Book Review: So Far Gone

Our book group selected So Far Gone by Jess Walter, and I’m so glad they did. It was thoroughly enjoyable, and I recommend this novel.

There are a few ways I know a book is a winner. One, I want to read it again. Two, it made me laugh. And three, it made me cry. Let me explain.

I want to read it again because it is not only well-written and well-edited, but it is compelling. The vivid characters come to life, and you feel you know them. I love the interesting way the novel is uniquely constructed, of having each character be a chapter, yet keeping the arc of the plot moving. How clever is that?

Although this is a story contending with tough, present-day challenging issues, humor is embedded throughout, and it catches the reader off-guard. There is one part where a character is answering an overly-curious child’s question, and the adult gives what seems like a serious answer, but readers will get the humor. I laughed out loud, got up and walked around, but I couldn’t stop laughing. 

So Far Gone deals with weighty issues, which plague our life today. It shines a spotlight on how different segments of society deal with the stress they are under, and how it affects vulnerable populations like children. I found the story touching and relevant.

Lastly, the story made me cry. Not because the ending was happy or sad but because it had ended. After reading a great book like this one, it’s hard to find the next one because it cannot measure up.