So Far Gone Audiobook By Jess Walter cover art

So Far Gone

A Novel

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So Far Gone

By: Jess Walter
Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
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About this listen

National Bestseller

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

"Who better to give us the latest version of a recluse with a heart of gold than Walter?... It’s a gleeful, kooky and tender homage to Charles Portis’ 'True Grit' with echoes of Tom Robbins and yes, Elinor Lipman too.” — 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).

©2025 Jess Walter (P)2025 HarperCollins Publishers
Action & Adventure Historical Fiction World Literature Funny Witty

Critic reviews

A Vogue “Best Book of the Year” * An Amazon “Best Book of the Year” * A Publishers Weekly "Most Anticipated" * A Washington Post “Most Anticipated” * An Oprah's Book Club “Best Summer Read” * An Esquire “Best Book of the Summer” * A Los Angeles Times “Must Read Book for the Summer” * A New York Times “Book to Read This Summer” * A Good Morning America "Kate and Charlies Ultimate Summer Read" * A CBS Sunday “New Summer Read * An NPR “Dark Tale to Hit the Shelves” * An Elle “Best Book of the Summer” * A Lit Hub “Must Read Book for the Summer” * A Chicago Tribune “Summer Book” * A Minnesota Star Tribune "Terrific Book for the Beach" * An Alta Magazine "Book of the Month" * A New York Times "New Book We Recommend" * A Lit Hub "Best Reviewed Book" * A NY Post "Best New Book" * A New York Times "Book Readers Are Most Excited About This Summer" * A Huffington Post "Book that Should Be on Your Summer Reading List" * An Airmail “Best Read of the Week” * A Publishers Weekly Starred Review * A Kirkus Starred Review * A Library Journal Starred Review

Masterful Characters • Gripping Story • Brilliant Writing • Humorous Quips
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Read it yourself blah blah blah and see what you think. Kinnick is as clueless as all of us.

Truth and humor.

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I love Jess Walter, read all of his books and I’m obsessed, this one definitely did not disappoint. As someone who lives in the Pacific Northwest it was fun to hear all the little local places, but I’m also a huge fan of this narrator so whenever they Collab, it’s an instant yes for me.

So good! Another brilliant novel from one of my favorite authors.

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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.

So Far Gone, So Good!

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

Timely story- couldn’t put it down

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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.

So Far Gone

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I read "Beautiful Ruins" years ago and still think of it, of its characters, the setting, and the beauty of the writing. When "So Far Gone" was recently published, I put it in my wish list, thinking to myself that this book just might be another Jess Walter jewel. I was not disappointed. This novel is a keeper. Jess Walter is really quite an amazing author--a wordsmith of such talent that his delivery makes your heart ache with joy and fear all at once. It is rare for me to be surprised by turns of events. Jess surprised me. It is rare to read your own feelings jump out from the page, as if the protagonist is a mind reader. Jess did that too. "So Far Gone" is sad and funny and sweet and infuriating and surprising. Edoardo Ballerini (also a great favorite) makes the audio version come alive. It's going on my shelf of best books to reread. Thank you, Jess Walter! Well done!

Going on my shelf of best books!

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Oh my gosh! One of the best listens ever! It was funny, emotional, suspenseful, and on and on. Loved it!!

Recommend

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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.

Masterful characters; gripping story.

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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 Great Book for Our Time

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I liked that this book was different - interesting story telling and language. Im not sure if the story was that great - some of the characters seemed pretty cartoonish. But I liked it ok.

Interesting Prose

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