“No matter where you go, no matter whether you succeed or fail, stand or fall, no gone is too far gone. You can always come home.”
At the age of eighteen, musician and songwriter Cooper O’Connor took everything his father held dear and drove 1,200 miles from home to Nashville, his life riding on a six-string guitar and the bold wager that he had talent. But his wager soon proved foolish. Five years after losing everything, he falls in love with Daley Cross, an angelic voice in need of a song. But just as he realizes his love for Daley, Cooper faces a tragedy that threatens his life as well as his career. With nowhere else to go, he returns home to the remote Colorado mountains, searching for answers about his father and his faith. When Daley shows up on his street corner twenty years later, he wonders if it’s too late to tell her the truth about his past—and if he is ready to face it himself.
A radical retelling of the prodigal son story, Long Way Gone takes us from tent revivals to the Ryman Auditorium to the tender relationship between a broken man and the father who never stopped calling him home.
My Thoughts:
This story was so good. Charles Martin has a really unique way of starting a story off and then weaving the past into the present, telling the story in layers that the reader must fold back. This story had me wanting to keep turning the pages a quick as I could read to find out how this telling played out and yet it's the kind of storytelling that I also want to take my time with and savor because of the lovely writing and the depth within it.
Most of us, especially in Christian circles, knows the story of the prodigal son. This story sets it into modern times and it totally worked and made it fresh and relatable not just for the church goer but for anyone who loves a great story about broken families. I especially enjoyed the many quotable moments about music and it's place in life. The story set in contemporary times brought a real understanding of the prodigal son story and God's love for those gone astray. The depth of feeling, compassion and understanding for both the father and the son that the author was able to bring out in me surprised me and there were many tear filled moments for me throughout. I totally could see myself many times in Cooper's character, and I totally was broken for the father. The part where the son leaves felt like I'd been literally punched. After this story, I think I have a new understanding of the prodigal that wasn't there before and a fresh new understanding of the love God has towards us. Worth reading as always with Charles Martin books is his author's notes. It really lets you into his heart for writing the story.
This is a story that I know I will be rereading and I would highly recommend it. I know it's going to be a go to gift this Christmas for the readers on my list.
Thanks to BookLook Bloggers and Thomas Nelson for providing me a free copy for my honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not required to give a positive review.
At the age of eighteen, musician and songwriter Cooper O’Connor took everything his father held dear and drove 1,200 miles from home to Nashville, his life riding on a six-string guitar and the bold wager that he had talent. But his wager soon proved foolish. Five years after losing everything, he falls in love with Daley Cross, an angelic voice in need of a song. But just as he realizes his love for Daley, Cooper faces a tragedy that threatens his life as well as his career. With nowhere else to go, he returns home to the remote Colorado mountains, searching for answers about his father and his faith. When Daley shows up on his street corner twenty years later, he wonders if it’s too late to tell her the truth about his past—and if he is ready to face it himself.
A radical retelling of the prodigal son story, Long Way Gone takes us from tent revivals to the Ryman Auditorium to the tender relationship between a broken man and the father who never stopped calling him home.
This story was so good. Charles Martin has a really unique way of starting a story off and then weaving the past into the present, telling the story in layers that the reader must fold back. This story had me wanting to keep turning the pages a quick as I could read to find out how this telling played out and yet it's the kind of storytelling that I also want to take my time with and savor because of the lovely writing and the depth within it.
Most of us, especially in Christian circles, knows the story of the prodigal son. This story sets it into modern times and it totally worked and made it fresh and relatable not just for the church goer but for anyone who loves a great story about broken families. I especially enjoyed the many quotable moments about music and it's place in life. The story set in contemporary times brought a real understanding of the prodigal son story and God's love for those gone astray. The depth of feeling, compassion and understanding for both the father and the son that the author was able to bring out in me surprised me and there were many tear filled moments for me throughout. I totally could see myself many times in Cooper's character, and I totally was broken for the father. The part where the son leaves felt like I'd been literally punched. After this story, I think I have a new understanding of the prodigal that wasn't there before and a fresh new understanding of the love God has towards us. Worth reading as always with Charles Martin books is his author's notes. It really lets you into his heart for writing the story.
This is a story that I know I will be rereading and I would highly recommend it. I know it's going to be a go to gift this Christmas for the readers on my list.
Thanks to BookLook Bloggers and Thomas Nelson for providing me a free copy for my honest review. All opinions are my own and I was not required to give a positive review.
6 comments:
Looks like a good one! Going on my TBR list.
Love this author! Ok....so now I am reading a book, I have 2 from the library on my nightstand waiting for me, and I have FOUR from your recommendations! Thanks for great reviews, Susanne!
I love the story of the prodigal son and this sounds like a telling of it that I would enjoy. Going on my list.
I love the story of the Prodigal Son, and I've come to love Charles Martin. This is a must read for me.
Thanks for your great review!
When you mentioned it last time, I'd hoped you'd post a review. And I like retellings of familiar stories. Charles Martin's "voice" is particularly compelling.
Nice review.
I normally LOVE his books, but I just couldn't get into this one. Maybe I shouldn't have give up at page 100 or so.
Thanks for sharing.
Elizabeth
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