The Wisdom of Beer [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

Christopher G. Moore is known all around the (reading) world for his books featuring the Krung Thep (Bangkok) based PI Vincent Calvino, an ex-Nex Yorker, ex-lawyer and now Ex-Pat in "the Land of Smiles". Only that poor Vince has seen more ugly sides of the "Land of the Free" behind those ubiquous smiles in only 10 years than he ever wanted to see in a lifetime, as in 9 Gold Bullets

This time I had the great plaesure to read a book totally different from his former ones, also from the "Land-of-Smiles-Trilogy", his Stand-alones like "Waiting for the Lady", a very actual book about Myanmar's Nobel Prize Winner Aung San Suu Ky, or Tokyo Joe, touching the untouchable Unit 731, for example.

The present book is a hymn at what?
AT THE BEER!
Yet the introductions of the chapters are all about BEER: citations from Homer G. Simpson to Jack Nicholson, Caesar or Carter, all center around this precious, golden liquid...BEER!
And so on it goes, this book, surely a One-of-a-Kind!

So - the exotic location, Pattaya at the Gulf of Thailand, known for its great diversity of bars - strip-tease mostly, and the normally all-of-one-kind visitors from all around the globe, is the set.
The actors are a Gentle Giant namad Duvel, US-Ex-Pat and Volunteer Policeman, his stepmother Ayaporn and her chinese friend.
Then we have a group of mixed genders around a Moscow thug named Vladimir who sees himself as Bill, yes, Bill from the Tarantino movie "Kill Bill". But behind the scene this group is lighthanded dominated by Alisa, a stoic ex-Moscow escort with skills in martial arts, shooting, and before all organizing a theft of arms.
Which takes us to the Chinese godfather Sia Dom, blessed with a son named "BEER"!
Blessed??? You will see,. all but blessed is that poor father!
His son has in mind only his "Girl"-friend Tiffany, a kateoy who wants to win the Pattaya Beauty-contest for Transgenders...
Add to this - yet disturbing garden-variety of odd characters - ca. 5.000 US Naval and Marines for the annual R & R named Cobra Gold in search of happiness aka heavy drinking, fraternizing with the locals of every gender they are.
So You will find Tweeting Montana, a female officer, with about 10,000 twitter followers all over the world, Lopez, a male, in search for trouble whereever he goes, and a Kenia born marine called Lanny, who ends up to be related with the POTUS aka Mr Obama...
And all these oddities as main actors are not sufficient, no, to add some other odd types, there's Todd, owner of a bar and also of Morag aka Doctor Love, a makaw (no, not an ape - a bird), cursing with broadest Scottish accent and vocabulary.

At this point I will tell You nothing else, because if You aren't hooked now - You will never be!

Read and learn more about Pattaya, the Thai and Chinese people and culture than You - maybe - ever wanted to know about this paradise for the lost an lonely, on the beautiful Gulf of Siam and its - also temporary inhabitants...

Ok, get this book, read this book. I will say this right up front. You will be amused and entertained, and you will learn a bit about Pattaya, Thailand. "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy" - Benjamin Franklin. Yes, even Benjamin Franklin has a role in Christopher G. Moore's latest novel, The Wisdom of Beer. In fact, so does Frank Zappa and many more classic historians. Christopher G. Moore has created an amusing, exciting and insightful read with his new novel, all centered around the ancient secret recipe for a unique, refreshing and intoxicating Chinese hell beer. Well, it is also centered around the antics of some U.S. Cobra Gold military personnel and a variety of criminals contemplating a heist of weapons from a local warehouse. All of this is weaved together in a masterful manner. The cast of characters is amazing, colorful and crazy, but at the same time, reasonably believable as the setting is Pattaya, Thailand. Bank, Piano, Doctor Love, The Pig Head Gang, Beer, numerous Katoys, Obama's lost brother, the U.S. Navy Shore Patrol, The Russian Mafia, old Thai ladies, a Macaw parrot (who holds the secret recipe), corrupt Thai police, farang volunteer police, a Thai-Chinese godfather, a Russian escort and many more make up this wild ride.

Christopher G. Moore has lived in Thailand for over twenty years and draws you into the culture, the smells, the heat, the chaos and the frequent clashes between western and eastern thinking and values. His books are great. This time you smile all the way and if you have been to Pattaya, you know it could be true. Thank you for the story Christopher. You will enjoy this book.

Hi Chris,

Before I left BKK on 24 August I stocked up on a couple of your books that I had not read. Faking It in Bangkok and The Wisdom of Beer. I just finished reading TWOB, and wanted to tell you how much I enjoyed it. I do not have a lot of time for personal reading over here, so I savor the time I am able to set aside. And it was during that time that I doubly savored reading TWOB.

I am continually amazed at the grasp you have of the various cultures you write about, and the depth of your understanding of those cultures. You certainly described the USMC to a T. The grandmothers, drinking Hell Beer, were brought to life. I am sure Duvel lives on in the heart of Walking Street. You blended in Kill Bill in a remarkable way. And Beer became a very real person, and the cause of much anxiety for Sia Dom. I loved the way you brought in the Shan to prevent Beer from leaving the temple.

All in all, a great book.

Thanks.

Jim