Bella Vista, in the end, is about fatherhood. About fathers and sons. It's about one father, Frank Pershall, how he went from a dope smoking car aficionado to a businessman. About how this businessman hatched a scheme to pry his son, Jay away from his Mom, who was developing a habit of drugs and staying out late, and generally being out of it most of the time, and how that father convinced his son to move down to Florida with him.
But as soon as they get there, all that high and mighty "I'll be a better father to you" breaks down because the first day they arrive at this house at this vision his father has for life known as Bella Vista, only then does he choose to turn the care of his son over to his Limo Driver, Cliff. Yes, all of a sudden Dad has all of this money that he tells his son comes from venture capitalists and this new business he is starting. Cliff drives people around for a living, and it is in this Limo Jay learns to carve out a life for himself away from his father, and to finally live life on his own terms.
"The high anxiety voice of this 80s coming-of-age story reveals the usual dramas of adolescence redefined by Jay Pershall's audacious love for his insanely broken parents. At times absurdist, at times cruel, Bella Vista is a compulsively readable and ultimately wise story of consequence, survival, and, after all, love." -Joanna Rose, author of A Small Crowd of Strangers"
Joanna Rose
"A gripping story, crafted by the phenomenal storyteller, Adam Strong. Bella Vista is a gorgeous, tender, coming-of-age tale, told from the inside out, through the lens of a boy with an artist's sensibility, trapped with an angry, hollow father. From the opening pages, we're peering around the danger corners and cheering for Jay to find his way through, to claim his voice in a world that wishes him silent. A heart-thumping gem of a novel."-Anne Gudger, author of The Fifth Chamber"
