Books Set in Ireland - Five Novels to Read Before You Travel

If you are traveling to Ireland, then you will no doubt be aware of the rich literary tradition the country has. Almost everywhere you go there are references to Irish writers, such as James Joyce, Oscar Wilde and George Bernard Shaw. And even today, somehow the Irish seem to be able to tell a story better than just about anyone else - whether it be in written form, or just through a chat in the pub.

So, if a trip to The Emerald Isle is on the agenda, then it is almost compulsory to take some books set in Ireland to read on your travels. But what should you read if Joyce's 'Ulysses' is not quite your cup of tea? Here's a range of novels that will take you the length and breadth of Ireland, and give you a real taste of life over the years in this country filled with passion and history.

'The Mammy' by Brendan O'Carroll

If you want to know more about Dublin in the 1960's, then this story of widow Agnes Browne and her seven children will do it. This is working-class Ireland with all its squalor, laughter and alcoholic fathers, and the best news is that the book is the first of a trilogy. The next time you are approached by a cheeky Dublin lad (and there are many!), you may find yourself thinking back to Agnes and her brood.

'Little Criminals' by Gene Kerrigan

And now to Dublin in contemporary times. The country has had its economic miracle and everyone is an entrepreneur, even the criminals. Frankie Crowe has a scheme to make himself some money, planning to kidnap a wealthy banker and set himself up for life. While this could be just a cops and robbers novel, Kerrigan does much to portray the underbelly of Dublin life, and the social changes that have taken place over recent years.

'Juno and Juliet' by Julian Gough

If you decide to head to Galway (and I'd highly encourage you to do so), then this novel is one of the few that is set there. This story of identical twins during their first year at university sees them adjusting to life in the city, drinking in the bars and attending classes from time to time. It's a coming of age story in which Galway itself is one of the main characters.

'The Whereabouts of Eneas McNulty' by Sebastian Barry

The tensions surrounding the Irish struggle for independence lie at the heart of this novel set in the town of Sligo in Ireland's north-west. Unable to find work, Eneas joins the British-led police force the Royal Irish Constabulary, and in the process labels himself a traitor. As a marked man he goes on the run, and while the novel follows Eneas from country to country, he sneaks back to Sligo when he can. A compelling look at 20th Century Ireland, through a character who has become a victim of his country's fight to exist.

'Pomegranate Soup' by Marsha Mehran

In this novel we see a different kind of migration -- the story of three Iranian sisters who move to an Irish village in the 1980's. It's not often you get a food-lit story set in Ireland, but Pomegranate Soup is exactly that, with its celebration of Persian cuisine. Unsurprisingly the village residents take a while to adapt to this foreign influence in one of their local cafes, and despite the novel's focus on a different culture, it provides plenty of detail of Irish life and landscape for those trying to learn more about the country.

There are many stereotypes about the Irish, but as a traveler you have the opportunity to reach beyond the surface of Irish culture and see what lies beneath. Reading books set in Ireland will help you do that, revealing details of Irish streets and cities, hopes and history - and when you visit the places mentioned, you will feel as if you know it just that little bit better than if you had arrived a stranger.

Read This Before Dating a Thai Bar Girl

Thailand is world renowned for their red-light districts. Many Western men visit the country every year on business or on vacation and visit some of the many go-go bars in many parts of the country. While the bar girl scene in all actuality is a very small part of the countries culture, it is often widely talked about in Western cultures.

Some men visit a bar and fall in love with one of the beautiful Thailand bar girls and attempt to Date of them. These men quickly discover that this woman is not as simple as a normal Thai girl. In fact, I recommend you leave your heart at the threshold of these structures and find a real Thai girl to date. But if you're adventurous, here are five things you should know before bar girl in Thailand.

1. Most of the Thai bar girls have little or no training

Many of the women you see in the red light district of Bangkoksuch as Patpong or along the beachfronts in Pattaya or Patong Beach on Phuket are not locals. Many of them are from the Eastern part of the country known as Isan. Other girls come from the North and are often not even Thai citizens but residents of Burma, Cambodia or some of the hill-tribe regions between countries. These women likely have little education and in many cases, cannot speak much English.

2. Thai bar girls have a very street smart.

Formal education aside, Thai bar girls have a very keen street sense. Never underestimate a woman that's worked in a Thai go-go bar. She will look sweet, beautiful, sexy and innocent but she may also have anterior motives in the relationship.

3. To bar girls, money is very important.

In many situations, the money that a Thai bar girl brings in for a nights work is many times sent home to take care of parents or their own children that they have. So unless you have a decent amount of money and are willing to support her family, she'll likely not be interested. This fact is something that has plagued real Thai ladies in the past. Note to Western men, NOT ALL THAI WOMEN THINK THAT MONEY IS IMPORTANT!

4. Thai bar girls like their line of work

It's true! And that is the most difficult about getting into a serious relationship with a Thai bargirl. You want to "save" them from their line of work, but they don't want to be saved. They make very good money compared to other things they could be doing. This gives the bar girl a great amount of personal freedom. This personal freedom will be difficult for the lady to part with if asked. If a man tries to take a Thai bar girl out of the bar, he'll find it to be very difficult unless she's truly done with that scene and ready to settle down.

5. It is rare, but there are success stories

There are some success stories of Western men dating and sometimes happily marrying a bar girl he met while on the job. Unfortunately, I don't personally know of anyone that has been successful in settling down with one. But I'm certain it has happened a time or two.

The best advise I can give is to go and enjoy your time in Thailand however you wish to spend it. Just be careful when dating Thai bar girls and remember to heed my advise.