The Understudy by David Nicholls

This is a story of a Steve McQueen chasing his dreams of stardom. But never really making it. He acts as the DEAD BODY in TV series, and stars in a theatrical production as a GHOST who has no lines.

This is story of how working hard didn't triumph over having the talent. We see how Steve McQueen struggles throughout the whole story while the antagonist Josh Harper basically cruises through his whole life that is paved out for him simply because he can act.

The delivery of the story is witty and doused in humour, and you feel how pathetic Steve really is, even if you sympathise with his bad luck and lack of The Big Break.

As the story unfolds, we see how Josh Harper is all that Steve wants to be, and how Steve eventually finds his own way amidst all the failures of non-career. He eventually falls in love with Josh's beautiful wife, who is overshadowed by her husband.

In my opinion, the story tells us of how we should search for what we are really good at in life instead of what we want to be. We all seek that 'stardom' and buy into the belief of being the best of what you are good at being equal to being good at what you like, which is often not the case.

A very readable book with witty lines to keep MRT rides pleasant.