Suggestions for Southeast Asia

I'm planning a trip to SE Asia next year - Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and possibly Thailand. Any suggestions of good books to read other than the standard guides? Thanks.

You have not yet said what about Southeast Asia you want to find books about. Are you looking for novels, history books, etc.?

I would say Anthony Reid's books about Southeast Asia in the Age of Commerce would be very good starting points if you would want to know what binds these countries together.

Thanks for the suggestion - will check it out in our local library. I'm interested in anything readable really - general history would be useful to provide background and give us some understanding of what we see. And of course I always enjoy
well written traveller's experiences and observations.

The book I suggested is a serious history book. You may prefer Fortune-teller Told Me by Tiziano Terzani. It is an informative travel memoir.

White Lotus Press has all the books you need to read from early times to some modern non-fiction research.

http://whitelotusbooks.com