Behindlings by Nicola Barker

 

Wesley has a following, although most people aren't sure why.  There are groups of people that attempt to locate where he is at all times and follow him.  They are known as Behindlings for their locations walking behind him.  Wesley is either loved or hated with a passion.  He is considered evil by some, a savior by others.  What does Wesley think?  Now that is something no one knows.

This week Wesley is in Canvey, a small island town.  The Behindlings discover he is there due to a contest that he is running that hints at the location.  Some of the more prominent characters in the group that follows Wesley are Shoes, an aging hippie, Doc who pretty much leads the way, Patty who is a young boy who should never have gotten mixed up in this quest and Josephine who is a nurse and acts as a go-between.

Then there are the town inhabitants, many of whom know Wesley.  There is Katherine, a woman who is known for her promiscuity.  Dewi is a huge man who lives across from Katherine and loves her even as she sleeps with other men.  Ted is a real estate man, a close friend of Katherine's and someone who despises Wesley.  Arthur is a sponsor of the contest Wesley is running and falls under Katherine's sway.

Nicola Barker was born in England but raised in South Africa.  Her novels are often about eccentric or offbeat characters and it is sometimes difficult to understand the points her novels are making.  Behindlings falls in this category, full of strange characters and leaving the reader with multiple questions.  Is Wesley evil or good?  What's the truth about Katherine and is her character maligned?  What will the Behindlings do if they manage to catch up with Wesley?  I feel like I will need to reread this novel in order to settle my mind about what is happening and which characters I like.  This novel is recommended for literary fiction readers.