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I would like to introduce you to Alle C. Hall’s WOW! WOMEN ON WRITING TOUR for the novel As Far As You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back which I received a copy of in exchange for the review. The Tour Begins October 2nd and I hope you take the time to check out all the participants in the tour.
Hall’s debut novel is a story of emotions that starts with the first page and last through the last page and it’s a book you will not put down until the last page. The main character is a protagonist who struggles with the deepest pain a child can endure (incest). Something I never thought I would face first hand but I did when my sister admitted to me not only my brother but my cousin had sexually abused my sister. Thank the LORD it never happened to my children or my nephew but it could have as my brother is still a part of our lives.
The sad part is we believe my mom knew what was happening but never admitted it and we didn’t have a chance to ask her before she passed away. As for my dad we never said anything to him because with his temper and my sister being the baby of the family there is no, telling what he would have done.
Which is why like the main character in the book I could see my sister traveling from one runaway moment to another. Even though traveling can remove the anguish that isn’t always the answer. Through the book we see Carlie, finding herself and attempting to heal by bombing around Asia. She even masters Tai Chi which might be fun to try. Would you like to do a class with me?
Carlie builds friendships, and an understanding of herself. As Far As You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back is a heartbreaking journey using a first person voice. Carlie is a character everyone will find themselves rooting for, and you will find yourself wanting to save her which she doesn’t need.
As Far As You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back touches on pain and redemption, and I liked how the story helped me understand the horror of incestual childhood abuse and what my sister must have went through. I will be giving here a copy of
As Far As You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back for Christmas and I hope it helps her cope with what she went through which I know still bothers her.
Carlie’s experience shows deep human suffering, and unhealthy ways to try to process what has happened and why and how to escape what happened and how, a victim can only save herself. Be prepared as there is many trigger warnings, and may be hard to read for some people.
Here is a tip that might surprise you there is a lot of humor in this book which helped me finish the story. Carlie isn’t a noble or long suffering heroine, but more like my sister who is headstrong and will not give up no, matter what is happening to her. Through the book we all learn all men aren’t bad and all women aren’t good which is something new to a lot of us.
I hope you take the time to read As Far As You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back which should be on every best sellers list including Oprah’s book club. Counselors should keep a copy of this book on there shelves and all libraries should have multiple copies of the book.
Book Summary
Nominated for The Pacific Northwest Booksellers Book Award, Alle C. Hall’s debut literary novel, As Far As You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back is a-girl-and-her-backpack story with a #MeToo influence:
Carlie is not merely traveling. A child sexual abuse survivor, as a teen she steals ten thousand dollars from her parents and runs away to Asia. There, the Lonely Planet path of hookups, heat, alcohol, and drugs takes on a terrifying reality. Landing in Tokyo in the late 1980s, Carlie falls in with an international crew of tai chi-practicing backpackers. With their help, Carlie has the chance at a journey she didn’t plan for: one to find the self-respect ripped from her as a child and the healthy sexuality she desires.
Publisher: Black Rose Writing
ISBN-10: 1685131476 ISBN-13: 978-1685131470
Audio Book AISN: B0C3NVGNS
Print Length: 267 pages
Purchase a copy of the book on Amazon, Bookshop.org, or Barnes and Noble. Make sure you also add it to your GoodReads reading list.
About the Author
Nominated for The Pacific Northwest Booksellers Book Award and—tis just in—winner of The PenCraft Book Award for Fiction – Adventure, Alle C. Hall’s debut literary novel, As Far as You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back was winning prizes before its publication, including the National League of American Pen Women’s Mary Kennedy Eastham Prize. Her short stories and essays appear in journals including Dale Peck’s Evergreen Review, Tupelo Quarterly, New World Writing, Litro, Creative Nonfiction, and Another Chicago. She has written for The Seattle Times, Seattle Weekly, and was a contributing writer at The Stranger. She is the former senior nonfiction editor at jmww journal and the former associate editor of Vestal Review. Hall lived in Asia, traveled there extensively, speaks what she calls “clunky” Japanese, and has a tai chi practice of 35 years running.
Find her online at:
Website: Facebook: Instagram: Twitter: Substack: LinkedIn:
Blog Tour Calendar
October 2nd @ The Muffin
Join us as we celebrate the launch of Alle C. Hall’s blog tour for As Far As You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back. Read an interview with the author and enter to win a copy of the book.
October 3rd @ Seaside Book Nook
Jill will be spotlighting the award-winning book As Far As You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back by Alle C. Hall.
October 3rd @ Felicia Guest Writes
Join Felicia as she features an excerpt of As Far As You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back.
October 5th @ Fiona Ingram
Join Fiona for a guest post by Alle C. Hall about travel and travel writing.
October 7th @ Chapter Break
Julie will be spotlighting As Far As You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back on her blog today. She’ll also be interviewing the author.
October 8th @ World of My Imagination
Visit Nicole’s blog for her review of As Far As You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back.
October 8th @ Just Katherine
Don’t miss Katherine’s feature of an excerpt from As Far As You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back.
October 10th @ Just Katherine
Katherine shares a guest post by Alle C. Hall about the topic of joy.
October 12th @ Knotty Needle
Visit Judy’s blog for her review of As Far As You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back.
October 14th @ A Wonderful World of Books
Visit Joy’s blog for a guest post by the author about surviving traumatic, unkind, or simply less-than-nurturing events.
October 16th @ Storeybook Reviews
Visit Leslie’s blog for a guest post by Alle C. Hall about coping.
October 18th @ Finished Pages
Join Renee as she reviews As Far As You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back.
October 19th @ Celticlady’s Reviews
Kathleen shares a spotlight of As Far As You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back.
October 20th @ A Storybook World
Join Deirdra for her spotlight of As Far As You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back.
October 21st @ The Mommies Review
Don’t miss Glenda’s review of As Far As You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back.
October 23rd @ Bring on Lemons
Join Crystal for her review of As Far As You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back.
October 25th @ Mire Marke
Join Mire as she reviews As Far As You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back.
October 26th @ Lisa Haselton’s Reviews and Interviews
Visit Lisa’s blog for her interview with author Alle C. Hall
October 27th @ Freeing the Butterfly
Visit Michelle’s blog for a guest post by Alle C. Hall about spirituality.
October 30th @ Jill Sheet’s blog
Visit Jill’s blog for her interview with author Alle C. Hall
November 1st @ Writer Advice
Visit B. Lynn Goodwin’s blog for her review of As Far As You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back.
November 2nd @ Writer Advice
Join B. Lynn Goodwin again when she interviews Alle C. Hall.
November 3rd @ Choices
Visit Madeline’s blog for a guest post by Alle C. Hall about trauma and creativity.
November 3 @ Boys’ Mom Reads
Join Karen for her review of Alle C. Hall’s book As Far As You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back.
November 4th @ Boots, Shoes, and Fashion
Visit Linda’s blog for an in-depth interview with author Alle C. Hall about her book As Far As You Can Go Before You Have to Come
The launch day post began at WOW! Women on Writing’s blog The Muffin which went live on October 2nd. On this stop you will find a giveaway of the book, and a list of all the tour stops. I would like to ask if you could to visit/share this post with your followers on Social Media.
When your through reading the review I would like to ask you to share the tour on Social Media, using the hashtag #AsFarAsYouCanGo. If you are on Twitter, include WOW @WomenonWriting and the author at @allechall1. If you are on Instagram, you can tag @wow_womenonwriting or the author at @allec.hall.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
