Another 5 Star Review for Doug

Doug Morgan is a young Irishman in Los Angeles with ten grand in his pocket and self-destruction in mind. With this premise, you could be forgiven for thinking that David Louden's 'Lost Angeles' would be little more than a comical booze-fuelled odyssey through the low (and high) life of Noughties Hollywood. But what Louden achieves is much greater than this. By contrasting and paralleling Morgan's misadventures in the acid neon glare of the clubs and dives of L.A.with the unravelling relationship in wintryBelfast that led him there, Louden has created a work of depth and warmth that means for once, Bukowski comparisons are justified. Louden has a turn of phrase that could put bigger names to shame, and an eye for detail that means his Belfast and North Hollywood are as sharply-defined as the well-drawn characters. Moving, big-hearted and often hilarious, Louden has produced something genuinely special. Not to be missed.

5 Star Review for Lost Angeles

I've always been fascinated with the dark side of life; how somebody from an affluent family can tumble into the abyss of drugs and alcohol or how somebody from the worst possible upbringing can rise above it all and find success. But most of the time, in real life, it's a little of both, somebody from an all too common place in society claws their way up and then...bam!...there is a catalyst, spins a person around, and the descent into darkness begins. This is life and this is, much to my pleasure, the joy and truth of reading Lost Angeles. David Louden brings to life a cast of colorful, deeply flawed, characters and puts them in one place as he unfolds a tale of love, lust, loss, strength, sorrow, friendship, joy and, most importantly, hope, all displayed through an alcohol saturated, drug hazed lens. I loved this book for its honesty and its humor, but also for its glimpses into the potential darkness that looms within all of us. I especially loved it, however, for its humanity. Five stars? Absolutely