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Bookazine Book Review: Minor Wife

by Lang Reid

This book is the latest from Christopher G. Moore and another in the Vincent Calvino Private Detective series written by this Bangkok based author. Published by Heaven Lake Press this year, we were included in the review copy list and I must thank Christopher Moore for his thoughtfulness.

Moore does not spend time setting the scene. By page 17 there is the body of 8K, a high class painter cum prostitute, whose throat has been cut from ear to ear. Not too many pages further on there are four suspects, all of whom are in love with the deceased, and all of whom may have a motive.

The thriller moves in those convoluted circles within which Thai life and society takes place. Moore’s knowledge of these gives insights into many aspects of the cultural mores. Many of these are unknown to the ex-pat population, most of whom spend their time living in blissful ignorance of the Thai dark underbelly. The definition of the mia noi may come as a surprise for some, “The first thing about the mia noi (minor wife) of farang is she looks out for herself first. She is used to making deals with the devil. She will do whatever she needs to survive. And if you are in the way, what choice will she make?”

Money may apparently buy you happiness, but it will not buy you a 100% guarantee of trustworthiness. This Calvino knows, and in his search for the killer, discovers the truth behind the phrase, no matter which society, or level, is being looked at.

One of the reasons I enjoy Moore’s work is his ability to take the everyday and dissect out each subtle (and sometimes none too subtle) nuance, showing an acuity verging on the extreme. Take the following example, which male readers will recognize instantly. “Calvino unzipped and an arc of early morning Mekhong made its exit onto a mountain of ice cubes, the kind that were hollowed out. Wedges of lime were buried like the bony tail of a fetal mammoth frozen in a glacier at the moment of birth.” He continues, “Some of the ice was smooth, melted and fractured. That usually meant that someone at the bar had come back and was using one of the thinly cut wedges for target practice, raking the ice with hot yellow napalm. Take that you bastards. Die, die.” We are guilty as charged!

Available from Bookazine with an RRP of 475 baht, this is another compulsive thriller from Christopher Moore. That TV rights have been purchased does not surprise me, because Vinee Calvino as portrayed by Moore, is a most believable character set against the unfathomable backdrop of Bangkok. Unfathomable to all who have not lived there, but totally believable for those of us who have. With real-time settings, such as the Landmark Hotel, for example, this would be a movie maker’s dream assignment. I shall sit in front of the idiot box and wait. In the meantime, go and read this latest Calvino book. Great writing, great story and a great read. Get it, you will not be disappointed.

Movie Review: I am Sam

By Poppy

Sean Penn plays a man with the mind of a 7-year-old. His character of Sam Dawson likes working at Starbucks and loves the Beatles. But even more than the Beatles, he loves his daughter Lucy. (The writer and Penn spent 90 days in a facility for retarded adults, including time on a production line.)

Lucy’s mother, a vagrant, ran out of the hospital, never to be seen again. So Sam becomes a single parent; he chose the name Lucy for “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds” and he raises her with love and adoration. His agoraphobic neighbor Margaret (Dianne Wiest) helps him with the more delicate aspects of raising a daughter.

The problem is by the time Lucy reaches 7, she has surpassed her father intellectually. A false accusation puts Sam in jail and the arrest puts into motion a sequence of events that causes the courts to want to take Lucy from Sam, which means he needs a lawyer.

Sam and his friends, all of whom suffer from mental handicaps, search for a lawyer with enough influence to help him to regain custody of Lucy. They approach ice maiden Rita Harrison (Michelle Pfeiffer), who firmly sends them on their way. Rita reconsiders and decides to take on the case.

Pfeiffer is terrific and funny even if never quite believable.

Sean Penn is great in his role as Sam and Dakota Fanning as his 7-year-old daughter is a performance not to miss.

Directed by Jessie Nelson

Cast:

Sean Penn ... Sam Dawson
Michelle Pfeiffer ... Rita Harrison
Laura Dern ... Randy Carpenter
Dakota Fanning ... Lucy Diamond Dawson
Dianne Wiest ... Annie
Joseph Rosenberg ... Joe
Brad Silverman ... Brad
Richard Schiff ... Turner
Stanley DeSantis ... Robert
Loretta Devine ... Margaret Calgrove
Doug Hutchison ... Ifty
Rosalind Chao ... Lily
Ken Jenkins (I) ... Judge McNeily
Wendy Phillips ... Miss Wright
Mason Lucero ... Conner Rhodes

Mott’s CD review: 

Audience - House On The Hill

by Mott the Dog

***** 5 Stars Rating

“The House On The Hill” was probably Audience’s most celebrated album and was their first collaboration with the very famous and trendy Gus Dudgeon (who came to fame with his work with Elton John) as producer which proved to be a meeting of complementary minds and humour lasting through the next Audience album and Howard Werth’s solo career.

Audience was a band whose appeal is as fresh today as it was when they were influencing the hippest scene of the early seventies. They were described variously at the time as a “Progressive”, “Underground” or “Art Rock” outfit, although their uniqueness actually defined any pigeonholing, but their influence was wide spread.

Audience was formed in early 1969 from the remnants of a psychedelic/soul band known as “The Lloyd Alexander Blues Band”. Their original concept was based around Howard Werth’s strong powerful voice and unique electric nylon strung guitar, plus the blaring echoing sax and flute of Keith Gemmell. Together with the underpinning heartbeat of Trevor Williams’ stomping bass and Tony Connor’s inventive drum work (his live drum solos had to be seen to be believed).

The initial musical spark was built around a mixture of highly incongruous styles, including medieval folk, bossa nova, soul, rhythm and blues, and jazz.

It worked well, but soon developed into something of its own whilst getting louder and more suited to the larger venues at which they were increasingly being asked to play alongside, such acts as Led Zeppelin, Fleetwood Mac, Pink Floyd, and many more.

By the time of “House On The Hill” (1971) Audience were at the peak of their creative style. Opening song “Jackdaw” is a truly powerful track with Werth’s vocal complemented by Zappaesque Fuzz bass and clarinet from Gemmell.

A lot of people have likened the moody spine tingler “I Had A Dream” to Bob Dylan’s “Knockin’ On Heavens Door”. However, when you realize that it was written and recorded quite some time before Dylan’s classic, it becomes quite apparent how far Audience’s influence spread.

Though Audience disbanded before they could consolidate the huge success they so richly deserved, their name and reputation has lived on through those initiates around the planet who were fortunate enough to see them live or listened to their original vinyl releases before they were finally on CD.

Howard Werth’s voice pairs well with Keith Gemmell’s ubiquitous gruff sax. Much of their overall strategy was later to find success in some of the music of Roxy Music and David Bowie.

“House On The Hill” is one of the early seventies golden moments. Listen and enjoy.

Musicians:

Keith Gemmell - Tenor Sax, Clarinet and Flute
Howard Werth - Electric Classical Guitar and Vocals
Trevor Williams - Bass Guitar
Tony Connor - Percussion and Vibes

Track Listing

1. Jackdaw
2. You’re Not Smiling
3. I Had A Dream
4. Raviole
5. Nancy
6. Eye To Eye
7. I Put A Spell On You
8. The House On The Hill
9. Indian Summer

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