Does anyone have suggestions for books (preferably novels) set in Bangkok/Thailand or by Thai authors?
Thanks! Happy New Year!

Bangkok 8
Bangkok Tattoo
Bangkok Haunts
all by John Burdett

Jasmine Nights by S.P. Somtow
The Story of Jan Darra by Utsana Phileungtham

Thank-you. I have ordered all except Utsana Phileungtham
which is unknown on Amazon. Any chance the spelling may be wrong?
If anyone has any more suggestions please do send them, I will need plenty to read on this trip!
Thanks.

FIELDWORK: A NOVEL

the king never smiles

I did mis-spell the Thai surname. It's on Amazon at Phleungtham. You know you can search by book title.

The book was made into a movie. It comes off as a remake of the Graduate, but the book is a bit more complex.

Four Reigns by Kukrit Pramoj

Historical novel. As the title suggests, it cover four generations. I believe the author's house in Bangkok is also open to visitors on week-ends.

Bangkok: Story of a City by Alec Waugh, though really just a translation of Prince Chakrabongse's Lords of Life. As a history, it's very readable.

Thanks again all. Have now added Fieldwork to my orders. No luck with the others. Michael I'm not finding Jan Darra - probably because I order from .uk and not .com. Only the DVD is available on the UK site. Story of a city is also not in stock! I've given up ordering from the US and Canada as it just takes too long to reach me in Italy.
I posted the same question on the Australian site and getting lots of stuff on Tasmania (part 2 of my trip) so I should have enough for my long flights!

Ekscruncy - thanks for reccommending Fieldwork. What a great and unusual book!

Dogster should write one. (I'd buy it

Oh, I am so happy to recommend books! I sure wish I had noted all the ones I'd read in the past because I've forgotten most of them..I love that we can share tips here..travel books/essays are my absolute favorite! Even better if there is some food involved!

On the lighter side - I just ordered a book from Amazon called "A Broad Abroad in Thailand" by Dodie Cross. It is about an expat's adventures living in Thailand. It had great reviews - happy reading

A Broad Abroad sounds fun! I'm keeping some of the lighter stuff that's been suggested for travel and reading the more serious or heavy (as in weight) books back home. I'm not leaving until end of march and I get through about a book a week so plenty of time for more suggestions. Thanks!

It is not a book, but a movie and is about Cambodia but shot partly in Thailand. So even though it is not really on subject, I will mention this because I watched it last night and thought is was good:

http://movies.nytimes.com/2007/11/09/movies/09holl.html

carrom - thanks for posting this. We are going to Thailand in March & I love reading anything about the country prior to my visit

Moonshine in the Morning - by Andrea McNicoll is a lovely novel about village life in Thailand. Strongly reccommend.