So Far Gone

First of all, there is no way I'd ever have picked this up if someone else written it. But Jess Walters is brilliant (just like Kevin Wilson is brilliant). He was able to make this story funny while still including some fairly serious themes. At heart is remarkable character growth for Rhys, who was "so far gone" in his thinking that he left society and went out to live in the woods where the world couldn't get to him anymore. But leaving society also meant leaving his family behind, and boy oh boy he had to work hard to make things right. It's a really, really good book.

Fun story.

An excellent read. Walter has written a very accessible book that resonates on a human and societal level. And he manages once again to work in an Easter egg re his eye. Really well done

I purchased the this book because I am familiar with the Eastern Washington setting and it was recommended by a local reviewer. I lean more to the spy novel / espionage genre - but I wanted to try something different. The story is about redemption and correcting mistakes in behavior. I enjoyed the book, didn’t really love it, but am glad I read it.

Different but a fun read.

I thought a great deal about our country, our world, our lives in this 21st century as I read this book. I know people who - though perhaps slightly less extreme -are like these characters. It's sad and uplifting and scary and a little too close to reality ...

I am a big Jess Walter fan. I loved his last four books and they set a high bar to meet. Unfortunately this isn’t as good. I was expecting a good story with the characters really fleshed out but it seems he wrote it in a hurry.

Jess Walter you had me at “What Happened to Kinnick” until “ What Happened After.”What a joy to read this book…I laughed out loud so many times. The characters jump off the pages. Do yourself a favor and pick up this novel and go along for the ride. You won’t regret it.

I will read every new Jess Walter book as soon as I can. His use of words to evoke a sense of place, develop richly developed characters, and move a story from point A to point B and more is unmatched. Minor characters become favorite touchstones throughout and you find yourself rooting for so many of these flawed fine folks.

I'm only in the middle of the book, but the well drawn characters are still holding my interest. This is a tale which takes one way beyond our ordinary lives into (formerly ordinary) people on the edge and how they cope with important family happenings. Settings are very rustic.

Jess Walter captures the US in the 21st Century with wit and compassion. I found myself laughing out loud and crying in equal measure. The exploration of father daughter relationships is insightful and thought provoking.

Long a fan, I looked forward to SO FAR GONE. The book is pure Jess Walter: gritty, tough, tender, full of clear-eyed love. And this one: a primer on where we are in this country today.

Parts very good but a bit uneven.

This book was a bit hard to read. About halfway I was going to quit, but didn't. And I'm glad. It makes great points about our frailties and how certain people and organizations prey on them. And how we want to withdraw, but that doesn't work. We just keep trying and forgiving and finding our way home.

Jess Walter has a way of getting inside my head and putting all the thoughts into an understandable vision. So Far Gone makes no sense of the insanity of ‘Merikkka 2025 but it finds the heart and soul that still exists in the world and is so hard to keep within grasping distance. The characters and story are relatable and the writing, top notch as always. Thanks Mr Walter for telling stories and making me cry.

It was a read that shows how complicated family relationships can get when it involves differing of opinions on politics and religion. It’s a book that gets your attention from the start! A great book for book clubs as it will lead to interesting discussions.

What a beautiful, tragic, and bittersweet story. However this is also a story I will return to because there is just so much of a muchness. At it's heart is the question where do we stand in this time when all of life seems overwhelming. What I admire most is the reality of survival for most Americans living in the eastern Pacific NW; good people who are all too often demonized by a righteous, progressive, arrogant western Pacific NW. Ultimately it is not what side of the divide you are on, no one can promise to keep their family safe. And as Bethany says to her daughter at the end, it's ok if you don't believe in God right now, He still believes in you.

When Jess Walter invites you along for a road trip, you gotta go.In his latest book, the man behind the wheel is the idealistic recluse Rhys Kinnick, and the rig is not his old '59 Ford flatbed, which gave up the ghost months ago, but the lime-green 1978 Audi 100 GLS that's been moldering in the crawl space, with an engine that starts up "like a handful of wrenches in a dryer.""Is it a hybrid?" someone asks."It is, actually—half car, half garbage. Carbage," Kinnick says.These are the delights we crave from Jess Walter as we count down the days until his newest work arrives.Off we go through the twisting backroads of the Inland Northwest, where noble intentions and lofty musings meet the punishing truths of the real world, and where everything good is a lot harder to achieve than it ought to be. Kinnick's allies and adversaries are brilliantly drawn, and you'll swear you've met a few of these characters yourself.This is a book that would make Charles Portis proud.In Mr. Walter's well-crafted world, we can experience the vicarious thrills (and spills) of things we might occasionally have dreamed of: Punching an annoying relative. Tossing our phone out the window and not driving back to get it. Pulling into a bar in the middle of the day and ordering the house special. And running away from civilization for a while, (or as Edward Abbey used to call it, syphilization). Leaving it all behind for a life in the forest with only the raccoons and a shack full of great books for company. As we delight at each new line, we wait to see how it all turns out; in some cases, better than others.I once heard Jess say that when the car of civilization seems ready to swerve off the road, he finds himself sticking his head out the window and reporting on what he sees. It is my sincere hope that the essential truths amid the escapades of his fine writing will help us steer the car back onto the road. But... if and when we continue to swerve as a species, my hope is also that Jess Walter continues to stick his head out the window, and that he keeps on telling us what he sees.

Five big bold stars for the newest from Jess Walter. I loved So Far Gone and (Sorry, Jess) burned through it in a single day. So Far Gone is a beautifully written, redemption, older-guy buddy, road trip, mystery/suspense novel. I couldn't help but think of James Crumley and other older generation, hardknock life authors, who stare down a changing world and find something worthwhile and I feel that Walter did them justice. I was immediately drawn into Rhy's life and troubles and couldn't put the book down (sorry husband, had to read at the dinner table). If you enjoy wild rides and great writing don't wait to pick up So Far Gone.

This is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. Obviously, since it only came out yesterday, I read it nearly straight through. Admittedly, I live in Spokane and have enjoyed other of Mr. Walter’s books, but this was by far my favorite. Articulate, thoughtful, and with delightfully drawn characters, it speaks directly out of current events while leaving room for hope and humanity. Thanks, Jess!