the journey in between.
November 7, 2018
This definitely packs a punch. This could be that book in your library that you keep reading every now and then and recommend to your friends and family. And who knows, perhaps even use as a travel guide when you decide to take that vacation to Cambodia. In fact, each chapter in this book can be read as a separate short story. The scope and the narrative in each chapter has to be experienced firsthand to understand the beauty of it. I loved all the characters, especially Damu who was adorable and clueless in the beginning and then later on... Tulong was humorous and also managed to bring a tear to my eye. It was a wonderful and interesting read.
Great book and I recommend this. It has fully developed characters and the writing has a unique depth to it.
Great book and I recommend this. It has fully developed characters and the writing has a unique depth to it.
August 21, 2018
I just finished reading the book and I absolutely loved it! Sorry if this sounds hyperbolic, but it was that good!! I hope the author reads this!
I genuinely liked this book and I think it will stay with me for a long time. Every word and every sentence in here spoke to me. I was pretty sad when I got to the end of the book, I really felt like reading and knowing more about these people. A sequel work perhaps?
I have been reading books for a long time, and I don’t remember the last time a book that wasn’t by a famous author that had this effect on me. Thank you for this. It really was a great story. You have made a new fan!
I genuinely liked this book and I think it will stay with me for a long time. Every word and every sentence in here spoke to me. I was pretty sad when I got to the end of the book, I really felt like reading and knowing more about these people. A sequel work perhaps?
I have been reading books for a long time, and I don’t remember the last time a book that wasn’t by a famous author that had this effect on me. Thank you for this. It really was a great story. You have made a new fan!
August 30, 2018
I absolutely enjoyed this book! It had a refreshing and wonderful story. The characters in it were so varied and colorful and it had snappy dialogues and a lot of depth. It never felt like I was reading the work of a first time fiction author. And save for a couple of proofreading errors here and there, the book was nicely edited. I felt like I was reading an intellectual novel. So I urge you to go ahead and pick this copy. It is sort of a long book, so you better uncork a bottle of wine and enjoy this entertaining read. The book is brilliantly described and it makes you want to visit these people and the space they exist in. A passionate and romantic work!
October 15, 2018
I didn't really know what to expect when I started reading this book. I had never heard of this author before and I was apprehensive about committing to this long book. I even struggled in the beginning. But after Tulong was introduced I got right into it. And what stood out for me in particular was the high quality writing. It is well-written and it was a pleasure to read. The editing was also top-notch and helped in making the narrative seem more eloquent and descriptive. You really get a sense of the mood in the scenes and of the character's emotions. The little twists in the story kept me engaged and I liked the ending. It was very appropriate for the story and the book.
October 23, 2018
This book had a very classical travel book feel to it. You can tell that the author has been in Cambodia and has experienced the country in great detail. You can in a sense feel the love the writer has towards the country and its people. After reading it, I also felt like visiting Cambodia and perhaps experiencing firsthand all the things that the author went through. And I hope I run into Mr. Tulong when I am there. I wish the author all the best. This deserves more praise. Someone should make a movie out of this book.
This is a book I am sure will appeal to a wide variety of readers. I think I will read this one again.
This is a book I am sure will appeal to a wide variety of readers. I think I will read this one again.
August 1, 2017
Honestly, this is one of the worst books I have ever read. The grammar mistakes are astonishing, and nobody I recommended the book to, could make it past the second page; For god's sake, the sentences started with "but" and "and", did nobody proof -read it? From the narrator's perspective, the book also seemed very vindictive that, at times I felt sorry for the characters. I honestly would never recommend it to anyone.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews