Sister Stardust
Sex, drugs, and rock and roll.
Claire is a teenager in a small British town who, after a row with her stepmother, leaves for London in search of excitement. She finds a job in a department store but has to live in a strictly run hostel. Even though it is the 1960s, life is far from glamorous—until her brother’s 21st birthday.
The unexpected presence of a group of rock musicians at the party in the church hall changes everything for Claire. Within days she is in Morocco, living with some of the most famous rock stars of the time and their rich and fashionable friends. Quickly she realizes that problems hide beneath the glamour and excitement. Drug use causes noticeable behavior changes. One of the stars she has admired becomes violent, and the situation turns dangerous for her.
The author has woven a tale full of recognizable names from the music scene of the 1960s. The bibliography is extensive and varied, including news media which have been used to create a strong basis for Claire’s story. Around it, the author has woven a sharply vivid picture of the Moroccan palace, the food and drink, the clothing, the city, and its people.
The sensual detail sets this book apart—not just the colours and smells, the beauty and the opulence of silken soft furnishings, but the sensations young Claire experiences as she shares the drugs of the time. As seen through the eyes of the country girl swept up into this brilliant but fragile world, we can appreciate understanding it more clearly while also being apart from it. Highly recommended.
