The Queens of Dragon Town

After I read this book, I reread the author's first book- Pushups in the Prayer Room. One of the ways you can tell if the author is any good is by sensing a growth in writing. I loved all three books, but this book really felt like Mr. Schriever has grown not only as an author but as a man. He tends to be almost a father figure to these girls and can never seem to come to grips to what horrid life conditions they must endure. Things we take for granted or assumed does not exist and that is a hard concept to understand. Only when he must live amongst them can he scrape the surface of what life is like for a girl in Dragon Town. The writing was excellent- you can see the development in author's writing style, but it still contains the humor we come to expect. It is one of those books you can't wait to find time to read but so sad when it's over. There were a few grammar errors, but wonder if it was due to the kindle format. I highly recommend this book. It is a quick read, perfect for the long plane trip or beach weekend.

"The Queens of Dragon Town" is an amazing story and a must read! Norm Schriever is such a gifted storyteller. He creates fantastic imagery, you feel as if you are right there with him experiencing these incredible adventures, and witnessing the suffering and everyday life of the people he meets. After reading his account of the typhoon I looked up his video on Youtube, and it was exactly as I had pictured it according to his writing. Schriever doesn't travel the world and stay at the best resorts, no, he immerses himself into the culture and gives an honest account of what is going on. This book tells the story of those that most of us wouldn't give a second glance at, or if we did it would not be without judgement. He gives these people a voice. I did not want to put this book down. After reading "The Queens of Dragon Town", I re-read "Pushups in the Prayer Room" and I am now re-reading "South of Normal". All three of these books are so much fun to read, I highly recommend them all! I have learned so much about other cultures and their history, and it is told in such an honest and hilarious manner. I have read other books by people who have traveled far, but nobody writes it like Norm Schriever! I can't wait to read his next book!

The Queens of Dragon Town is a captivating true story of an American man who is literally stranded on an island after a typhoon with no shelter or money. Norm landed in an impoverished part of town and lived among a very resilient group of young women who sold themselves to survive. Unlike a documentary, Norm did not have the luxury of retreating to a fancy hotel when circumstances became uncomfortable. Through it all, Norm was able to share the stories of these margionalized women, while holding the utmost respect for them and sans an ounce of judgement. As a former social worker, I hesitated to read the book, worried that it would be too depressing to follow the lives of young women in such a desperate situation. Instead, I finished the book feeling hopeful and with a renewed faith in humanity. I also have a much better understanding of how poverty affects people. Albeit painful, poverty and adversity releases inner strength that would otherwise never surface.

While the author describes with skill and humor the lives of "Taxi Girls" in S.E. Asia, he also gives them the dignity they too often are denied. Rather than being a marketed commodity, these young ladies become identities who have created a world of their own in which they try to survive. This book causes the reader to pause and give thought on how those who "drew the low numbers of the cards in the deck of life" deserve the attention and compassion of those who happened to have drawn the higher numbers. And, in spite of their initial ranking, the Taxi Girls manage to become Queens. Well written, an easy read, interesting content, and highly recommended.

Norm Schriever is the antithesis of the Ugly American. In this book he is swept into a third world struggle for survival-- including his own. He does this without judgment and without the gratuitous pity that those "who have" bestow on those "who don't have". This is a well told story of daily survival, a struggle that most of the world is engaged in, but told without the usual hand-wringing. At times depressing and at others--a hoot. Cast with very colorful and memorable characters , it is a must read.

I hope this author will continue to document his travels in books such as The Queens of Dragon Town. He portrays the people and the areas where he has traveled in such a manner that I almost felt as though I was there. I have read two of his previous books, South of Normal and Pushups in the Prayer Room, also and they were written in the same delightful style. Norm has a certain feel for the people and the countries about which he writes that I find compelling.

After reading "South of Normal", and loving it, I moved right on to reading another one of Norm Schriever's book, "The Queens of Dragon Town." Like SoN, I fully expected TQoDT to be another light-hearted travel-adventure book with whimsical stories and laugh-out-loud funny experiences told through the eyes of an American living in a foreign country. However, I was blown away with the real-life, hard-to-swallow experiences of the local "taxi girls" who have no choice but to migrate to the city and sell their bodies for not only their own survival, but also to help their desperately poor families back in the provinces. Norm's latest book grabbed and kept my attention from the moment he arrived and was pummeled by a hurricane, to the moment he departed after saying his goodbyes to the girls who had become like family to him. Norm told the entire story using the utmost of respect and never once passed judgment on the lives of those who live what would otherwise be viewed as immoral and indignant. This book is a real eye opener which brought to mind how good we have it here, and how so many people around the globe scrape and claw to try and grab tiny piece human dignity, which seems to be just out of their reach.

Bravo Norm Scriever! I loved the book from start to finish and I was so drawn to the stories you so eloquently told . You captured the true essence of how corrupt our government officials are, the need for bribes if you want anything done but most important of all , you understood why the taxi girls do what they do yet you treated them like real people. The Sophar's you've met are so lucky to have had you as a friend. Everything you wrote was so compelling, I felt like I was there while you told your story. I cried for the Ava's of the world and the real Ava in your story. I hope The Queens of Dragontown somehow get to read your book and appreciate how you considered them your friends. Well done!

Quite possibly the best book I have read on travels and experiences of SE Asia. Norm brought the people of the island to life in his tale with the detail and accuracy of their mannerisms and culture. I found myself feeling like I was next to him some nights in the bar as he recounted his story and by the end felt like I had lost......well you will have to read it yourself to find out!

Absolutely Amazing! I could not put this book down. He is an outstanding writer and shared with me a side of the world that I needed to develop a greater understanding. This is one of the best books I have read in quite a while. I recommend it highly, but be aware; I couldn't put it down the entire weekend and did not get my other tasks finished..... Blessings and respect to you Norm! James T Shafer, PhD

After I read this book, I reread the author's first book- Pushups in the Prayer Room. One of the ways you can tell if the author is any good is by sensing a growth in writing. I loved all three books, but this book really felt like Mr. Schriever has grown not only as an author but as a man. He tends to be almost a father figure to these girls and can never seem to come to grips to what horrid life conditions they must endure. Things we take for granted or assumed does not exist and that is a hard concept to understand. Only when he must live amongst them can he scrape the surface of what life is like for a girl in Dragon Town. The writing was excellent- you can see the development in author's writing style, but it still contains the humor we come to expect. It is one of those books you can't wait to find time to read but so sad when it's over. There were a few grammar errors, but wonder if it was due to the kindle format. I highly recommend this book. It is a quick read, perfect for the long plane trip or beach weekend.

"The Queens of Dragon Town" is an amazing story and a must read! Norm Schriever is such a gifted storyteller. He creates fantastic imagery, you feel as if you are right there with him experiencing these incredible adventures, and witnessing the suffering and everyday life of the people he meets. After reading his account of the typhoon I looked up his video on Youtube, and it was exactly as I had pictured it according to his writing. Schriever doesn't travel the world and stay at the best resorts, no, he immerses himself into the culture and gives an honest account of what is going on. This book tells the story of those that most of us wouldn't give a second glance at, or if we did it would not be without judgement. He gives these people a voice. I did not want to put this book down. After reading "The Queens of Dragon Town", I re-read "Pushups in the Prayer Room" and I am now re-reading "South of Normal". All three of these books are so much fun to read, I highly recommend them all! I have learned so much about other cultures and their history, and it is told in such an honest and hilarious manner. I have read other books by people who have traveled far, but nobody writes it like Norm Schriever! I can't wait to read his next book!

The Queens of Dragon Town is a captivating true story of an American man who is literally stranded on an island after a typhoon with no shelter or money. Norm landed in an impoverished part of town and lived among a very resilient group of young women who sold themselves to survive. Unlike a documentary, Norm did not have the luxury of retreating to a fancy hotel when circumstances became uncomfortable. Through it all, Norm was able to share the stories of these margionalized women, while holding the utmost respect for them and sans an ounce of judgement. As a former social worker, I hesitated to read the book, worried that it would be too depressing to follow the lives of young women in such a desperate situation. Instead, I finished the book feeling hopeful and with a renewed faith in humanity. I also have a much better understanding of how poverty affects people. Albeit painful, poverty and adversity releases inner strength that would otherwise never surface.

While the author describes with skill and humor the lives of "Taxi Girls" in S.E. Asia, he also gives them the dignity they too often are denied. Rather than being a marketed commodity, these young ladies become identities who have created a world of their own in which they try to survive. This book causes the reader to pause and give thought on how those who "drew the low numbers of the cards in the deck of life" deserve the attention and compassion of those who happened to have drawn the higher numbers. And, in spite of their initial ranking, the Taxi Girls manage to become Queens. Well written, an easy read, interesting content, and highly recommended.

Norm Schriever is the antithesis of the Ugly American. In this book he is swept into a third world struggle for survival-- including his own. He does this without judgment and without the gratuitous pity that those "who have" bestow on those "who don't have". This is a well told story of daily survival, a struggle that most of the world is engaged in, but told without the usual hand-wringing. At times depressing and at others--a hoot. Cast with very colorful and memorable characters , it is a must read.

I hope this author will continue to document his travels in books such as The Queens of Dragon Town. He portrays the people and the areas where he has traveled in such a manner that I almost felt as though I was there. I have read two of his previous books, South of Normal and Pushups in the Prayer Room, also and they were written in the same delightful style. Norm has a certain feel for the people and the countries about which he writes that I find compelling.

After reading "South of Normal", and loving it, I moved right on to reading another one of Norm Schriever's book, "The Queens of Dragon Town." Like SoN, I fully expected TQoDT to be another light-hearted travel-adventure book with whimsical stories and laugh-out-loud funny experiences told through the eyes of an American living in a foreign country. However, I was blown away with the real-life, hard-to-swallow experiences of the local "taxi girls" who have no choice but to migrate to the city and sell their bodies for not only their own survival, but also to help their desperately poor families back in the provinces. Norm's latest book grabbed and kept my attention from the moment he arrived and was pummeled by a hurricane, to the moment he departed after saying his goodbyes to the girls who had become like family to him. Norm told the entire story using the utmost of respect and never once passed judgment on the lives of those who live what would otherwise be viewed as immoral and indignant. This book is a real eye opener which brought to mind how good we have it here, and how so many people around the globe scrape and claw to try and grab tiny piece human dignity, which seems to be just out of their reach.

Bravo Norm Scriever! I loved the book from start to finish and I was so drawn to the stories you so eloquently told . You captured the true essence of how corrupt our government officials are, the need for bribes if you want anything done but most important of all , you understood why the taxi girls do what they do yet you treated them like real people. The Sophar's you've met are so lucky to have had you as a friend. Everything you wrote was so compelling, I felt like I was there while you told your story. I cried for the Ava's of the world and the real Ava in your story. I hope The Queens of Dragontown somehow get to read your book and appreciate how you considered them your friends. Well done!

Quite possibly the best book I have read on travels and experiences of SE Asia. Norm brought the people of the island to life in his tale with the detail and accuracy of their mannerisms and culture. I found myself feeling like I was next to him some nights in the bar as he recounted his story and by the end felt like I had lost......well you will have to read it yourself to find out!

Absolutely Amazing! I could not put this book down. He is an outstanding writer and shared with me a side of the world that I needed to develop a greater understanding. This is one of the best books I have read in quite a while. I recommend it highly, but be aware; I couldn't put it down the entire weekend and did not get my other tasks finished..... Blessings and respect to you Norm! James T Shafer, PhD

What an epic tale! Norm has lived several life times of adventures and manages to weave his personal experiences with poignant stories of the people with whom he shares his life with. I felt like I'd lived another life myself after reading this book and I'm grateful for the experience. Shine like a diamond!

Visiting SE Asia can feel like one has been dropped onto another planet. Norm has captured the essence of what it is to like. I had to keep reminding myself that this is a true story. Loved the characters. I was in tears at the end. Norm's laid-back writing style makes this an easy, enjoyable read.

Great read that gets right into the dark world that is the bar scene in south east asia. A very honest account of what happens and why. Norm shows the girls in a different light and why there lives have turned out the way they have. There is some laughs some tears but a great tale about the cards at the bottom of the deck. Not to long a book so it's great for a holiday

Once again, Norm Schriever makes me laugh while making me aware of sad/unfortunate/out-of-"normal" situations around the world. This great book tells the story of a town, a culture and a stranded half-tourist, half-local. This is an entertaining, eye-opening, heart-breaking piece of art.

An amazing story about a real event, told with so much compassion for the people involved. I felt so sad for these people who have to do some very unpleasant things just to get by. The author made me feel like I was there. Looking forward to reading more of his books.

Very good. I like Norm's style. He gives you a realistic idea of his experiences. He is a well travelled and well written story teller.

great read