David, Joe and Flora are reprised from his last novel, Boundaries, and the arrival of David's nephew and girlfriend takes the book off into an exploration of dysfunctional and incestuous relationships. Shaw manages to display genuine warmth for his characters whilst highlighting their failings, frailties and flaws. Although he is himself openly HIV positive, as are some of the characters, HIV is dealt with in a matter of fact manner, not as an issue. To be honest, these characters have far bigger 'issues' to deal with.
Wasted opens with a quotation from Genet's The Thief's Journal. Genet is obviously a hero and role model for Shaw, and were he alive today he would doubtless be writing about the same subjects. But Shaw does not have the same command of language and imagery, and many of the storylines and themes remain unconsummated. He does however have an ear for pithy, often laugh out loud dialogue and situation, and a sharp eye for character, and the plot fairly romps on apace through various twists to a painful climax. Shaw isn't really the author he would like to be, but this is still a rollercoaster of a good read.
John Clarkson
Ppbk, £9.95, published by Millivres