50 Reasons to Say "Goodbye" [Paperback]

Nick Alexander (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 16, 2004

Mark is looking for love in all the wrong places. He always ignores the warning signs preferring to dream, time and again, that he has finally met the perfect lover until, one day, he really does! Through fifty adventures, Nick Alexander takes us on a tour of modern gay society: bars, night-clubs, blind dates, Internet dating! It's all here. Funny and moving by turn, 50 Reasons to Say "Goodbye", is ultimately a series of candidly vivid snapshots and a poignant exploration of that long winding road; the universal search for love. "A wonderful read - honest, moving, witty and really rather wise." - Time Out "Obstinately optimistic, balances passion with wit, whimsy and wisdom." - Book Marks "Will reset the boundaries for gay literature." - reFRESH Magazine "Truthful, moving, witty, optimistic..." - Gay Times "Gay literature at its most original and finest."- Axm Magazine Paperback: 156 Pages

Editorial Reviews

Review

A witty, polished collection of vignettes set around the experience of gay dating. Order this snappy little number. -- The Times, London, Tim Teeman, July 17, 2004.

A witty, polished collection of vignettes... Order this snappy little number. -- Tim Teeman, The Times, 17 July 2004

An engaging, entertaining and intelligently written book, which will reset the boundaries for gay literature. -- David Tickner, reFRESH Magazine

From the Publisher

Funny and moving by turn, 50 reasons to say goodbye, is ultimately a series of candidly vivid snapshots and a poignant exploration of that long winding road; the universal search for love

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 156 pages
• Publisher: Lulu.com (May 16, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1411607546
• ISBN-13: 978-1411607545
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.1 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,691,826 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I grew up in the seaside town of Margate England. I have four brothers including two on the web Matthew Alexander, and Greg Alexander who, are both painters, as was our father, Chris.
I escaped Thanet (yes, Thanet has a stunning coastline, but it's a bit sad otherwise) by going to college in Wolverhampton (out of the frying pan...) before moving to Cambridge UK where I had a great time.
Some years later, in need of adventure, I headed off with a backpack and eventually settled in Nice France, where, with the exception of a brief, exciting stint in New York, and various holidays I have lived ever since.
After being refused by truly every publisher in the world, I self-published my first novel, 50 Reasons to Say Goodbye in 2003 now re-published by BIGfib Books.)
This was followed by Sottopassaggio (2005), Good Thing, Bad Thing (2006) 13:55 Eastern Standard Time (2007) and Better Than Easy (2009).
All have received a great deal of positive press coverage and are amongst the UK's best selling gay literature, so many thanks to you, the readers!
I also edit and contribute to the gay lit website, BIGfib.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Gay Everyman, January 17, 2006

By 

A. M. Smith (RICHMOND, VA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Fifty Reasons to Say Goodbye - A Novel (Paperback)

Comprising fifty vignettes recounting the hapless Mark's experiences with nearly as many romantic disappointments, a story unfolds. Mark is the gay Everyman, looking for his Prince Charming and having to kiss a lot of frogs in the meantime. The writing is tinged equally with humor and bitterness, and guides the reader through all the blind alleys and primrose paths which Mark follows in pursuit of...of...well, Mark hardly even knows what it is he's seeking himself, but he knows what it isn't, and that's what he invariably ends up with. He's continually victimized -- by himself, by the objects of his affection, even by his friends, yet his plight elicits not pity but a nodding understanding. We've all been there. He's a plugger. He gets up, dusts himself off, and starts all over again. He's surrounded by a motley crew of friends and loved ones, some broadly drawn and fleshed out, others more sketchily.

Throughout the story, despite the hurdles this man encounters, runs a thread of optimism, despite the bleak and sometimes rather implausible-seeming picture drawn of much of the gay subculture -- especially the club scene. But in most instances, it's a true picture, which is food for thought.

Nick Alexander's freshman oeuvre is a satisfying read, undemanding in its straightforward simplicity of style, and can be read easily in one or two sittings. It's a wonderful lead-in to the much pithier and more complex sequel, Sottopassaggio, which differs quite a lot in both style and content, following Mark and Jenny into deeper waters. Find it, buy it, read it. Then read it again.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Fresh New Voice, July 11, 2005

By 

H. F. Corbin "Foster Corbin" (ATLANTA, GA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 50 Reasons to Say "Goodbye" (Paperback)

This little book reminds me of the best writing of Armistead Maupin and Patrick Gale. The narrator is a young 30-something who is on a constant quest for Mr. Right in all the wrong places-- well, actually in every place: England, France, Australia, the U. S, and in selected cities and bars of these countries as well as well as the internet and biker organizations. Almost to a person, these love objects are humpy beyond words at first blush; but things are never as they seem. Mr. Alexander writes with a great deal of flair and humor, is brilliant with dialogue and certainly can coin a phrase. He makes a verb out of "double take." One Roberto de Milano "seems larger than life, brick-chicken-shed of a man." He is also very good at summing up in a few sentences what many of us have felt about a PNB (Potential New Boyfriend) the moment we sense that we have taken a wrong turn and are heading in the wrong direction a la Robert Frost. About Luc, whom the narrator has met in the internet.

"'I feel happier here than I have for ages.'
A Cold front moves over my heart; I shiver. . . 'I love this,' he says. 'I love being here, your house, the garden, the cat,' he laughs. 'I think I love you too,' he says.
It's too soon and it's all too much. And it's all the wrong way round. I can feel my heart closing down. . . I don't want to be the all-in-one solution to anyone's problems."

Witty, sophisticated, addictive-- these loosely connected chapters add up to a fine novel. One other thing: you'll never feel the same way about a hard-boiled egg after reading about the narrator's encounter with the Egg Man.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Depressing?? This???, December 15, 2005

By 

Greggers "Greg" (Miami) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 50 Reasons to Say "Goodbye" (Paperback)

I just had to write a review here. Saying that 50 Ways to say goodbye is depressing is just dumb. I spent a whole weekend tucked up with this book. It's Ironic, iconic, intelligent, and yes, very very funny.
Certain chapeters (the egg man for one) had me spitting my beer out.
Any gay man with a bit of a sex-life who doesn't enjoy reading this really does need some zoloft.
- Greg.