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Book Review: by Lang Reid
Private Dancer
 Private
Dancer, written by well known author Stephen Leather, has been a best seller
in Bookazine for over four years, and even though I reviewed the web copy, I
felt that this book has been such a strong seller, I should review the
paperback, now that it is available.
It is a very cleverly fabricated story, relating to a journalist (Pete) who
comes to Bangkok to work and who falls in love with Joy, a dancer at a bar
in Nana Plaza. She is to become his ‘private dancer’ from which comes the
title of the book.
What sets this manuscript apart from the overdone ‘farang falls in love with
bar girl’ books is that Stephen Leather gives the side of the central
character Pete, and then follows that up with the thoughts of the girl Joy.
After that, at various important milestones in the relationship, other
people are brought in who give their impressions of what is going on. These
people include Pete’s boss Alistair, the owner of a bar called Big Ron, whom
Leather admits is well known identity Big Dave, and the bar called Fatso’s
was Big Dave’s establishment called Jool’s on Soi 4 Sukhumvit (as anyone who
has ever been there would pick immediately). Others who give their opinions
include Pete’s friends, his flat-mate and even the owner of Joy’s bar, who
is even more cynical than Big Ron.
Where Stephen Leather has excelled with this book is in his understanding of
the Thai viewpoint. And to then put it down in print. There will be those
who will say that a farang can never get inside the mind of the Thais.
Perhaps not, but this book of Stephen Leather’s must go damn close. Close
enough for me! Take for example the words from Joy after Pete rang her in
her room to say that he had been talking to Park, her Thai husband. “Park
was in my room when Pete telephoned. I asked Park what he was playing at,
and he said he didn’t know what I was talking about. I got angry then and
said that he’d spoiled everything. He had no right to talk to Pete, he was
my customer.” And it all hangs on that last word!
This is the best warning book about bar girls ever written, and at B. 395
should be compulsory reading for all single males before arrival in
Thailand. Make that for all single males period. Love and logic only start
with the same letter, and that is where the similarity ends, and where
self-delusion starts. The world is populated with Petes, about whom Big Ron
states, “Was I surprised at what happened to Pete? Of course I (expletive)
wasn’t. He was on the road to ruin as soon as he let her get to him. A lost
cause.”
As an added benefit, there are some good recipes running right through the
book, as that had been Pete’s brief, writing a cook book. In the end you
will see just whose goose gets cooked!
If you have not read it, do so, and keep a copy for overseas visitors!
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