This book tells the tale of a Thai prostitute. It covers her early life and the dysfunctional family life that saw her end up in Bangkok with her mother in the first place, it speaks of her relationship with each of her parents, how she came to be married to a fellow who ended up being abusive, her marriage break up and her gradual move into the sex industry. We hear some anecdotes about this occupation and they provide an interesting perspective when juxtaposed against some of the more celebratory sexpat style books out there.
As the book moves on we learn how Bua (her pen name so to speak) went from working as more of a hostess to ending up working as a more full service provider. She lays open a lot of her choices which the average reader may shake their head at, how she had a rich Japanese guy sponsor her for years and how she led him on the whole time and when he finally wanted to consummate things she wouldn't go down that path (which cost her his sponsorship). She also is brutally honest throughout the book about some of the violence perpetrated against her by her first husband and also by the Thai man she later took up with.
Throughout the book we get a peppering of stories of things that happened to other girls and you will get somewhat of an insight into how these go-go bars work and their various business models. The language used is flowing and the book has a generous font and at not even 250 pages it is a very brisk read. The book is credited to the lady in question 'with Nicola Pierce' and it's really this latter person who probably deserves the credit for the readability of the book (Nicola Pierce has also written other books in English for Thai people).
I found it a somewhat addictive read in the same way watching an accident unfold is fascinating. After all the almost deliberately stupid choices this woman has made in her life seems almost guaranteed to lead to a dark pit of despair. If any psychologist wanted a perfect example of self sabotage to show their students this would be a good book to direct them to. Moronic decision after moronic decision is made with the author seemingly quite happy to pass it all off as fate. Can't be bothered at school - meh, just fate she wasn't academically gifted. Marries a bloke her mother wants her to - meh, girls of her class don't get choices in these things. Screws up the rich Japanese meal ticket bloke - meh, she knew he'd not be interested anyway once he found out she had a child. After blowing the potential meal ticket she takes up with a no-hoper local guy and quite happily consummates THAT relationship with the instant production of children in quick succession - meh, what else was she supposed to do? Stuffs up another western meal ticket - meh, she didn't like how he was controlling. Again and again she scuppers her chances, always finding another excuse for having done so. Yet all the while wanting to be saved from her situation (yeah right).
Quite honestly given how annoying her stupidity is you start to wonder just how painful she would be to live with. And if it's really that surprising therefore that she was always getting belted by her partners. I'm not condoning it mind you, but living with someone who seems to actively and deliberately choose wrong every single time it's hardly surprising.
But for all that I found it an interesting story, a rather sad tale and yet one that you can't but help to feel is pretty common across the worlds red light districts. It certainly puts some things into perspective when she is talking about the sort of coping mechanisms girls employ and the sort of headspace they inhabit while on the job. Certainly an interesting read on a certain level.
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