protean depravity

Dark, darker, American Narcissus … Chandler Morrison surprises with an unusually grim novel about the vapid, vile, self-serving, chain smoking rich people of Los Angeles. Against the backdrop of the wildfires that consume the city, we follow four people who are both part of this empty, shallow, cruel social system but also struggle to fit in: Arden Coover, rich junkie and proud owner of a useless philosophy degree from Berkeley; his sister Tess who tries to figure out if her affair with a narcissistic writer (“the” Writer , mind you) is worth it; Ryland Richter, an insurance executive, addicted to coke, to work and the new employee in his company who turns out to be unhinged and dangerous. And finally sweet Baxter Kent, surfer boy addicted to porn and afraid of real women, who meets an unlikely person to soothe his loneliness.

If you haven't read Chandler Morrison's Dead Inside and are sensitive about spoilers, it's maybe not the best idea to read my post before you've read this book, as I'm discussing things which might be considered spoilers. I just don't think knowing these would considerably reduce the enjoyment you can get out of it, as the beauty is inside the book, not in the description of its plot.