4 comments about The Rice Queen Diaries.

1. Part autobiography, part titillating sex novel, part scholarly treatise, "The Rice Queen Diaries: A Memoir" deals with a subject that is obviously very close to the heart of the author: being a gay white male attracted primarily to young-looking Asian men, which is a "rice queen" in gay slang.
   
   The writer traces his attraction chronologically, from his early years in a small Canadian town outside Vancouver, which was best known as being the location shoot for low-budget American films. It was also closest to the site of a Japanese internment camp during World War II, which the author found out his uncle had a hand in running. He conjectures that this knowledge may have triggered an early curiousity about Asians, but his own budding sexuality was solely responsible for his attraction to them. After relocating to the larger city of Vancouver, he is able to more openly pursue his interests as a gay man, and becomes involved in one of the "Long Yang" clubs, designed for those attracted to gay Asian men. Having already had many encounters with young men from various East Asian countries, he then becomes the proverbial "kid in a candy store" when he takes an extended vacation in Thailand and Vietnam, where he eventually realizes that the numerous sexual partners he has are the result of economic transactions born of the difference between the cultures of the individuals involved.
   
   For those wanting more information than his personal observations, the author includes numerous references to scholarly works on the culture of countries he visits, as well as psychological studies concerning the Interracial atrractions involved. He also makes a realistic assessment of his own behavior in such interactions, and doesn't like what he sees. By the time he is halfway through a later working visit to Thailand, he greatly curtails his sexual encounters, spending more time socializing with other expatriates, which he suggests left him open to find the one individual with whom he is currently partnered.
   
   The book was interesting to me, now five years removed from a three year relationship with a slightly younger man from Taiwan. The balance of scholarly analysis and retelling of the author's exploits make it difficult to keep the book as one cohesive work, but the author seems to strike an ideal balance to make the book of interest to readers, regardless of whether you share the type of attraction discussed or perhaps are the subject of it yourself. I'll give it four stars out of five.



2. By MARK V. ROSE, Author of BANGKOK, OH BOY!
   Daniel Gawthrop's Rice Queen Diaries is more than a memoir. Perhaps confession would be more apt. The largest section reveals sexual encounters and interactions between himself, a farang (Thai for foreigner) sex tourist from Vancouver, Canada and a barrage of interesting Southeast Asian men. But here and there throughout the book, the author's keen intellect catches up with his libido, incorporating fascinating, and very welcome cultural, anthropological, historical and sociological observations and information.
   Exploring his obsessions with "Rice Queendom," Gawthrop is generous and honest in his revelations. For the un-initiated, or if one doesn't know, although considered a pejorative by some, a "rice queen" is a gay westerner who delights in and seeks Asian men. Gawthrop's passion is king-sized.
   Early in the book, Gawthrop tells of his boyhood crush on Bruce Lee, how as a ten-year-old he even took up judo to be like the sexy kung fu artist. It didn't take long before he realized he wanted less to be Bruce Lee than to have him.
   Sent to a private school in the ninth grade, Gawthrop pleasantly discovers that many of the students were kids from Chinese immigrant parents. He witnessed how one of them, "Jackson," was given a hazing one night by four, boozed-up, white 12th grade jocks. Lights out, the older boys surrounded his bed in the dorm and held him down while the other boys in the room feigning sleep, watched what turned out to be a kind of erotic initiation rite. Then all five, Jackson included, smoked cigarettes and joked. It left a lasting memory on the impressionable young Gawthrop.
   Getting past such reflective, childhood experiences, Gawthrop then tells how he went to Vancouver in his early twenties where he experienced the lustful pangs and pining of a young, adult gay man. He moves into Vaseline Towers and his tale begins to take force. In "Hongcouver," the author visits the bars and baths, experiencing abundant sex with a variety of men--mostly Asian. He calls his attraction to them "yellow fever" and, indeed, it does seem at times to be an ailment! Woven into the highly spiced account is a succinct, fascinating background of the Chinese immigrant presence in Western Canada. They, like the migrant Chinese who came to California, built the trans-continental railroads. Such moments of respite give a welcome breather to the rampant sex--one may even say an official pardon.
   The author goes to Bangkok, works for a major English language Thai newspaper and vacations in Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Vietnam. At that point, he becomes almost a slave to his obsessions.
   The Rice Queen Diaries strikes me as a sometimes sad but authentic exposure of an alarming descent into a spiral of never-ending searching to quell one's sexual appetite.
   Like Gawthrop, I've lived and worked in Thailand and was reminded of the temptations and dangers of sexual escape in a foreign country where the potential to besot is available 24/7. Add to this the temporary relief of limitless icy cold beers to deal with the heat and humidity, increasing the fantasy that one may be in a tropical paradise.
   In the last short sections, Corruption of the Heart and Coming Home, the author faces approaching middle-age and the startling recognition of his capacity for a kind of racism. Gawthrop defines it well: the treatment of an entire group of people as one's own personal playpen. Fortunately, after three years of bedding down with countless men, many of them impoverished and problematic, to satisfy a voracious sexual appetite, and then "in one way or another" heartlessly casting them aside, the author allows himself to fall in love with Lalune. A migrant worker from Burma, Lalune has a cherubic face, twinkling brown eyes and a personality that is simple, uncomplicated and earnest.
   Although he had half-heartedly attempted a number of short-lived, serous relationships with Thai lovers--some of whom because of economic depravation, exercised disappointing, exploitive, fiscal and monetary maneuvers, it is a welcome moment when at age thirty-eight, the jaded man no longer expecting to find love, finally lets love in. It is even more satisfying when he commits to an enduring partnership. He starts the difficult immigration process of sponsoring and bringing Lalune to Canada. The reader is left to wonder if the admirable wish is ever realized, but that will require another diary to look forward to. In Rice Queen Diaries, this scant moment comes almost too late in the book, but getting there, although frustrating at times, is well worth it.
   My Bangkok, Oh Boy! reveals a similar involvement between Mat, a horny farang and a handsome Thai man, comparable discomforting financial transactions between them, and the perils and rewards of bi-cultural, long-distance relationships. Although Mat is not referred to as a "Rice Queen," after reading Gawthrop, one can say he certainly qualifies. Bangkok, Oh Boy! depicts a few sexual escapades that parallel Gawthrop's East/West saga, but by comparison with his vast chronicle of sex, my unapologetically horny central character seems chaste and unblemished in that department. But, Mat shares some of the unconscious sexual racism Gawthrop briefly explores, and comes to face it full force in concluding chapters. In any case, Gawthrop rings very familiar bells.
   Rice Queen Diaries is a highly recommended read. Together with Rafaelito Sy's Potato Queen, Gambone's Beijing, Sulayman K's Bilal's Bread and Kadushin's Wonderlands, it is a welcome addition to a growing and increasingly necessary genre of West meets East.
   Mark V. Rose, Author BANGKOK, OH BOY! atripress@aol.com
   



3. Gawthrop, Daniel. "The Rice Queen Diaries: A Memoir". Arsenal Pulp Press, 2005.
   
   The Nature of Sexual Desire
   
   Amos Lassen and Literary Pride
   
   For those of you who are not familiar with the term "rice queen", it is the very politically incorrect term used to describe men who are into Asian men. With that clarified, let us have a look at Daniel Gawthrop's new memoir. "The Rice Queen Diaries". Gawthrop writes about the politics and pleasures of being self identified as a "rice queen." As he roams the major cities of the world in his quest to find Asian men to satisfy his lust as well as exploring the hidden recesses of his mind, he gives us great insight into the multicultural world of sexuality. In doing so we learn of the manners and the contradictions of his desires and where those desires take him--Vancouver, Bangkok, London, Viet Nam. Here is an intimate look at the culture and "otherness" as well as gay desire. His diaries span three continents and explore his personal thoughts and ultimately arrive at what propels the nuances of love and sexuality that all of us possess. It is more than just a memoir; it is a polemic on sexual desire. The insight is amazing and the information provided is fascinating, informative and based upon the ultimate test--truth.
   It all began when Gawthrop had a childhood crush on Bruce Lee. While at private school, he chose his friends from the Chinese immigrant students in his school and in the twelfth grade he was brutally hazed and raped by a group of them. The impression that this left upon him is probably what was the main reason that he continued in the pursuit f Asian men. As he dwells on the history of the Chinese that came to Canada, he allows us to peek into his world of sexuality as he worked his way seducing many of them.
   He relates a trip to Bangkok, we learn of his adventures there and how he was constantly on the hunt for the right Asian male. This part of the book saddened me a great deal because it appears he was never satisfied and constantly on the prowl for new "rice". His sexual appetite seems insatiable and he is constantly looking for the next man. His life has consisted of only a few short lived romances, several of those men with whom he was involved became involved with him because of their own poor financial status
   The book is provocative to say the least but even more than that it is titillating and full of conflict. It turns to promiscuity often and in many ways the author seems to be self-destructive. However, the book succeeds. There is a good deal of scholarly research here and there is a great deal to be learned about the nature of sexuality and desire. It deals with a subject that is obviously very close to the author and therefore it is very personal. Gawthrop manages to balance the scholarly with the prurient and that is no easy feat. More than anything else, if you want to learn about the nature of male sexual desire, "The Rice Queen Diaries" is a great place to begin.



4. After reading the editorial and Amazon reviews, I had high hopes that this book would provide thoughtful insight from a unique perspective. His narrative reveals more about his partners than about himself and ultimately I found myself more interested in the people he came into contact with than in him. The closest he gets to "insight" is by providing commentary on other writings rather than commentary on his own assumptions, motivations and experiences. In fact, he uses the word "entitlement" for the first time on page 241, with only 10 pages left to the end of the book, and then retreats into the same strategy of emotional distancing by telling someone else's story and quoting someone else's text (an appropriation that itself can be considered colonialist). He spends more time presenting himself as the exception to the rice queen stereotype (thereby leaving the stereotype untouched), rather than considering how he may be perpetuating the stereotype himself.
   
   I was glad to see that he didn't spend too much time on "white guilt", but would have loved to see a broader range of emotions- about himself- exhibited in the book. I would have loved to see him struggle more, either by redefining and reclaiming the Rice Queen label or by talking about the inner conflict of shame/pride/delight/frustration of falling in love outside your race. He also describes each of his individual relationships and encounters as if there were no common themes to how he entered into and broke them off. He also seems to differentiate the class/power difference between his (younger, poor)Asian and (sometimes older, sometimes more affluent) Asian-Canadian partners as if to dismantle or excuse himself from the Rice Queen stereotype.
   
   In short, his analysis lacked personalization and evaluation. There was a striking difference between the First Person narrative and Third Person analysis, thereby putting a greater (and artificial) distance between himself and the stereotype. In those few passages where he does acknowledge his own "racist behavior", he does so in passing. This could have been a whole chapter unto itself. His narrative proved to be more a description of the Rice Queen phenomenon, and not an honest, reflective evaluation of the good, the bad and the ugly of his experience of the phenomenon.
   
   My recommendations would be that he not depend on quotes from other writers to express his feelings (there is a certain entitlement that comes from this type of emotional distancing) and that he write an entire book based on the last paragraph of page 241, the one paragraph that contained personal narrative, personal analysis and personal evaluation.

3 comments about Water and Sky: Reflections of a Northern Year.

1. For those of you who yearn to paddle in the barrenlands of Canada this book is for you. Alan and Marypat paddled down the Peace River and wintered over on the shores of Lake Athabasca. They traveled north on the Dubawant and Kazan Rivers to finish in Baker Lake. Danger - if you read this in the winter months it will lead to severe cabin fever!



2. I read this book the same week that I read Paddleing the Vermillion Sea and Running the Amazon. Although Water and Sky will never get the coverage and sales of the other two, it is vastly the superior book. Without the angst and pretense of Waterman or Kane, Kesselheim tells a warm story of adventure, conducted on a human scale by credible people. This one deserves to survive as a classic.



3. Made me want to canoe through the wilderness... and not! Beautiful country, the trip of a lifetime, but pretty harsh at times. I'd read this years ago and just bought the paperback of it. I recently saw an article about taking their family to Yellowstone, written by these authors and published in a parenting magazine. The great writing in that article and knowledge of "things outdoors" reminded me of this book. I had to read it again. It's that good.

No comments about Rand McNally Ontario, Canada.

2 comments about An Innocent in Newfoundland: Even More Curious Rambles and Singular Encounters.

1. David McFadden's book introduces the reader to Newfoundland in a warm, humorous and personal way. This was one of the first books I read to research a trip to Newfoundland. It was by far and away the best. Eschewing the typical "must go there, must see this" style of travel books, it focuses on the people and the land in a
   unique fashion. And that makes it all the more fun.
   
   His accounting of the people he meets make you want to meet them too. His advice on driving, "watch out for moose" is accurate; you can't find coffee at convenient stores on the roads is true; and the decorations on houses is wonderfully on target.
   
   This book more than any other I read was the best preparation for the trip. The only thing better than this book about Newfoundland is actually being there.



2. Newfoundland has world-class scenery: for instance the huge piece of the earth's mantle that you can see from the boat trip on Trout River Pond just off Bonne Bay; the view from Gros Morne; West Pond in Gros Morne National Park. And it has wonderfully intimate views: my own favorite is the little town of Salvage from its hilltop near the graveyard. It has restaurants that are worth a twenty mile drive on bad roads: for instance, the Fisherman's Friend in Rose Blanche. And then, there's the wildlife.
   
   Now beside that, the Newfies are wonderful people, and whoever travels there will meet his own favorites. McFadden meets a lot of cheerful bar maids and motel owners. My gripe is that Newfoundland's cheerful bar maids are a lot like Nova Scotia's cheerful bar maids and--for all of that--like West Virginia's.
   
   To get a feel for a place's unique character, you need to talk to the people who don't ordinarily talk to visitors: go get your hair cut, and listen to the talk in the barber shop; or if you're in St. John's, beg breakfast at the fire hall; or talk to the nurses at the hospital in St. Anthony.
   
   The permanent and unique things about a place are (by definition) what another traveler could count on meeting and that he could meet nowhere else, and this is what I miss in McFadden's book.

1 comments about Bonfires and Beacons: Great Lakes Lighthouses.

1. Larry's photo's are pretty good, but Patricia's writing is very informative and she was nice enough to include a map so you can see exactly where each lighthouse is located. I learned much about maintanence, and I didn't even know there was such a thing as the Huron Lightship. This book is well worth the money.

5 comments about The Milepost 2005: With Plan-a-Trip Map.

1. After just returning from driving around Alaska for one month, (2005) this book is invaluable. Advertisements are plainly marked and information is very useful. It is very nice to be able to know what some of the sights are along the way, where good viewpoints are and where there are picnic areas and rest areas. Only negative is we used the book so much, pages started falling out.
   This should be the first purchase for anyone contemplating driving Alaska (and BC, and Yukon) highways.



2. This is a great guide for visiting & driving in Alaska. All roads are detailed and each mile is described distinctly. There are lots of ads for travel guide activities such as flightseeing, fishing, etc. A great guide to have.



3. If you read all the entries in this guide, you won't have time to look at any of the views! Extremely comprehensive (down to where there are pullouts to let faster drivers pass) and informative. A little bit of a learning curve is required for travel in directions other than those shown, but not too bad. Road map sections seem very complete. A very useful guide.



4. We bought "Milepost 2005" on the advice of friends who live in Alaska. We've used it to plan our entire trip this summer & have found my exciting things to see & do while on vacation this summer.



5. The "Milepost" is a uniquely invaluable resource for travel by road in Alaska and Northwest Canada. This guide will be highly useful for the average tourist, RVer, and camper.
   
   Alaska and Northwest Canada constitute a huge area with vast terrain variation and far less travel infrastructure than most travelers are used to in Southern Canada or the lower 48 states. Travelers should not, for example, expect gas stations, restaurants, and franchise hotels at every exit of the highways, nor should they expect that all facilities will be open year-round. Further, some routes are closed in winter or are highly dangerous due to weather conditions. Finally, travelers should be alert to both the prospect of viewing wildlife along the roads and the hazards of a traffic jam behind, say, a small herd of bison at Muncho Lake in Canada.
   
   The Milepost provides maps, diagrams, photographs, and most of all, an almost mile by mile summary of what to expect in driving the major highways in Alaska and Northwest Canada. The information provided will allow the traveler to locate the next gas station, campground, hotel, or scenic spot. The advertisements included allow some advance planning for areas where few hotel beds may be available. Travelors may also plan ahead for fishing charters on the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska or the operating hours of visitor centers or the few but excellent museums that can be found along the road. If buying the most recent edition of the Milepost, travelers can expect some up-to-date information on where to expect major road construction. The Milepost includes information on major hiking trailheads on the main roads, but hikers should seek elsewhere for detailed information on off-road routes.
   
   The Milepost is a must-have guide for road travel in Alaska and Northwest Canada and is most highly recommended to travelers and residents in a wild and scenic part of North America.

No comments about French River: Canoeing the River Of the Stick-Wavers.

3 comments about Moon Handbooks San Juan Islands: Including Victoria and the Gulf Islands.

1. The latest addition to the "Moon Handbooks" travel guide series, San Juan Islands: Including Victoria And The Gulf Islands is a travel guide precisely written by Don Pitcher for vacationers looking to make their own travel and entertainment choices by create a unique and personalized travel plan suited entirely and specifically to their own personal tastes. With key information on accommodations, activities, points of interest, transportation, history, climate, and more of each island, San Juan Islands is an excellent travel planning and guidebook resource which is especially recommended as a quick and easy reference.



2. This is an excellent book for anyone interested in traveling to the San Juan Islands. It gives helpful advice on everything from hotels to restaurants to activities. It has more indepth information than most other travel books. I found their recommendations on ferry travel very useful. Highly recommend.



3. Book is packed with useful information for traveling in the San Juan Islands. Includes a number of islands and how to get there. Topics cover a variety of topics for people who have different interests: camping, bed and breakfasts, bicycling, restaurants, beaches, museums, resorts. Makes it easier to plan a vacation. Highly recommended.

No comments about The Yukon: Including South Eastern Alaska (Travel Adventure Guide).

3 comments about Voyages to Windward: Sailing Adventures on Vancouver Island's West Coast.

1. The book is evocative of the beauty and charm of the remote places of the West Coast of Vancouver Island. Interesting local history is complimented by vivid photography and captured the experience of sailing the West Coast. A very enjoyable book.



2. What a wonderful book, the photographs are stunning, the stories of all the places along the west cosast of Vancouver Island are compelling. Elsie Hulsizer's book is a pleasure to read. From her descriptions of this rugged coast to her portraits of the people encounterd along the way, you will enjoy every story and anecdote. I encourage anyone who enjoys adventure, natural beauty, historical perspective or sailing to order this book. Whether for your own pleasure or as a special gift, this is a delightful book.



3. As a child author Elsie Hulsizer spent her summers sailing in a small sailboat with hr parents, and as an adult she and her husband spent their summers sailing out of Puget Sound and up the straight of Juan de Fuca - also to windward, where they explored the west coast of Vancouver Island over a twenty-year period. VOYAGES TO WINDWARD: SAILING ADVENTURES ON VANCOUVER ISLAND'S WEST COAST charts these journeys and discoveries, using the author's photos to present their journeys in a set of vivid adventures which will appeal to both armchair readers and would-be Vancouver Island sailors. A gorgeous display of color photos throughout makes VOYAGES TO WINDWARD an exciting visual display, spiced with high adventure and not a few practical tips.
   
   Diane C. Donovan
   California Bookwatch