Official Review: The Backside of Nowhere by Alec Clayton

[Grouchiegirl119]

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Backside of Nowhere" by Alec Clayton.]

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3 out of 4 stars

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This is a review of The Back Side of Nowhere by Alec Clayton. It is the story of an actor, David Lawrence, his family, and the small town he grew up in, Freedom. The book introduces us to David by means of a monologue he has written and performed off Broadway, that has recently been released on DVD. David is a movie star with the lifestyle to go with it, including the fancy cars, tabloid rumors, and beautiful co-star and live-in girlfriend, Jasmine Jones. Much of the content of his monologue focuses on David's childhood in Freedom which is located in the Bayou country near the Gulf of Mexico. Freedom is surrounded by water and therefore, nature plays a large role in the events that take place.

We are introduced to David's family as they gather in their living room to watch the DVD. We quickly learn that David has not been home in 20 years and that he has a contentious relationship with his father, Earl Ray, or Pops, a patriarchal figure not just to his family, but also in the town of Freedom. Events quickly transpire which result in David's abrupt return to Freedom. A looming hurricane prevents him from leaving and brings him face to face with those he left behind when he left Freedom for good. As David runs into his sisters, parents, friends, and high school sweetheart, two story lines unfold; the present, which involves the crisis that has brought him home, and the past. Not only David's past, but literally the past of each character we are introduced to.

This is an entertaining story. I liked the flow and the alternating plots, although occasionally found the back and forth a bit confusing. David carries the reader along with him as he learns the "whole" story of events that took place both before he was born and as he grew up. As with most small towns, the cast of characters is a lively bunch, each with their own demons, motivations, and good and bad points. Clayton's descriptions of each character create a vivid impression for the reader and it was easy to get involved in the story. He does a good job with eliciting the flavor of a small town in the Bayou and we get swept up in the long held grudges and drama that is an expected by-product.

What I liked least about the book is that it lacked a little depth. Clayton creates some good characters and great dynamics which would allow him to go deeper into the characters and the resolution of conflicts, but instead he takes the easy way out and it remains a bit superficial and predictable.

My rating for this book is 3 out of 4 stars. I gave it 3 stars because I enjoyed reading it. I didn't feel it warranted 4 stars because it fell a little flat at the end.

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The Backside of Nowhere
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[bookowlie]

Nice review! I often get frustrated by alternating plots in different time periods. There is usually one plot I get more absorbed in and then the other one becomes a distraction.