Espedair Street

'Engagingly told, cleverly constructed'Time Out'Two days ago I decided to kill myself . . . Last night I changed my mind and decided to stay alive. Everything that follows is . . . just to try and explain.'Daniel Weir used to be a famous - not to say infamous - rock star. Maybe still is. At thirty-one he has been both a brilliant failure and a dull success. He's made a lot of mistakes that have paid off and a lot of smart moves he'll regret for ever. He has gone from rags to riches and back, and managed to hold onto them both, though not to much else. His friends all seem to be dead, fed up with him or just disgusted - and who can blame them? As he contemplates his life, Daniel realises he has only two problems: the past and the future. He knows how bad the past has been. But the future - well, the future is something else. 'Glittering pockets of wit . . . Banks is undoubtedly a natural'Independent