Re-reading Amit Gilboa's "Off the Rails in Phnom Penh"

mammothboy2 · Post by **mammothboy2** » Wed Jul 06, 2016 12:07 pm

When "Off the Rails in Phnom Penh" was first published, in 1998, it was passed from hand as eagerly as a samizdat text in the old U.S.S.R.

It was quite a hit among both expatriates and temporary visitors, and - because of, or in spite of, this - much energy and vitriol was flung at the author.

There were mild reviews, but those with access to paper archives could come up with very angry reviews.

Does anyone here have opinions about the text,which is now - of course - a period piece?

mammothboy2 · Post by **mammothboy2** » Wed Jul 06, 2016 12:13 pm

Here are a few reviews, some quite ancient:

https://www.amazon.com/Off-Rails-Phnom- ... geNumber=2

Post by **Username Taken** » Wed Jul 06, 2016 1:13 pm

A pretty accurate reflection of Phnom Penh at the time.

phuketrichard · Post by **phuketrichard** » Wed Jul 06, 2016 3:20 pm

i agree;
when i first visited PP in 94 all that was in the book was happening and if anything, more lawless and rougher especially at night and Russian market you could buy just about anything
although i didn't know any teachers, so cant say what they spoke of K11 as he described
it was what he described

LTO · Post by **LTO** » Wed Jul 06, 2016 8:54 pm

Some truth, some fiction, some in-between, from the POV of a gutter dwelling rat.

frank lee bent · Post by **frank lee bent** » Wed Feb 14, 2018 3:08 pm

worth reading today for an idea of what was happening decades ago while the country was in dire poverty and military conflict still winding down.

Post by **Jamie_Lambo** » Wed Feb 14, 2018 3:40 pm

frank lee bent wrote: ↑
Wed Feb 14, 2018 3:08 pm
worth reading today for an idea of what was happening decades ago while the country was in dire poverty and military conflict still winding down.

yeah had the book for years but never read it, trying to make a new effort of starting it the other day, i love reading its just finding the time

taabarang · Post by **taabarang** » Wed Feb 14, 2018 4:09 pm

I remember that in mid to late 1996 a van would stop outside the Capital restaurant and the driver would yell out "K11" to the foreigner inside the resto. the van was never empty.

frank lee bent · Post by **frank lee bent** » Wed Feb 14, 2018 4:13 pm

the first part of it is a little heavy going as he sets the stage with the politics and fighting prior to his arrival.
that is actually the best part as it gives a concise view of the factions, and how control was established after the defeat of KR.

Post by **Jamie_Lambo** » Wed Feb 14, 2018 10:37 pm

Would have loved to have been in Cambodia in the 90's, its why i want to read the book for more of an insight, heard lots of stories and stuff