Learning Thai from literature and newspapers

[Turner]

I am looking for some recommendations of a few good titles of contemporary popular Thai literature (novels, poetry, etc.) which would be appropriate for someone who is learning to read Thai. Just in plain-spoken Thai, nothing too fancy. I am comfortable reading signboards, advertising, and subtitles (if not too fast) but would like to get a deeper taste of current issues and trends in Thai culture through literature. I live in Thailand so have access to all titles now in bookstores. Any suggestions?

Also - I find reading Thai newspapers to be difficult since there is a lot of vocabulary which is unique to newspapers, headlines in particular. Is there a teaching resource out there which could help me with this?

Thanks.

[Niranahm]

Reading popular newspapers is always difficult in any language. I recommend "Sarakadee" (Feature/documentary) magazine, which has shorter articles about more familiar subjects.