Stars Are Stars

by Kevin Sampson

From the author of the highly successful Awaydays and Powder: fifteen year-old Danny has just one dream: to be an artist and to go, like John Lennon before him, to Liverpool Art School. Then, in the autumn of 1980 the Art School’s funding is withdrawn. Danny slides into apathy, robbing and drug dependency.

Genres: Contemporary

288 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

Kevin Sampson is the author of seven novels - Awaydays, Powder, Leisure, Outlaws, Clubland, Freshers and most recently, Stars are Stars - and a work of non-fiction, Extra Time. He lives and works in Liverpool.

Reviews

[Nick Upton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I might have taken one hell of a long break between reading each half of this book, but that was more of a reflection on how I felt about reading in general as opposed to the story.

Hope, dreams, bands, travels, deceit, abhorrent behaviour, smack, new beginnings, and by far and away the best description of a sequence of riot scenes I've ever come across. The two main characters are both rich with personality and are deeply complex individuals, you can't help but want to know more about them. Danny May is up there with my favourite characters from any book, which is probably down to the fact that he reminds me so much of fellow Scouser Michael Head.

Wonderfully written.

[Ross Henderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Liverpool and I'm preoccupied by what Thatcherism did to this country so this was more or less the perfect book for me.

[Paul Barnsley · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant book. Captures perfectly the music, fashion and politics of the eighties. The middle class lefts, lack of a, response is particularly effective.

The story centres on a lad full of ideas, naivety, energy and hope. Through Danny, Sampson evokes the beginning of the end as Liverpool de-industrialises and narrates the shattered hopes and dreams it caused. The book stunningly describes the Toxteth riots at its conclusion.

Finally and ultimately though this is a love story and also a love letter to Liverpool.

Highly recommended.

[Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good, but not his best.