The Forgotten Road

By: Richard Paul Evans

Narrated by: Richard Paul Evans

Length: 4 hrs and 59 mins

Publisher's summary

Richard Paul Evans reads the second novel in his New York Times best-selling trilogy about a man on an inspirational pilgrimage across Route 66 to find his way back to himself. 

Chicago celebrity and motivational speaker Charles James is supposed to be dead. Everyone believes he was killed in a fiery plane crash. But thanks to a remarkable twist of fate he's very much alive and well, and ready for a second chance at life. But will he use this opportunity to right some wrongs from his old life and start over the right way this time? 

The Forgotten Road is the second book in the "thoughtful, well-plotted" (Kirkus Reviews) trilogy by beloved storyteller Richard Paul Evans. It is an engrossing, inspiring story of redemption and the power of second chances. 

©2018 Richard Paul Evans (P)2018 Simon & Schuster

Disappointed

I normally love everything Richard Paul Evans and can’t wait for his new books, but this one just didn’t have much story! Lots of history but not much in the way of a plot. Disappointing!

This Cannot be the End -

I love these two books on the Forgotten Road, I hope that there is another book coming to finish out Charles journey to find his Monica and Son and to tell us if Charles is now close to God as he was in his childhood. I will be waiting to hear if another series is coming soon. I love Richard and have all his books in my library.
Your faithful reader and fan.
Paula
Texas

Route 66 Book Two, Dead and Walking

Change is gradual . . . and painful . . . and it takes us on a long and grueling journey. The hardest part is taking the first step. Charles James is supposed to be dead, so he has the time. And even though he was robbed of his backpack . . . he still has money secreted away in bank accounts that no one can touch. But for the first time since his impoverished childhood, he is actually LIVING like he is destitute . . . seeing the folks on the other side of the tracks . . . the least of these . . . and beginning to cringe at the way he has been treating them . . . since he became a "self made" man. Working alongside these folks since being robbed of his belongings has been an eyeopener for Charles James. And the closer he gets to his destination, as he walks along Route 66, the nearer he comes to having to make a decision: To return to his cushy way of life . . . or to be forever changed by his experiences. I recognized the landmarks along the Mother Road, as I listened, such as Pops, with its neon soda bottle in Arcadia, Oklahoma, where you can get over 700 different flavors of sodas, all in glass bottles. And the many roadside diners along the way. Great listen . . . Stay tuned for Book Three in the Trilogy.

Pedantic

I am writing this review after listening to the first 15 chapters. I just can’t bear to go on. The book reads as though the author just picked up random facts out of a travel book, and not a very good one at that. He manages to describe places without capturing anything of the feel of being there. Ironically I have personal knowledge of a number of the areas mentioned, and there are errors in some of the facts. The author mispronounces the name of the city of Mobile, AL. And residents of Bloomington/Normal do NOT call it Blono. I have never heard that term.

I’m sure the author will make a lot of money off this lazy excuse for a book. I’m sorry to have contributed to that. Steinbeck’s Travels with Charley this is not.

I am recommending this book to all my Friends.

I loved it, for its honestly! what a wake-up call! Truly a walk to remember.

Too Tidy

Dislikes:
-Greed and narcissism were significant aspects of Charles undoing. Sadly, Charles’s solutions to help those in need consists of sharing corrupt money and is given in a way that allows his ego to be fed.
-Decades long dysfunctional relationships are made functional in an hour or so. The damage of dysfunction is scarcely accounted for.
- The downtrodden people Charles encounters seem invented to allow the author to moralize; issues which befuddle humankind are tidily dispatched.
- Amanda’s relationship with Charles is disturbingly servile.
- “Ensign” story, “Ensign” ending. Ugh. Anyone of RPE’s faith will know precisely what I mean.
- The Epilogue. Seriously. Directly after criticizing the tendency of a speaker to summarize what a previous speaker stated, he unbelievably does the same yet worse IMO by citing a scriptural saying. He might just as well have said, “the moral of the story is …”
I’d hoped Books 2 and 3 of the series would be as entertaining AND thought prompting as Book 1. Instead they were a march to the predictable and inevitable story book happy ending for every character of note. Never mind anyone else e.g., Monika’s once-soon-to-be (lawyer) husband. Another complication dispatched.

On the edge of my seat

I can’t wait to find out how this story will end. I will download the last book now.

Outstanding book

Richard Paul Evans never disappoints. Great story and narration. Can't wait to start the next book.

SO well done!

Excellent story. I love to travel, and so appreciate all the details included—I felt Evans took me along for the walk—and for James’s metamorphosis. I don’t know what parts are fiction, but it doesn’t matter. This human experience offers many truths.
Evans reading of the saga is perfect. I’m about to download the third of the trilogy and and continue the journey with him…..

What a beautiful listen, this one.....

Saw several negative reviews that made me hesitant to continue the series, but the cliff hanger of the previous book won out and so glad it did. Everyone has a story worth telling (both fictious and non fictious characters if you really want to travel down that rabbit hole), but no matter real or contrived, it's in how the story is conveyed that makes others want to hear it. When on some small level you the reader can relate, the connection can be instaneous and suddenly familial. This particular story of a physical and mental journey of personal enlightenment has been an absolute joy to listen to thus far and looking forward to the next leg of his journey!!