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

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mammothboy2
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Re-reading Amit Gilboa's "Off the Rails in Phnom Penh"

Post by mammothboy2 »

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

Post by mammothboy2 »

Here are a few reviews, some quite ancient:

https://www.amazon.com/Off-Rails-Phnom- ... geNumber=2
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Re: Re-reading Amit Gilboa's "Off the Rails in Phnom Penh"

Post by Username Taken »

A pretty accurate reflection of Phnom Penh at the time.
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Re: Re-reading Amit Gilboa's "Off the Rails in Phnom Penh"

Post by phuketrichard »

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
In a nation run by swine, all pigs are upward-mobile and the rest of us are fucked until we can put our acts together: not necessarily to win, but mainly to keep from losing completely. HST
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Re: Re-reading Amit Gilboa's "Off the Rails in Phnom Penh"

Post by LTO »

Some truth, some fiction, some in-between, from the POV of a gutter dwelling rat.
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Re: Re-reading Amit Gilboa's "Off the Rails in Phnom Penh"

Post by frank lee bent »

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

Post by Jamie_Lambo »

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

Post by taabarang »

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.
As my old Cajun bait seller used to say, "I opes you luck.
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Re: Re-reading Amit Gilboa's "Off the Rails in Phnom Penh"

Post by frank lee bent »

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

Post by Jamie_Lambo »

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
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