So Far Gone: A Novel

by Paul Cody

Soon to be executed for murdering his parents and grandmother, Jack Conner bares his soul and confesses his sins, accompanied by testimonies of a neighbor, cop, prison guard, mental patient, and priest

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1998

Reviews

[Pat · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a chilling look into the mind and history of a man awaiting execution for killing his parents and paternal grandmother. Jack Connor is the first person to be slated for execution in the state of MA in fifty years. The reader is also given a glimpse into the peripheral players in this man's life - a neighbor, a journalist, a prison guard, etc. Somehow, along the way, a sympathy is developed for Jack, who grew up in the most dysfunctional family possible where drugs, alcohol, abandonment, abuse and mental illness were integral to his chldhood. Each of the victims carried baggage from his or her own childhood, and we are left realizing the inevitability of Jack's horrific crime as his soul was destroyed.

I am impressed with Paul Cody's writing, and his skill in portraying Jack's memories in a way that makes him as much a victim as his parents and grandmother.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great story; but I found the main protagonist's voice inhibiting. I had difficulty following his scattered and sporadic narrative - which was perhaps the point, yet disappointed me because I wanted to be so much closer to the story and felt I couldn't be.

That being said - one of the darkest, most troubling familial relationships I've read in a long, long time. I had to take a shower after each read - but I loved how much it moved me.

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great book. While the formatting was different, unique, it made the reader's eyes open up. Gave them some insight on to not judge someone by an action before you know them. In the story, it tells what led up to the main character doing what he did. What's revealed is twisted, to say the least. One can almost feel a sympathy for this character by the end of this awesome book.

[Michael Boland · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very uniquely written book. It took me a little bit to get used to the prose, but by the first couple of chapters, I was wise to the timbre of it stylistically. Despite being a great story with complex layers of personal study, what is fantastic about Cody's execution is its ability to allow the reader to create a vivid image of their own within the context of this tale. I absolutely loved this book. A fantastic and eery read. Life and death. Pain and promise. Child and parent. Right and wrong.

[Larry Woods · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good book about a very dysfunctional family! The horrors Little Jack went through and hell big Jack too could warp anyone’s mind! Also the gene pool he came from was as bad as they get! Then, seems to me, he had to give everyone a little time out- what other option did he have? Think he was even ready for his own time out!

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had Paul as a professor--so cool. This book is seriously twisted.