So Far Gone

A Novel

By: Jess Walter

Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini

National Bestseller Longlisted for the Aspen Words Literary Prize

"A warm, funny, loving novel. . . . It's an American original."—Ann Patchett, New York Times bestselling author of Tom Lake

"Searing and sublime … Walter is a slyly adept social critic, and has clearly invested his protagonist with all of the outrage and heartbreak he himself feels about the dark course our world has taken ... What gets us all through … are novels like this one.” Leigh Haber, Los Angeles Times.

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Beautiful Ruins—and in the propulsive spirit of Charles Portis’ True Grit—comes a hilarious, empathetic, and brilliantly provocative adventure through life in modern America, about a reclusive journalist forced back into the world to rescue his kidnapped grandchildren.

Rhys Kinnick has gone off the grid. At Thanksgiving a few years back, a fed-up Rhys punched his conspiracy-theorist son-in-law in the mouth, chucked his smartphone out a car window and fled for a cabin in the woods, with no one around except a pack of hungry raccoons.

Now Kinnick’s old life is about to land right back on his crumbling doorstep. Can this failed husband and father, a man with no internet and a car that barely runs, reemerge into a broken world to track down his missing daughter and save his sweet, precocious grandchildren from the members of a dangerous militia?

With the help of his caustic ex-girlfriend, a bipolar retired detective, and his only friend (who happens to be furious with him), Kinnick heads off on a wild journey through cultural lunacy and the rubble of a life he thought he’d left behind. So Far Gone is a rollicking, razor-sharp, and moving road trip through a fractured nation, from a writer who has been called “a genius of the modern American moment” (Philadelphia Inquirer).

So Far Gone, So Good!

As usual, Walter does a delightful job of developing his characters, particularly Ryse. The reader is provided with frequent opportunities to reflect on his/her own thoughts and experiences during "troubled times" as his character escapes from all that he abhors to a simpler way of life...until "life" comes to him and calls him back. So Far Gone is filled with glorious descriptions, humorous quips, crazy characters of the moment, and sad truths. The last chapter, in my opinion, is Walter writing at its best.

Timely story- couldn’t put it down

I wish it had been twice as long! I empathized with each of the characters in turn (well, most of them).

Story and different narratives

Story and perspective of different perspectives
Locale and times being
contemporary events
Spokane and local color

Great writing. Fast moving. Funny

The entertaining quips and observations come hard and fast. Never a dull moment. Frequently laugh out loud.
Some plot points are a bit of a stretch and it gets a little action movieish but never dull and always witty. Great quick interesting and original read.
Narration is good too.

Masterful characters; gripping story.

I started taking notes to remember the word choice and descriptions. The first were “long sad cultural slide” and “$600 pop tart of modern science” I’ve read each of Jess’s books and “So Far Gone” was just as meaningful as the others—in a totally different way. He writes like an artist paints and naturally infuses humor at times you don’t think can be funny. Jess Walter is a regional and national treasure. (I live in his hometown) And this book is fantastic and will be enjoyed by fans of every genre. It’s about broken and repaired family in a broken and hopefully reparable country.

A Great Book for Our Time

Finally, a book from a major author that doesn't pull any punches in illustrating the absurdity of our nation's current divisions. It's told with a bit of humor and some hope, but it doesn't shy away from irreconcilable differences either. It suggests that despite the wackadoodle opinions held by half the populace, we're all family and we're all in this together. I liked it enough to buy the hardcover edition to add to my library.

a microcosm of our country today.

interesting and diverse characters melded into an imaginative and sometimes harrowing tale. A few incidents beyond belief but overall a thought providing tale.

So Far Gone

Really enjoyed this story. The main character is very interesting and has many valuable quotes to share, but none of his own that would show more of who he is. Even though he is flawed, when his grandchildren land on his doorstep, he is open to loving them and learning from the many crazy things that happen in the story. It has a satisfying ending, but I must admit I wanted to learn more about him. Already miss him.

Exploration of confusion

Captured the current irrational craziness in today’s world and found solution in love and self-forgiveness,

Great

Current events handled with humor and wisdom. Good lesson that if your solution to a difference of opinion involves a gun you’re on the wrong path!