The Ghost of Neil Diamond by David Milnes

The Ghost of Neil Diamond by David Milnes is a cracking read.  Milnes, who lived and worked in Hong Kong for many years as Head of English at King George V, is now retired and living in Spain, where I imagine him sitting in his casa sipping red wine while constructing another plot line.  I was forwarded a link to Amazon that took me to an extract from chapter one.  This short snippet was enough to make me buy the book and I highly recommend it. 

 

You don't need to know Hong Kong and you don't need to be a Neil Diamond fan to identify with the protagonist and smell Chun Kin Mansions.

It all begins in a karaoke bar where Neil Atherton impresses the crowd with his  'Reason to Believe'.  He is spotted by a not-so-honest agent who gives him his card, obviously, this is Hong Kong.   As he a male who finds themselves in Hong Kong with not contract and a richer and more successful wife,  his time is spent thinking about unfulfilled dreams and ambitions.  Our main character decides to try his hand at impersonating Neil Diamond thus, he imagines, he will find fame and fortune, perhaps happiness.  His wife is appalled by this mid-life crisis and gives him money to leave Hong Kong and her.

He takes her money but doesn't leave.  As he stops caring what she thinks of him and soon finds out she has quickly found a replacement, he takes risk and after risk to get into the club scene as the best Neil Diamond impersonator this side of...well... Neil Diamond I suppose.  He becomes very familiar with ChunKing Mansions and McDonald's as well as the slippery Chinese agent. 

It made me laugh.

I found myself mulling over the characters in this book even when I wasn't reading it.  I don't know if Mr Milnes intended it to be a film but as I read it I could visualize it and, appointing myself as casting director, and spiritually auditioned mid-forty year old males to play Neil.

Give it a go why don't you?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/0955650011/ref=sib_rdr_dp

Comments

[Lesley]

I have just wirelessly got David Milnes new book. To Have Nothing. Review coming soon.

[David Milnes]

Lesley - back in March I got far too excited when rightscentre.com in South Carolina contacted me with an interested company but it came to nothing, surprise surprise. Billion to one shot.

Let me know when you cast the right person. And if you ever need a slow but thorough (and free) proofreader.

David

[Lesley]

Hello David,

I really did enjoy your book and have had a quick look at whattradition. I did feel it could be a movie and could imagine Neil played by Ewan McGregor although he can't sing that well! The casting couch awaits the 'right' person, I'll let you know when I have found him...

In the meantime I must get on with my book I'm on chapter 8 but have been stuck for about a year now.

Lesley

[David Milnes]

Lesley - Google Alerts took me to your post.

I'm delighted you read and enjoyed The Ghost of Neil Diamond, and - above all - that it made you laugh. You're right about KGV, but I live in Spain, not France. (And I still have to work, though not so hard these days . . .)

If you take a look at my website - www.whattradition.net - very straightforward, or hammy, depending on your p.o.v. - you'll see that you're in good company with your opinions about The Ghost of Neil Diamond. www.bookmunch.co.uk liked it so much they interviewed me about it, and they are hard-hitting reviewers.

Let me know if I can help you in any way in return for your favourable remarks.

Thanks again.

David Milnes