Long Way Gone

Again- Charles Martin DOES NOT disappoint! When you can jump into a book and have to claw your way out to just go to sleep-- then the writer has done his job. We all can identify with Coop-- we've all awakened inside a nightmare and most time we had a hand in creating it. But, nothing can take the place of feeling of freedom when chains are broken and you've been set free. Not many books create an echo that keeps coming back and grabbing your heart again and again like "LONG WAY GONE" if you have the time--read it's pages. You might as well fix a pot of coffee and get you a box of tissue-- your gonna be here awhile and your heart will cause your eyes to leak. Thank you Charles Martin for touching a chord deep within me. I'm giving this book to as many as I can-- I'm in hopes it touches a chord in them too. Just as Coops songs did. "Be still and know that I am God-- I will be exalted among the nations-- I will be exhausted in the earth!" (Psalms 46)

I loved this book! This is the type of book you can't put down and then want to share with all of your friends. An enjoyable read and powerful message in one package. Good job once again Charles Martin!

This is one of those books that I couldn't put down. I wanted to both read faster yet did not want it to end. If you love God and love music it is for you. The story of a parents unconditional love and rebellious child is timeless.

I had to finish this book through tears which to me, is the mark of a beautiful story. Charles Martin takes a timeless, biblical truth and creates a modern-day page turner. Breathtaking and life-giving.

Absolutely amazing! Mr. Martin skillfully spins the beautiful fabric of this story, wrapping you up in Hope! His style, his approach, his conversation with the reader's heart is a blessing & benediction...

I read constantly. This is one of the most powerful books I have read in a long time. You will see yourself in its pages - but in a new way once you are finished. Don't stop until you read the authors notes after the epilogue.

Reading a book by Charles Martin is always a soul searching experience for me. His stories touch my heart like no other books. Long Way Gone was amazing! I was captured from the beginning and could not put it down. The character development and scene descriptions were so vivid - I felt like I was right there. I laughed a few times and cried a few more (sometimes without realizing it) - which always tells me that the author has touched my soul. The main settings were very cool - Colorado and Nashville. If you love music, you will resonate with how music is weaved in from beginning to end. If you are like me, and don't know much about music, you will learn so much. The author unveiled details little by little, sometimes surprising me with the twists and turns in this gem of a story. I never felt uncomfortable with any scenes - which is a rarity these days in fiction. This book will stay with me for a long time and I even marked some pages to go back and reference later. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. -

I have been a fan of Charles Martin since "When Crickets Cry." I love his books and this one didn't disappoint. There are a lot of underlying messages in this story and I loved the main character and his redemption. I didn't like the "preachy" last few pages in my Kindle version of this book by Charles Martin and wanted it to end at the ending of the Epilogue without bonus "sermon." I remain a fan and will read all of his upcoming books but hope he can restrain himself a bit from overwhelming the readers with bible belt lingo.

I rarely take the time to write a book review. However, I just finished this book, in a flood of tears, and have to share how absolutely wonderful it is.

The story is beautiful, a modern prodigal son story. Touching, warm, hopeful.

But please do not stop at the epilogue. Read the very last chapter in the book, where Charles Martin takes the reader right into the Biblical telling of he Prodigal Son. Wow! It's one of my favorite passages, but it touched me today in a new way. There is such hope when there is a Father waiting to embrace me, no matter what.

Martin deserves higher than a 5 star. Martin draws you into the story, fills your heart with admiration for the characters, making you wish you were one of them, then
He tears your heart out and teases you with despair. Hope
and joy comes in unconventional ways that make you cry and blubber through the rest of the story. I have never been disappointed with Charles Martin's Gift of stories.
Can't wait for your next one..AMAZING.

I rarely take the time to write a book review. However, I just finished this book, in a flood of tears, and have to share how absolutely wonderful it is.

The story is beautiful, a modern prodigal son story. Touching, warm, hopeful.

But please do not stop at the epilogue. Read the very last chapter in the book, where Charles Martin takes the reader right into the Biblical telling of he Prodigal Son. Wow! It's one of my favorite passages, but it touched me today in a new way. There is such hope when there is a Father waiting to embrace me, no matter what.

Martin deserves higher than a 5 star. Martin draws you into the story, fills your heart with admiration for the characters, making you wish you were one of them, then
He tears your heart out and teases you with despair. Hope
and joy comes in unconventional ways that make you cry and blubber through the rest of the story. I have never been disappointed with Charles Martin's Gift of stories.
Can't wait for your next one..AMAZING.