Once Removed by Andrew Leci

once removed by Andrew Leci

When I first read this book, I thought it was a real account of what happened to Graham who wrote this diary. However, it was one third into this book that I realised it was a novel. Muahaha!

Since I was not a sport lover, either really doing it or just become a spectator. I didn't know the author. He was a presenter for ESPN Star Sport. However, inside the book, there were comments from Jit Murad, Paula Malai Ali, Kam Raslan and Patrick Teoh whose names I had heard before, so I bought this book.

The author description on the Malaysian situation was very colourful and truthful. The corrupted construction businesses, the typical Chinaman, Indian, Malay, the football bookies, the foreign labourers whose condition were very far worse than the expatriates, 'datuk' , 'tan sri', etc. 

The story told of how Graham, an expats working as an quantity surveyor in Malaysia try to survive in this country and find a girl of his life. However, he just seems to find it in the wrong place. However, it seems that he got drunk pretty often, not good for the liver. He was involved in corruption cases although his heart was not willing but he just go with the flow. His relationship with all the women in his life was quite chaotic, hope that he was having a life with Natalie though in the end. 

In this book, he also wrote of the frustrations with the government agencies, like applying for the internet connection or something like that. Maybe it was true in 1997, the year this story was set on. However, nowadays, it had become quiet a breeze to do it. Although the line was still quite slow.

Not a bad read. Quite entertaining.