The Stars Malign by Loren Niva
This novel leads by example as a method of dealing with the
current world economic crisis and depression. Most of the characters are
fuelled by a combination of various drugs and alcoholic drinks and take little interest
in current affairs.
Although this world is not one I am familiar with the novel
gives a great insight into the people who party through life on various
cocktails of emotions. Most importantly it is entertaining and the characters
are sufficiently varied.
Loren is depressed following an extended stay in Norway and
based on what he tells us it is difficult to see why his girlfriend dumped him.
Whatever he does thereafter back at his base in Florida there is little to mask
his feeling of loss. The main story of the book is his plot to have a major
party (his 30th birthday) at which he will commit suicide. He
continually emails his ex-girlfriend without any reply and in the hope she will
arrive before his suicide.
Before the main party there is a weekend away with his best
friends in Miami. The partying is extreme and not to be missed. It brings
together a bunch of friends who just about get on together whilst partying in
different manners ranging from getting drunk to getting high or just totally out
of it.
Overall it is a great page turner and the only
disappointment was the ending. I did realise later that the ending did however
create an opportunity for a sequel.
I may, in my younger years, have engaged briefly in one or
two activities similar to those described in the novel. In summary though my
life does seem boring compared to the antics these guys get up to.
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