Colin Cotterill's Dr Siri Paiboun series

[cat63]

I've just read the third of these books and enjoyed it very much. The books are set in Laos in the 1970s, just after the monarchy has been overthrown and a fledgling communist state is becoming established. Dr Siri Paiboun has been a member of the Party for many years but has become disillusioned. Hoping for an honourable retirement he is dismayed

Comments

[sammason]

Thanks for this interesting review. I'll look out for the book. Without having read it, I don't know whether the author has gone sterotypical about this disabled character. But my guess is that it would be a fault in the right direction - certainly better than writing jokes at the disabled character's expense.

[cat63]

This one is third in a series, and while each story is self-contained there are references to the previous books.

But my guess is that it would be a fault in the right direction - certainly better than writing jokes at the disabled character's expense.

True. When there is humour it's usually because someone else underestimates Mr Geung in some way. And the author is very clearly on his side throughout.

I was rather uncomfortable about the use of the two "m" words, but it's in character for the time. All the same, it's noticeable that Siri and Dtui, Geung's friends and colleagues, never use those words about him.

[sammason]

Why do you dislike the words 'moron' and 'mongoloid'? I don't use those words because I know that they offend some people, just as I don't use words that I know some people find racist. But at the same time, as you know I think it can be counterproductive to bother about which words people use. There are words about my disability, about my gayness, about my figure, that I don't like. But I'm concerned that if I confront people about the words they choose, what they'll do is choose not to say what they mean. Or even choose not to converse with me.

The people with Down's Syndrome who I've met didn't seem as though they'd mind being called mongoloid because they didn't seem as though they'd understand it. But I might be mistaken about that. Anyway I think their parents and carers might mind it so I don't intend to do it. Otoh when I hear people use that word, I choose not to be offended.