Monkey House Blues
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Product Description
Book Description
An eventful prison memoir-cum-travelogue that documents a decade of experiences in the Far East
Product Description
In 1993, Dominic Stevenson left a comfortable life with his girlfriend in Kyoto, Japan, to travel to China. His journey took him to some of the most inhospitable and dangerous places in the world, from the poppy fields of the Afghan-Pakistan border to the ancient trade routes of the Silk Road, before he was arrested for drug smuggling while boarding a boat from Shanghai to Japan.
After eight months on remand in a Chinese police lock-up, Stevenson was sentenced to two and a half years in one of the biggest prisons in the world, the Shanghai Municipal Prison aka 'The Monkey House'. There, he was imprisoned alongside just five westerners amongst five thousand Chinese criminals in a block for death row inmates and political prisoners, where the guards drank green tea and let the prison run itself.
The experience led him to reflect on his previous life in Japan, India and Thailand, during which time he took on a varied array of jobs, including English teacher, karaoke-bar host, factory worker, busker, crystal seller and dope smuggler.
From Afghan gun shops to Tibetan monasteries, Thai brothels and the stirrings of the rave culture in Goa, Monkey House Blues is a tale of discovery and rediscovery, of friendship and betrayal.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
This is a well-woven rite of passage set againt the lifestyle of a young traveller.As a prison memoir it is a fascinating expose of life behind bars in China,coupled with excursions into the follies,highs and lows of a hedonistic,yet romantic nomad adventure.Stevenson,without self-pity or indulgence, recreates a personal "coming to a head" of factors,aspirations and dreams in a poignantly-paced, pithy and readable prose.Anyone who has recognised that they are the author of their own triumphs and downfalls will empathise with the "everyman" message in this entertaining,enjoyable and recommendable book.
Format:Paperback
Drug-dealing Dominic Stevenson spent over two years in China's largest jail, Shanghai Municipal Prison. His memoir recounts his experiences as a naughty expat in various Asian countries leading up to his arrest on the Silk Road.
Format:Paperback
This harrowing tale by Stevenson is a remarkable insight into life in the far east during the 80's and the author himself. It is a touching and honest review of the harsh realities of Chinese incarceration from an outsider's point of view; what makes this novel particulalry poignant is the honesty that Stevenson brings to his spritual journey as well as his physical transition through the Chinese justice system.
It is a touching account which deftly handles difficult situations with both humility and wry humour. An excellent holiday read!
It is a touching account which deftly handles difficult situations with both humility and wry humour. An excellent holiday read!
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Gives you the blues
I am afraid this book did not live up to my expectations. It's a very ordinary story which must happen quite a lot if you are into the drug smuggling scene. Read more
Published 6 months ago by pewitlok
Pleasantly surprised and impressed
I was a bit worried due to the cover image and title it was going to be a horrible tale of pain, suffering and injustice. Read more
Published 18 months ago by JANE PARKER
Fantastic read
What a great book - read the whole thing in a day - couldn't put it down. Brilliant description of Domonic's experience inside a Chinese prison. Read more
Published 24 months ago by mr andrew j cooke
Insightful and Amazing Read
What an amazing and insightful read. I read this book so easily and was always dying to turn the page for some more adventures and thoughts. Read more
Published on 7 May 2010 by J. Lloyd
Insider's view of China
Absolutely brilliant read - colliding worlds are brought to life as a laid-back, adventurous and perceptive young westerner gets banged up in the dystopia of the Chinese prison... Read more
Published on 3 May 2010 by Mark Gooner
Not a run of the mill druggy prison story
Dom Stevenson's China prison story is an unusual take on the drugs/prison memoir genre and well worth reading for that reason alone.
Published on 27 April 2010 by The Dolt
Monkey House Blues
Wow - what a read it had me fixed from start to finish and I wanted to flip the sleeve and read it all over again
Published on 24 April 2010 by Lisa Gunther
Insightful and dramatic dairy-style book
I was recomended this book by a friend.
I read it whilst travelling around india, so the theme fealt almost relevant to my position at the time. Read more
I read it whilst travelling around india, so the theme fealt almost relevant to my position at the time. Read more
Published on 19 April 2010 by Critic
Couldn't put it down
I bought this book to take with me to read on holiday and almost read it all in one sitting; something I rarely do. Read more
Published on 16 April 2010 by James Ray
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