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Saint Richard Parker
Win a free kindle copy of this book!
23 days and 14:35:17
100 copies available
U.S. only
His search for love and enlightenment across India, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, and Indonesia...
Ace businessman, writer, and investigative journalist Richard Parker loses his job when he exposes the vegetarian CEO of his newspaper as a beef exporter. Accused of misconduct and forced to dissolve his company, he retreats to his wretched little village.
Attempting to resuscitate his life, Richard realizes that attaining enlightenment is his calling.
What holds him back?
Well, he does not know if spirituality or sexuality comes first. He must also avoid the attentions of Isakki, the dark witch, and her menacing buffaloes. Desperate and confused, Richard consults an astrologer, who predicts that his destiny lies in the exotic East.
Richard sets out on a spiritual journey—an odyssey of self-discovery that takes him through the market streets, ballrooms, tantric retreats, and pristine jungles of Southeast Asia. Between running for his life and trying to prove he is not a con artist, child snatcher, or Man Friday material, Richard discovers his true love—in the least expected place. And yes, he also discovers the path to enlightenment.
Saint Richard Parker is a humorous travel adventure across the famed spiritual and romantic region of Southeast Asia, with an ensemble of unforgettable characters and a keen eye for the absurdities of modern life.
Ace businessman, writer, and investigative journalist Richard Parker loses his job when he exposes the vegetarian CEO of his newspaper as a beef exporter. Accused of misconduct and forced to dissolve his company, he retreats to his wretched little village.
Attempting to resuscitate his life, Richard realizes that attaining enlightenment is his calling.
What holds him back?
Well, he does not know if spirituality or sexuality comes first. He must also avoid the attentions of Isakki, the dark witch, and her menacing buffaloes. Desperate and confused, Richard consults an astrologer, who predicts that his destiny lies in the exotic East.
Richard sets out on a spiritual journey—an odyssey of self-discovery that takes him through the market streets, ballrooms, tantric retreats, and pristine jungles of Southeast Asia. Between running for his life and trying to prove he is not a con artist, child snatcher, or Man Friday material, Richard discovers his true love—in the least expected place. And yes, he also discovers the path to enlightenment.
Saint Richard Parker is a humorous travel adventure across the famed spiritual and romantic region of Southeast Asia, with an ensemble of unforgettable characters and a keen eye for the absurdities of modern life.
366 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 24, 2023
About the author
Merlin Franco
4 books636 followersMerlin Franco is an Indian-born academic with a PhD in Ethnobiology. He currently lives in Borneo with his imaginary girlfriend and a gang of feral monkeys. Merlin’s hobbies include staring at the ceiling, stroking his greying beard, and running away from stray dogs.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews
November 27, 2023
This book was a fun, engaging, silly, and vibrant read. The author, Merlin Franco, does a beautiful job at bringing Southeast Asian culture so lushly to the front. You can feel his awe and passion for his own culture. As a reader, it was a lot of fun to feel like I was on an adventure, exploring worlds I've never been to.
It's said that this book is like the male version of "Eat, Pray, Love", which isn't wrong. It's also the snarky version of "Eat, Pray Love". The lighter version, the braver version. I whole-heartedly enjoyed this book and think readers who are also on, or have been on their own journeys of self-discovery will enjoy this read too.
I look forward to more tales from Franco, what avenues of spirituality and life's strange and wonderful happenings he'll explore next!
It's said that this book is like the male version of "Eat, Pray, Love", which isn't wrong. It's also the snarky version of "Eat, Pray Love". The lighter version, the braver version. I whole-heartedly enjoyed this book and think readers who are also on, or have been on their own journeys of self-discovery will enjoy this read too.
I look forward to more tales from Franco, what avenues of spirituality and life's strange and wonderful happenings he'll explore next!
October 30, 2023
If you are a fan of local cultures and traditions, then you will enjoy reading this book. The English!!!! Oh my God, the author has captured the different varieties of English spoken in Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand very well. Try reading those passages aloud because it is such a wonderful feeling.
November 22, 2023
I liked this book more than the previous book -A Dowryless Wedding because it is full of amusing incidents.
The book "Saint Richard Parker " has no holds barred wit and humor sprinkled on every page and I must say I just loved reading his amusing accounts of SRP's antics - whether it was his misinterpretation of "Kallu" (meaning Blackie in a derogatory sense in Hindi ) as some ode to his handsomeness or the incident where he inadvertently ends up helping tow away a stolen car trying to be a good Samaritan.
Richard Parker has a witty repartee even when he faces racism and discrimination from not only foreigners but even his own people. His writing while amusing is also a sad commentary on the state of affairs in our country and the status of the brown man as compared to the white man outside India.
The book "Saint Richard Parker " has no holds barred wit and humor sprinkled on every page and I must say I just loved reading his amusing accounts of SRP's antics - whether it was his misinterpretation of "Kallu" (meaning Blackie in a derogatory sense in Hindi ) as some ode to his handsomeness or the incident where he inadvertently ends up helping tow away a stolen car trying to be a good Samaritan.
Richard Parker has a witty repartee even when he faces racism and discrimination from not only foreigners but even his own people. His writing while amusing is also a sad commentary on the state of affairs in our country and the status of the brown man as compared to the white man outside India.
October 31, 2023
Appeals to many audiences
Saint Richard Parker is a humorous tale of one person's journey seeking love and spirituality. It is like a male version of Eat, Pray, Love. Along his quest for these intangibles, Richard Parker finds himself.
The book also reminds me of Travels with My Aunt by Graham Greene. The main character voyages from country to country, meeting unique characters, getting mistaken for others, and finding himself in dangerous situations.
Saint Richard Parker is more than just a useful read for anyone on a journey of self-discovery. It will also appeal to those with a passion for travel, food, and culture. Merlin Franco has an ingenious way of mixing cultural norms and politics into the story setting, making the reader grasp the scene from more than just a tourist perspective.
Saint Richard Parker is a humorous tale of one person's journey seeking love and spirituality. It is like a male version of Eat, Pray, Love. Along his quest for these intangibles, Richard Parker finds himself.
The book also reminds me of Travels with My Aunt by Graham Greene. The main character voyages from country to country, meeting unique characters, getting mistaken for others, and finding himself in dangerous situations.
Saint Richard Parker is more than just a useful read for anyone on a journey of self-discovery. It will also appeal to those with a passion for travel, food, and culture. Merlin Franco has an ingenious way of mixing cultural norms and politics into the story setting, making the reader grasp the scene from more than just a tourist perspective.
October 26, 2023
This is a truly funny and a thought-provoking journey as well which is a rare combination. Richard blunders his journey into various clashes however leaves the readers with a happiness at the end.
October 29, 2023
Quite Entertaining and Spiritual
Saint Richard Parker by Merlin Franco is a fascinating story that will not only make you laugh but also have you question your spirituality. The plot features the life of an unethical investigative journalist, Richard Parker.
Parker's life hits a turning point when his corrupt boss discovers his misconduct and fires him when he thinks his career is about to climax. The journalist begins a self-realization journey, rethinking his spiritual and romantic life.
I enjoyed reading the book beyond my expectation. Through Parker's journey, I got real-life-like experiences of the Hindu culture and religion. Also, this story teaches valuable moral lessons about integrity and work ethics.
I recommend Saint Richard Parker to everyone who loves humor, fiction, and mythology.
Saint Richard Parker by Merlin Franco is a fascinating story that will not only make you laugh but also have you question your spirituality. The plot features the life of an unethical investigative journalist, Richard Parker.
Parker's life hits a turning point when his corrupt boss discovers his misconduct and fires him when he thinks his career is about to climax. The journalist begins a self-realization journey, rethinking his spiritual and romantic life.
I enjoyed reading the book beyond my expectation. Through Parker's journey, I got real-life-like experiences of the Hindu culture and religion. Also, this story teaches valuable moral lessons about integrity and work ethics.
I recommend Saint Richard Parker to everyone who loves humor, fiction, and mythology.
February 18, 2024
All of us wonder about the true meaning of life and how to get enlightened about it every now and then. Richard Parker is one such man who is on a quest to find the meaning of life or Nirvana. He sets forth on an expedition to the east of Asia in search of this elusive truth when an astrologer tells him his destiny lies there. The story of his travels unfolds in the form of several adventures in each one of the places he visits. He tries to find enlightenment through two means. First one is through sexuality and the second is spirituality.
The quest for Nirvana takes Parker to several countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia to name a few. The book is written with subtle humour which is highly entertaining. We find that the author has pointed out the ironies and vicariousness of religion with a skillful pen. He points out the defects in almost all religions and the book is not a critique of any one faith.
He meets several beautiful women as he travels from place to place. But nirvana through sexuality eludes him. He then decides to takes the spiritual path. And he fulfills his quest but in a unique manner.
The book deals with several moral questions of very great importance. The author has dealt with these very deftly and with great aplomb. The book is a very good travelogue also and gives the reader a lot of information about the countries he visits.
On the negative side, I have to say this. The book is too long and rambles on endlessly. Even very trivial things are described in vivid detail which is really not necessary. But, all said and done it is a very good book and the flow is smooth. Do pick it up!
The quest for Nirvana takes Parker to several countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia to name a few. The book is written with subtle humour which is highly entertaining. We find that the author has pointed out the ironies and vicariousness of religion with a skillful pen. He points out the defects in almost all religions and the book is not a critique of any one faith.
He meets several beautiful women as he travels from place to place. But nirvana through sexuality eludes him. He then decides to takes the spiritual path. And he fulfills his quest but in a unique manner.
The book deals with several moral questions of very great importance. The author has dealt with these very deftly and with great aplomb. The book is a very good travelogue also and gives the reader a lot of information about the countries he visits.
On the negative side, I have to say this. The book is too long and rambles on endlessly. Even very trivial things are described in vivid detail which is really not necessary. But, all said and done it is a very good book and the flow is smooth. Do pick it up!
February 29, 2024
When Richard Parker gets fired from the big business he worked for as a journalist he couldn’t forget his boss calling him “stupid Richard Parker“ and this is what initially causes him to retreat back to Lil Lotus the place of his birth and at the same time sends him on a spiritual journey. At first he worships the god of bachelors and even goes on the spiritual journey but when he arrived at the airport he missed spoke and said he was a Christian not knowing 2 feet away there is a sign that says only Buddhist allowed until after escaping a beat down his friend and mentor tells him he should not give up on marrying and that God made the female spirit for some reason… Right? so after going to another retreat he meets a woman whose name means bright moon in for the first time is in love he stays with her for months they build nonprofits for cows and then dogs and right when they’re about to properly become a couple she learned he ate meat before and then totally kicked him out of her house and her life. This is when he gets his palm read right before going back to Little Lotus and when he learned he was destined for great things and now he wants to be a saint. He will turn to the Christian religion a shaman the Harry Chrishnas and on and on the writing style of this book totally reminded me of Alexander McCall Smith who is one of my favorite authors this book is clever and although set in countries I have never visited and not familiar with it it was still easy to follow along with entertaining dialogue a fast-moving plot. It is a spiritual International journey with lots of lol moments and a protagonist you can’t help but to love. please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
November 9, 2023
The book is filled with joy and humour. Absolutely enjoyed reading it in fun way. Sometimes we stress out for life too much. But I enjoyed how the author tried to find some fun amidst the issues. I am glad I gave this book a try. Might read it a second time, too.
January 26, 2024
The awe-inspiring and wholesome adventure through several South-Asian countries through the curtains of self-discovery apart this story from any other. This is a highly recommended novel for the enthusiastic readers.
November 7, 2023
Richard Parker is not a character you would want to root for, and yet something about the poor, misguided fool endears himself to the reader. Richard Parker is not a nice, smart, or handsome guy, even though he thinks otherwise. He sets off on his spiritual journey for all the wrong reasons and gets into some really bizarre situations, often being mistaken for someone else. A lot of the things that go wrong for him are because of his own ignorance and his believe that he knows so much.
I did enjoy the books journey to different countries and my favorite character was actually Su. She had the most depth and I thought she was a very helpful friend for Parker to meet. Some of the other characters I didn't remember as well...because there were so many of them.
I felt like the book was longer than it needed to be, especially as Parker was often thrust into similar situations no matter what country he went to. It dragged on at parts when it was obvious how the book would end, bringing Parker pretty much full circle. He did experience changes and growth as a character but...I just wanted a bit more from him spiritually and ethically....and it took a long time to reach inlightment. His perseverance was pretty amazing. Most people experiencing his level of rejection would have given up, but Parker simple waited for the next "sign" as he knew he was destined for greatness (his belief, ha).
I would recommend this as the story is funny at parts and a grand adventure. Richard's internal dialogues always made me laugh...he's such a simpleton. The author does a beautiful job of immersing you into Richard's travels and the beauty of the Asian countries he visits and also throwing in some history too, which helped keep my interest. Cover stands out a lot too!
I did enjoy the books journey to different countries and my favorite character was actually Su. She had the most depth and I thought she was a very helpful friend for Parker to meet. Some of the other characters I didn't remember as well...because there were so many of them.
I felt like the book was longer than it needed to be, especially as Parker was often thrust into similar situations no matter what country he went to. It dragged on at parts when it was obvious how the book would end, bringing Parker pretty much full circle. He did experience changes and growth as a character but...I just wanted a bit more from him spiritually and ethically....and it took a long time to reach inlightment. His perseverance was pretty amazing. Most people experiencing his level of rejection would have given up, but Parker simple waited for the next "sign" as he knew he was destined for greatness (his belief, ha).
I would recommend this as the story is funny at parts and a grand adventure. Richard's internal dialogues always made me laugh...he's such a simpleton. The author does a beautiful job of immersing you into Richard's travels and the beauty of the Asian countries he visits and also throwing in some history too, which helped keep my interest. Cover stands out a lot too!
November 10, 2023
An epic Homeric odyssey across southeast Asia that I struggled to get my arms around. Maybe readers with more experience in that part of the world will catch on quicker, but so much (literal) ground was covered so quickly, and so many inexplicable things happen right from the beginning that I wasn't sure if I was reading satire, dadaism or a sprawling narrative... Thankfully it turned out to be the latter, a complex braid whose pattern finally became clear as the strands began to reappear. I still have mixed feelings about the mc whose journey I tagged along on- was he sincere in his quest or a shallow wanderer trying to justify his own existence? A soul seeking its partner, honest in its desires, or a sex-obsessed lech? Maybe not knowing is a reflection of the anxieties we all suffer- or maybe I just didn't get it, lol.
I really appreciated the history and politics that became punctuation for his travels. It was much-needed context for me in the story in general and one of my favorite features of the book, getting to hear from a denizen of that part of the world and not just the western version of events that's so readily available here. Especially as relates to the interpersonal cultural tensions and responses, that it may be easy to overlook or never be exposed to as a white traveler. Look forward to finding more of this!
Many thanks to netgalley for my copy!
I really appreciated the history and politics that became punctuation for his travels. It was much-needed context for me in the story in general and one of my favorite features of the book, getting to hear from a denizen of that part of the world and not just the western version of events that's so readily available here. Especially as relates to the interpersonal cultural tensions and responses, that it may be easy to overlook or never be exposed to as a white traveler. Look forward to finding more of this!
Many thanks to netgalley for my copy!
October 29, 2023
The travel and spiritual journeys of Richard Parker earns a light laugh from me. I enjoyed the obviously well researched (personally experienced by the author) travel references to location, culture and food. The character’s travels through east Asia and the people he meets kept my interest throughout, and I felt like a bumbling, increasingly broke tourist myself.
However, there were several parts of the book that really lost me. There were a lot of references to Indian culture that I was not familiar with, and I felt like the humor was lost on me (SC is a caste thing and means Syrian Catholic!). If I knew more about India, the stereotypes of North and South Indians and the politics of east Asia, I think this book would have been a great time. However, since I am not familiar with the prejudices and slang of this region, I felt like I missed a lot. Also, there were a lot of side characters who made an quick appearance, but then popped up again later and I had to go back to figure out where they were from.
I enjoyed this book, but I think the readers who would enjoy it the most are people who travel or are from this region.
However, there were several parts of the book that really lost me. There were a lot of references to Indian culture that I was not familiar with, and I felt like the humor was lost on me (SC is a caste thing and means Syrian Catholic!). If I knew more about India, the stereotypes of North and South Indians and the politics of east Asia, I think this book would have been a great time. However, since I am not familiar with the prejudices and slang of this region, I felt like I missed a lot. Also, there were a lot of side characters who made an quick appearance, but then popped up again later and I had to go back to figure out where they were from.
I enjoyed this book, but I think the readers who would enjoy it the most are people who travel or are from this region.
December 18, 2023
This is a humorous romp through Asia by a gentleman seeking enlightenment. A satire of the Eat Pray Love genre of travel/finding the meaning of life book, but far more realistic and very funny. The blurb says the book is great for fans of "Crazy Rich Asians", but it is far more acerbic, and not a rom com. To me it is more a Hunter S Thompson for the 21st Century. Perfect for people who hated Eat Pray Love.
February 24, 2024
Slightly ridiculous
This is a story of a man on a spiritual quest who comes home to find out the woman in his little village is the one he should be with all along. This story had so much potential, but the execution was a bit lacking. I want more soul searching and less blame everyone else for the foibles in Richard Parker's journeys through Southern Asia.
This is a story of a man on a spiritual quest who comes home to find out the woman in his little village is the one he should be with all along. This story had so much potential, but the execution was a bit lacking. I want more soul searching and less blame everyone else for the foibles in Richard Parker's journeys through Southern Asia.
May 26, 2024
As an avid reader always on the lookout for hidden gems, Saint Richard Parker exceeded all my expectations! Its indie charm combined with impeccable writing and intriguing characters made it an Indie Gem Worth Discovering a standout in the literary world. The book has been written, edited and formatted to the highest standards. It is one of those books that remind us to judge a book by its content and not the publisher. Embark on this unforgettable journey-you won't regret it, too!
February 6, 2024
Saint Richard Parker is a well-written and fun book. It humorously chronicles one man's quest for love and spirituality, akin to a male version of many recent books. Richard Parker's journey, takes him across countries, encountering unique characters and navigating perilous situations, ultimately discovering himself. Beyond self-discovery, the book appeals to travel, food, and culture enthusiasts. Merlin Franco adeptly intertwines cultural norms and politics, offering a nuanced perspective beyond tourism. While the well-researched travel references captivate, unfamiliarity with Indian culture and regional nuances may pose challenges. I found it hard to understand several references in the book. Nevertheless, the book's charm resonates most with avid travelers or those familiar with the depicted regions and Indian culture.
September 24, 2023
Something of a mixed bag for me, this chaotic comedy of errors and enlightenment. On the one hand, I’m a big fan of (the awesomely named) Merlin Franco, and I love his intelligent, insightful and wit-laden writing style; on the other, I wasn’t keen on this particular tale, which I would describe as a fictional travel memoir. I would say this is one for its audience – and a good one at that, which perhaps may not be clearly reflected in my writing; fans of this book will surely be those who love to read about travelling in the Far East, and perhaps those of Indian heritage, who appreciate the opportunity to endearingly laugh at themselves. Personally, I’m not necessarily a fan of travel books anyway, particularly those involving the Far East, but that may simply be because I read so many of them. If you do like comic mishap, globe-trotting adventures, though, I can promise you this will be right up your street.
Merlin is a wonderful writer, pleasant and entertaining to read, whilst being joyous literal company. Richard Parker himself is, too, in a way, in his innocent naivete, simply trying to find himself through dubious spiritual guidance – and maybe pick up a woman or two while he’s at it. I can’t say the same for the other characters in the book, though; for example, I suspect Merlin has a particular fondness for the instrumental Su, which I just didn’t share. The wit is very funny and there is a great deal to be learnt from this book about Asian culture – particularly religious harmony and disharmony, and caste social politics among the Indian race, both in India and abroad. Merlin has surely travelled the region extensively, as he knows a great deal about the countries featured, including India, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and probably more. I say probably because I found the adventures to be blurring together after a while; there isn’t so much a linear plot in this book as a collection of mishaps and encounters. The humour is very funny, but again I found that much of it could be missed, as it is lost in the vast narrative. For, without wishing to be too harsh, I can sum up the biggest drawback for me in this book: it simply felt too long; key moments, including the most humorous ones, faded into long episodes of scattered monologue and dialogue.
But Merlin is fantastic. He is well knowledgeable, an enviable intellectual and philosopher, and a cracking humourist, too, with a sharp yet dry wit – I’d love to read another from him and learn more from his cultural expertise; I just feel next time he could be more ruthless with the word count and really let the best bits pop.
Merlin is a wonderful writer, pleasant and entertaining to read, whilst being joyous literal company. Richard Parker himself is, too, in a way, in his innocent naivete, simply trying to find himself through dubious spiritual guidance – and maybe pick up a woman or two while he’s at it. I can’t say the same for the other characters in the book, though; for example, I suspect Merlin has a particular fondness for the instrumental Su, which I just didn’t share. The wit is very funny and there is a great deal to be learnt from this book about Asian culture – particularly religious harmony and disharmony, and caste social politics among the Indian race, both in India and abroad. Merlin has surely travelled the region extensively, as he knows a great deal about the countries featured, including India, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and probably more. I say probably because I found the adventures to be blurring together after a while; there isn’t so much a linear plot in this book as a collection of mishaps and encounters. The humour is very funny, but again I found that much of it could be missed, as it is lost in the vast narrative. For, without wishing to be too harsh, I can sum up the biggest drawback for me in this book: it simply felt too long; key moments, including the most humorous ones, faded into long episodes of scattered monologue and dialogue.
But Merlin is fantastic. He is well knowledgeable, an enviable intellectual and philosopher, and a cracking humourist, too, with a sharp yet dry wit – I’d love to read another from him and learn more from his cultural expertise; I just feel next time he could be more ruthless with the word count and really let the best bits pop.
November 6, 2023
I'm going to start this review by saying that this is not my kind of book, and while I wasn't particularly interested in the story, I think other people might enjoy it much more.
Richard Parker is a journalist, or at least he aspires to be one. He's about to release a story that will make him famous and rich, when he suddenly finds himself without a job and his reputation ruined. He decides to go back to his little village in South India, where he lives a simple life. But he feels his life isn't complete, and while before he was focused on his career, now he wants to reach sainthood. Starting from his own country, he will embark on a journey across Southeast Asia to find his destiny. He will visit countries like Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. He will meet different people, most of them women, and he will have many adventures... actually more like misadventures.
I think this book isn't exactly funny (though it's probably my fault for not seeing the humor) but it's definitely a satirical portrait of life, religion, politics, economics, love and other things. Many I didn't get, but mostly because I have never really been into things such as politics so I couldn't understand possible jokes the author made. I think people who are more interested in that will appreciate the satire a bit more.
Richard himself is not the most likeable protagonist you can find, though I feel like that was the author's intention. He is quite obsessed, naive, and... well in Italian we'd say he's got ham on his eyes. He doesn't really see things for what they are, but only sees what he wants to see. I guess that's part of the satire too so I think the author did a good job with that. You can definitely see Richard's misadventures come from his own naivete, and if he hadn't been so obsessed with the search for a wife he would have enjoyed his trip much more.
Regarding the trip itself, I haven't visited any of the countries in the book, though I wish to see some of them. Not knowing the countries he talks about, I enjoyed going on this trip with the protagonist.
To finish, I think this book is full of insights on various aspects of life and as such is worth reading. My own opinion was that the book felt a little too long, which probably is one of the reasons why I missed some of the humor, but I am still glad I gave it a try!
Richard Parker is a journalist, or at least he aspires to be one. He's about to release a story that will make him famous and rich, when he suddenly finds himself without a job and his reputation ruined. He decides to go back to his little village in South India, where he lives a simple life. But he feels his life isn't complete, and while before he was focused on his career, now he wants to reach sainthood. Starting from his own country, he will embark on a journey across Southeast Asia to find his destiny. He will visit countries like Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. He will meet different people, most of them women, and he will have many adventures... actually more like misadventures.
I think this book isn't exactly funny (though it's probably my fault for not seeing the humor) but it's definitely a satirical portrait of life, religion, politics, economics, love and other things. Many I didn't get, but mostly because I have never really been into things such as politics so I couldn't understand possible jokes the author made. I think people who are more interested in that will appreciate the satire a bit more.
Richard himself is not the most likeable protagonist you can find, though I feel like that was the author's intention. He is quite obsessed, naive, and... well in Italian we'd say he's got ham on his eyes. He doesn't really see things for what they are, but only sees what he wants to see. I guess that's part of the satire too so I think the author did a good job with that. You can definitely see Richard's misadventures come from his own naivete, and if he hadn't been so obsessed with the search for a wife he would have enjoyed his trip much more.
Regarding the trip itself, I haven't visited any of the countries in the book, though I wish to see some of them. Not knowing the countries he talks about, I enjoyed going on this trip with the protagonist.
To finish, I think this book is full of insights on various aspects of life and as such is worth reading. My own opinion was that the book felt a little too long, which probably is one of the reasons why I missed some of the humor, but I am still glad I gave it a try!
January 26, 2024
'Saint Richard Parker' turned out to be an amusing and thought-provoking novel. Filled with engaging tools, events and characters - the setting of this must-read book is fascinating.
January 26, 2024
The novel is easy to read and co-relate with, it's interesting enough to remain cheered and refreshed. You should definitely give a try!
January 16, 2024
Engaging
"Saint Richard Parker" is an engaging novel by Franco that follows the journey of Richard Parker, a smug and egocentric journalist, through the chaotic setting of New Delhi in 2014. As Parker navigates through his unconventional career path and attempts at spiritual enlightenment, the story is filled with misadventures and humorous moments. Franco's skill in creating vibrant characters and lively dialogue shines through as we join Parker on his journey across South Asia. Although the novel's length may pose a challenge, it offers readers an entertaining and fast-paced narrative that explores themes of purpose and conflicting intentions.
"Saint Richard Parker" is an engaging novel by Franco that follows the journey of Richard Parker, a smug and egocentric journalist, through the chaotic setting of New Delhi in 2014. As Parker navigates through his unconventional career path and attempts at spiritual enlightenment, the story is filled with misadventures and humorous moments. Franco's skill in creating vibrant characters and lively dialogue shines through as we join Parker on his journey across South Asia. Although the novel's length may pose a challenge, it offers readers an entertaining and fast-paced narrative that explores themes of purpose and conflicting intentions.
May 21, 2024
This is a travel satire written in first person POV , using present tense . The writing can be polarising at the beginning, but a few chapters down , and we begin to understand why the author picked this style; we feel as if we're in the driver's seat , experiencing the same emotions Richard Parker goes through.
May 24, 2024
A Cultural Kaleidoscope
Saint Richard Parker is like a colorful Instagram feed that had come to life! It's packed with humor, adventure, and all the cultural vibes I usually crave. Each chapter is like flipping through a travel blog, giving a taste of diverse places and people from around the globe. Seriously, it's a celebration of humanity's awesomeness.
Saint Richard Parker is like a colorful Instagram feed that had come to life! It's packed with humor, adventure, and all the cultural vibes I usually crave. Each chapter is like flipping through a travel blog, giving a taste of diverse places and people from around the globe. Seriously, it's a celebration of humanity's awesomeness.
May 25, 2024
I loved everything about this book. The wit is so refreshing-how the author uses a string of three sentences with subtle contradiction, to bring out humour. It is subtle, but a master play with words. After following Richard Parker, I learnt three things: one, Richard Parker is confused, two, Richard Parker will confuse us; three: the two confusions cancel each other.
October 27, 2023
If you want to read one novel that pokes fun at all the problems we face in South
and Southeast Asia, then this is it. But the humour is so overwhelming that we
might not even notice the actual problem the writer speaks about.
and Southeast Asia, then this is it. But the humour is so overwhelming that we
might not even notice the actual problem the writer speaks about.
May 8, 2024
Richard Parker took me on a dizzying trip to southeast Asia. It is predictable with every episode ending in a mishap.
But what makes it enjoyable is the unpredictability of how this mishap is going to be.
But what makes it enjoyable is the unpredictability of how this mishap is going to be.
October 30, 2023
“Laugh Die Me” Ha ha ha…totally enjoyed it.
November 1, 2023
Brown Face!
If R.F. Kuang’s Yellowface tells the problems faced by Yellow Asians in the U.S.,
this novel shows how these Yellow Asians treat Brown people in Southeast Asia.
If R.F. Kuang’s Yellowface tells the problems faced by Yellow Asians in the U.S.,
this novel shows how these Yellow Asians treat Brown people in Southeast Asia.
November 2, 2023
Engaging storyline
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