Catherine's Updates

"Thank you to Harper and ŷ�� Giveaways for the review copy of So Far Gone by Jess Walter, due out June 10, 2025.

Rhys dropped out of the world after losing his job, getting dumped, and punching his conspiracy theory mad son-in-law. Believing that he was of no further use to society, he rid himself of his phone and hopped off of the grid and onto his grandfather’s old sheep farm that never did support any sheep. Seven years later, Rhys is dumbfounded when he opens the door to see his granddaughter and grandson on his porch. They have been brought to his remote location by a woman who says that she is his daughter’s neighbor. His daughter Bethany has run off without telling anyone where she was headed and left instructions that if her husband follows her then the children should be brought to her father instead of left with the Army of the Lord (AOL). AOL is the military branch of the cult Rhys’s son-in-law has most recently involved his family in. Thus begins Rhys’s journey back into the civilized world--which may or may not be as civilized as he would like.

So Far Gone is told in third person, but looks over the shoulder of other characters in addition to Rhys, including as Bethany and his two grandchildren. From each point of view, we learn not just about Rhys, but about all of the different understandings that arrive at a situation, all of the people who have a stake and a history and an idea of what happened and how things should proceed. In the midst of all those other personalities and desires, Rhys is hoping he can find his daughter, save his grandchildren, and maybe win back his girlfriend—you know, make up for some of those lost years.

The story is a bit cooky and plays up the paranoia of the current times that intensified during Covid and the weariness and distrust many feel of those who are of a different political leaning or belief system. It is not lost on the perceptive reader that Rhys has behaved almost as drastically as his derided son-in-law. What is sane and insane may seem clear to you, but not quite as clear to anyone else. The grizzled Rhys, for instance, is not aware of how his unkempt appearance and gamy odor impact those around him.

I appreciate being given the opportunity to read this book—I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it. At first it seemed mid—another story of a family disconnected due to politics. However, as I kept reading, I became more interested in the plot and invested in the characters.

Would I teach this book? It is a reasonable possibility. With all of the books now coming out that touch on the Covid pandemic and the intertwining politics, it is clear that our imaginative zeitgeist seeks to trod this path. Compared to some of the other books that explore similar territory, So Far Gone approaches with humility and humor. A book like this is a conversation opener, in particular an opportunity to discuss point of view and difficult main characters."