Long Way Gone

Cooper O'Connor was a long way from home—both geographically and from the damage he caused. Now that he's back, is healing possible? At the age of eighteen, singer/songwriter Cooper O'Connor thumbed his nose at his dad, stole most everything he held dear, and made his way to Nashville . . . where he promptly lost everything. After five difficult years, he fell in love with Daley Cross, an angelic voice in need of a song. As their friendship grows and he realizes his love for her, he's framed for a crime, shot, and left to die in a house on fire. Miraculously, he survives but the damage is severe: he can no longer sing or play music. He quietly returns home to the mountains of Colorado, hoping to answer the questions that plague him. With forgiveness and reconciliation a distant dream, Cooper searches for a way to use his gifts for others—always hoping that somewhere along the way redemption will come within reach. From New York Times bestselling author Charles Martin comes a radical retelling of the prodigal son story. Cooper O'Connor thought he could make it big as a musician, but he promptly lost it all. Can he repair his relationship with the father who never stopped calling him 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. Praise for Long Way Gone: “Cooper and Daley's story will make you believe that even broken instruments have songs to offer when they're in the right hands. Charles Martin never fails to ask and answer the questions that linger deep within all of us. In this beautifully told story of a prodigal coming home, readers will find the broken and mended pieces of their own hearts.”—Lisa Wingate, New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours Stand-alone novel USA TODAY bestseller and Christy Award Book of the Year 2017 Includes discussion questions for book clubs Also by Charles Martin: The Letter Keeper, The Mountain Between Us, Send Down the Rain, and When Crickets Cry Cooper O'Connor thought he could make it big as a musician, but he promptly lost it all. Can he repair his relationship with the father who never stopped calling him 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. Praise for Long Way Gone: "Cooper and Daley's story will make you believe that even broken instruments have songs to offer when they're in the right hands. Charles Martin never fails to ask and answer the questions that linger deep within all of us. In this beautifully told story of a prodigal coming home, readers will find the broken and mended pieces of their own hearts."— Lisa Wingate , New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours Stand-alone novel USA TODAY bestseller and Christy Award Book of the Year 2017 Includes discussion questions for book clubs Also by Charles Martin: The Letter Keeper, The Mountain Between Us, Send Down the Rain, and When Crickets Cry "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 to his remote home in the 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. A radical retelling of the story of the prodigal son, 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"-- Provided by publisher USA TODAY bestseller Long Way Gone tells the heartwarming story of a prodigal son and his long journey toward redemption.