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Samarang Hotel
Julian Lockhardt, the bombastic, heavy-drinking expat manager of the Samarang Hotel – the most prestigious hotel in Vientiane, Laos, and a gathering place for diplomats and spies – is short on self-awareness, long on self-pity. Society, so he believes, has failed him. He is easily seduced by Asia's many charms, deeply resistant to any broader understanding of its underlying values and confident – smugly so – of the supremacy of Western ‘enlightenment' thinking.
Julian's least favourite guest, a recent arrival called Nancy Bacon, seems to take hawkish delight in pointing out his many shortcomings. But when he discovers that Nancy is facing an ordeal he himself can scarcely contemplate, the two of them take a journey into the hills of northern Laos – a land he has never bothered to explore or understand. Awakened to the importance of symbolism and the power of myth, Julian returns to the capital with new insight into the ways of the world and his place in it.
Perhaps society has not failed him. It might just be that he has failed society. Does Julian have time to put a few things right?
Julian's least favourite guest, a recent arrival called Nancy Bacon, seems to take hawkish delight in pointing out his many shortcomings. But when he discovers that Nancy is facing an ordeal he himself can scarcely contemplate, the two of them take a journey into the hills of northern Laos – a land he has never bothered to explore or understand. Awakened to the importance of symbolism and the power of myth, Julian returns to the capital with new insight into the ways of the world and his place in it.
Perhaps society has not failed him. It might just be that he has failed society. Does Julian have time to put a few things right?
195 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 1, 2021
9 people want to read
About the author
John Webb
144 books4 followersThere is more than one John Webb in the Goodreads catalog. This entry is for John ^ Webb.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 28, 2021
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Being an Asian myself, born and raised, I have certainly met someone similar to Julian Lockhardt, the main character in this book. Julian is a manager for Samarang Hotel- the most prestigious hotel in Vientiane, Laos. Julian felt the emptiness thus the need of smoking and heavy-drinking by himself. He is also thinking of stocking up the cigarettes in the truck-load and doesn’t care whether it’s illegal or not.
Julian goes through the same thing every day at Samarang Hotel, doing his work while grunting of course. Deep down I feel like Julian is actually not willing to do the job even though he is actually the general manager at the hotel. It’s like you wake up every day, doing something you’ve been told.
I like the brief history of the Samarang Hotel. It was built in 1926 by Dutch fellows right across the road from a four-hundred-year-old Buddhist stupa. But then it was burned down in 1950, was abandoned during the renovation in 1975 and reopened again in 1989 and became the most prestigious place in Vientiane. The hotel has gone through so many things. But then, along with the recent arrival of his guest, Nancy Bacon, a Russian guest is found dead which makes Julian’s life more miserable because the foreign diplomatic and intelligent community take sudden interest regarding the case.
Drinking does not make the problem go away, you know? That’s what I said when Julian is put on an extended leave of absence because of the problem he’s making while getting drunk and high. Samarang Hotel is a quick read for me. A book about a miserable guy trying to discover and finding the meaning of his life. I like how this book makes me google every place the author has mentioned in this book. So many interesting and beautiful places I’ve discovered like Pho Daeng village and the foothills of Phou Nang Fa. Visualization makes it more interesting to read!
I was looking for a more diverse read and gladly stumbled upon this one. This book feels more traditional because of the place setting. John Webb definitely did a great job blending the reality of death, a religious place like Buddhist monastery, the importance of symbolism and the power of myth. I hope this book does not end sooner, I like to read more about Julian’s life after the sudden loss and I am glad Julian’s getting his life back on the road. I’ve mixed feelings while reading this book, anger and sadness are the main things. Wish I could read more from this author.
Thank you @monsoonbooks for providing me with this ARC. Good news! The publication date for this book is today! Can click the link on my bio if you would like to purchase this book.
Personal rating: 4/5🌟
Being an Asian myself, born and raised, I have certainly met someone similar to Julian Lockhardt, the main character in this book. Julian is a manager for Samarang Hotel- the most prestigious hotel in Vientiane, Laos. Julian felt the emptiness thus the need of smoking and heavy-drinking by himself. He is also thinking of stocking up the cigarettes in the truck-load and doesn’t care whether it’s illegal or not.
Julian goes through the same thing every day at Samarang Hotel, doing his work while grunting of course. Deep down I feel like Julian is actually not willing to do the job even though he is actually the general manager at the hotel. It’s like you wake up every day, doing something you’ve been told.
I like the brief history of the Samarang Hotel. It was built in 1926 by Dutch fellows right across the road from a four-hundred-year-old Buddhist stupa. But then it was burned down in 1950, was abandoned during the renovation in 1975 and reopened again in 1989 and became the most prestigious place in Vientiane. The hotel has gone through so many things. But then, along with the recent arrival of his guest, Nancy Bacon, a Russian guest is found dead which makes Julian’s life more miserable because the foreign diplomatic and intelligent community take sudden interest regarding the case.
Drinking does not make the problem go away, you know? That’s what I said when Julian is put on an extended leave of absence because of the problem he’s making while getting drunk and high. Samarang Hotel is a quick read for me. A book about a miserable guy trying to discover and finding the meaning of his life. I like how this book makes me google every place the author has mentioned in this book. So many interesting and beautiful places I’ve discovered like Pho Daeng village and the foothills of Phou Nang Fa. Visualization makes it more interesting to read!
I was looking for a more diverse read and gladly stumbled upon this one. This book feels more traditional because of the place setting. John Webb definitely did a great job blending the reality of death, a religious place like Buddhist monastery, the importance of symbolism and the power of myth. I hope this book does not end sooner, I like to read more about Julian’s life after the sudden loss and I am glad Julian’s getting his life back on the road. I’ve mixed feelings while reading this book, anger and sadness are the main things. Wish I could read more from this author.
Thank you @monsoonbooks for providing me with this ARC. Good news! The publication date for this book is today! Can click the link on my bio if you would like to purchase this book.
Personal rating: 4/5🌟
March 10, 2022
A rollicking enjoyable read to follow the journey of Julian Lockhardt. Julian Lockhardt takes a road trip with two acquaintances into the hills of Laos. It is less a physical journeying rather, each finds his or her own purpose and resolution in the trip. We witness the inner journey of the characters and in turn, we too are affected. The book made me smile and laugh at the adventures and foibles of the protagonist and it also inexplicably made me feel a certain resolution and peace. Like Julian Lockhardt, there was a shift in my consciousness when I came away from the book. It was a lovely trip with them.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews