Zachary Lazar's Sway: A Novel is a bizarre fictional account of the connections between three interesting figures of the 1960s.

Sway describes the formation of the Rolling Stones, particularly focusing on founder Brian Jones and his relationship with Anita Pallenberg. Lazar also tells the story of avant-garde filmmaker Kenneth Anger, whose artsy films, which are full of symbolism and the occult, include one of the Stones in concert. Finally, Charles Manson family member Bobby Beausoliel is featured; before his involvement with the notorious cult, he appeared in one of Anger's films.

Sway is well-written; it's fuzzy, hypnotic style seems purposefully reminiscent of the haziness associated with drugs - a central theme in the book. Although it is a novel, its historical roots make it difficult to differentiate fact from fiction.

However, the stories it relates fail to captivate and none of the main characters are particularly likable or relatable. While the lives of the three individuals are interesting in their own right, this is not reflected in Sway. None of the stories are told in full; they are piece-mealed together and interwoven in a non-linear fashion, making it confusing and difficult to follow.

For those who lived through the 1960s and the events in Sway, this book may be nostalgic and riveting. However, younger readers may be better off picking up non-fiction books that relate the stories and lives of the three central figures.

- Ashley