Pretty Things

Susan Compo''s narrative voice-sharp-tongued and allusive-has earned her comparisons to those great satirists of the pre-war demimonde, Dorothy Parker and Dawn Powell, and her characters display a similarly irresistible blend of smart-ass wit, despair, and whistling-in-the-dark bravado. Following two highly praised story collections, Compo''s debut novel, first published in 2001, offers a satirical and very funny take on LA''s celebrity culture industry. Talent agent Giselle Entwistle has her hands full juggling her oddball roster of clients. There''s Adon, struggling to make the transition from teen idol to mature star with the aid of a goatee; and would-be rock impresario Hedda Hophead, ''aggressive as junk mail and just as relentless.'' There''s country singer Len Tingle, whose career has as many ups and downs as his love affair with Giselle; and Tupperware demonstrator Troy Harder, ''a living legend in food storage,'' who Giselle fears might want to plastic-wrap her. Not to mention child prodigy belter Frances Culligan, who suddenly goes missing. And then there''s Pandra, whose haunting memoir of growing up in suburban Orange County and coming of age back in ''70s glitter-era Los Angeles (platform boots, Rodney''s English Disco) forms a book within this book. Giselle hopes to get Pandra''s true story published though it does bring up the matter of a possible murder...