Book description
So Far Gone: A Novel - A Joyful, Wild Ride Through America
Jess Walter's So Far Gone feels like a bright, sun-lit road trip that takes you from the quiet solitude of a cabin in the woods to the chaotic heart of modern America. The book is as warm and funny as it is deeply human, turning a simple premise-a reclusive journalist who must rescue his kidnapped grandchildren-into a sprawling adventure that's at once absurdly entertaining and profoundly moving.
From the very first page, Walter shows why he's been called "a genius of the modern American moment." He paints Rhys Kinnick as an everyman: a man who has deliberately turned off his phone, abandoned the internet, and lived in isolation with only raccoons for company. Yet when family ties pull him back into a world that's changed while he was gone, Walter turns this quiet life into a kaleidoscope of characters-a caustic ex-girlfriend, a bipolar retired detective, and an old friend who's both furious and indispensable.
The narrative is full of the playful energy you'd expect from a homage to Charles Portis' True Grit, with a dash of Tom Robbins' whimsy and a touch of Elinor Lipman's tenderness. Each chapter feels like a new stop on a cross-country tour, where cultural quirks and societal fractures are as vivid as the characters themselves. The humor never feels cheap; it is rooted in the absurdity of the situations and the genuine warmth that binds everyone together.
What makes So Far Gone truly stand out is its emotional core. Walter manages to keep the stakes high-kidnapped grandchildren, a dangerous militia-but balances this with moments of quiet reflection about family, belonging, and the idea of "home." The road trip becomes a metaphor for rediscovery: Rhys must navigate not only physical terrain but also his own past decisions.
Ann Patchett calls it "a warm, funny, loving novel," and that description rings true. Even when the plot takes a turn into danger or introspection, the tone remains approachable and engaging. Readers will find themselves laughing at the quirks of each side character while rooting for Rhys's unlikely quest to reunite his family.
In sum, So Far Gone is a rollicking, razor-sharp adventure that captures the fractured yet hopeful spirit of contemporary America. Jess Walter delivers a story that is as entertaining as it is touching-an invitation to step onto the road with an old friend and discover that sometimes the best journeys begin when you're forced back into the world you thought you'd left behind.
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Playing a wide variety of audio formats
Works on all devices with iOS 13 and newer
Huge amount of features for a small price
Frequent updates to add new features and improve existing ones
Advanced playback controls
Live sound processing
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice and noise reduction
Translated into more than 20 languages
If you love listening to fiction audiobooks, ListenBook has features to make the process easier.
Edit book data: title, author, cover
Use equalizer to make the sound comfortable for you
Adjust the playback speed
Enjoy dark and light app themes
Supported formats: MP3, M4B, AWB, FLAC, OGG audio files and many more (must be DRM free)
Auto-Bookmarks make it easy to find your place
AirPlay support allows redirection of audio output.
VoiceOver support
Dark mode for night owls
Convenient bookmarking system helps you mark the most important places.
Unlimited bookmarks for each audiobook
Put your own cover on the wager
Share your audiobook with friends
Lock-screen control
Customise app with extensive options
Sleep timer with shake to reset, set custom notification sounds, and a few unique options
Auto rewind depending on paused time, customize rewind times to your liking
Removing background noise from recordings made in classrooms and meetings
Changing the timbre of the reader's voice for a better listening experience