IT 1S AN axiom of the ».. publishing business-that sex selis books; lots of sex sells -lots of books. u . Isn't it reassuring to know that, ; in a world of ‘shifting values and — * “great uncertainty; there is at Ieast “one formula we can rely on unfail- ~ ingly? of course, one of the reasons that sex-in-print is so |~ lucrative is that the media take “such evident delight in interviewing authors of works laced with physi- > nadian ex-p, _and revell “that the sexual component i is not ~ included for its titillation value but still, the taint of carnality is “undeniably there throughout. This places your reviewer. in a major quandary: should J even “+ mention The Paradise Eater and risk offending readers’ sen- ; sibilities? Or should the book be reviewed anyway but tastefully,” including only those references't0- *. $-E-X deemed essential to the storysline? Well what the heck: a” and see if we can jot who has resided . ik Bangkok, sin-city ” of the exotic (and crotic) east for Take Canadian writer John . :; Ralston Saul’s The Paradise Eater for: example. Although only now making its way into bookstores, The Paradise Eater has kept Saul ‘hopping from one interview to the”. . other since its release was first an- _ nounced several months ago : Ce “Obviously | the key reason for... this’ demand is the fact that the? ‘novel’s protagonist, Canadian ... journalist John Field, is rather . chummy with Bangkok's chief ;an expert on male sexual © predilections ‘and weaknesses that Cast serious doubt on the old adage: that ‘thes way to & man "s heart i is: joints an brothels Ofe course, it: i that The ;: I Cider ($1. 95) that was si ect and refreshing. . © With our children’ tableside manner rapidly turning ugly as" “dessert time loomed, we ordered “the Wee Man a Fresh Fruit Plate . ($4.50) in place of the Triple " Chocolate Ganache, which would ‘undoubtedly have resulted in great - gnashing of teeth and other ’ screwball chocclate-inspired '.: behavior. “ eThe fruit plate included ae beautiful display of sliced ‘apples, pears, ki “Capers presents an “excellent | : mixture of nourishing light food hat is far,from dull, in surroun- dings pleasant and bright. Ati is Open daily from‘8:30 a. .m.: for breakfast’ and Junch and’. : Bangkek:s wai Waite papaya and SraMeee : 20 years. Now middle-aged, Field’s life contains few surprises.ciid even fewer joys. : Two decades of, sAmtiRS 3 prmeria ‘Aiave given him arty Tt «=, feeling a certain a _ with the dilemma of how to raise 25 - Friday, Jeme 24, 1988 - North Shore News T” the-sidelines and somehow unravel the labyrinthine poiitical interests of those around him. _A sexually-diseased, jaded Cx: 4 journalist may be a curious form — an impressive mdical file that cat- ‘alogues his bouts with virtually. " every known venereal disease and -. - his current affliction has defied a * series of powerful antibiotics. If the loss of his miich-prized sex-life were not cnough, Field - "discovers that what was supposed ; --ytobea simple business deal in nzighboring Laos has gone hor,’: bly wrong. A ce beer lover and: suspect. Now the real tee want Field dead and send teams of, ft equal ~~ “ rou choose any - of greater vala ” Good tor.any food Item ~ food item ° COUPON: > when yo! “WITH THIS “for dinner. : ; killers in hot pursuit as he flees back to Thailand.= - What follows is a ‘cynical (or: te- - alistic) view gi the underside of » Thai : - . The Paradise Eater i is far more * ‘than a simple thriller set in the oS Here's’ two, ‘two for one’ “reasons to come ‘try. our. ‘great new. restaurant and delicious new. quality. Troll’s », coupons still gladly accepted. re fe tursdays only. rough Th thi AND C Mondays NADE, NORTH \ Ai Coupon expires duly of underdog, but the reader will . find it difficult not to root for.” him. (The Paradise Eater; Random * House; 270 PP. $22. 95 in hard- cover). ; 10. ©) Seater - As cumpliod by ; Uaioe’ Cagcmmbcotioss Sraerch ‘Our succulent ribs Served with Garlic ast and your : choice of { spaghetti or Boston spuds.. : 2 for onty : - ++ Ladiam 3. (5) Teriving on Chaos .. Peters. ” 4. (2) Ast of the Deal -... Tramp