CONFESSIONS OF AN OLD BOY: Book review (Part 3)
3.
‘Confessions’ is one of only two locally published books that I would put in the “compelling” category.[3]
The author tells the stories with achingly beautiful cadence and understated elegance. He gently persuades us to be part of ‘The Dato’ Hamid Experience’. It is clever, engaging, and pretty much unputdownable. Reading it is like binge watching ‘The Crown’ on Netflix.[4]
The stories are not necessarily full-on cliffhangers, but they are playful and riveting enough to persuade readers to defer their toilet breaks. Often, finishing the next 50 pages to find out how everything unfolds takes precedence over toilet breaks. It’s risky and not very healthy, but readers just learn to be better at bladder management.
Kam is at his fluid and lucid best in this book: imagine the brilliant bits of PG Wodehouse’s wit and charm, plus a dash of Jeremy Clarkson’s irreverence. The book also reminds me a bit of Roald Dahl’s short stories — shrewd employment of wit, dark humour, surprising plot twists, and unexpected endings.
OK, that’s a bit of a mangled hyperbole, but there you go.
My only criticism — if we can call it that — is this: Kam Raslan Esq really should have written more books.
As a fan, I feel a little aggrieved that he is being a little stingy in this department. Quite frankly, it is almost amoral and borderline criminal that he is depriving all of us from his talent and wit.
That said, I heard that there will a sequel published sometime this year, so it’s all good. It certainly is something to look forward to, amid all the geopolitical skirmishes, climate change imperatives, pressing need for energy transition, and global economic slowdown nonesense.
For now, put your feet up, etc., and enjoy this delicious, delightful literary treat.
God bless and breed us all.
Notes:
[1] Actually the stories originally entered the nation’s consciousness a little earlier than that, as some of the chapters from the book were
serialised in ‘Off The Edge’, originally a complimentary monthly supplement in ‘The Edge’ business weekly that explored culture, lifestyle and politics, among other things.
[2] Where did the years go?
[3] The late Rehman Rashid’s ‘Malaysian Journey’ being the other.
[4] With the delectable Emilia Clarke as Queen of England.
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6moGreat review, Christopher Wan. I enjoyed your take!