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The Long Way Home
Larry Edwards is failing at life, and he knows it. Larry is 43, unmarried, and struggling in dead end jobs in a Rust Belt town in 1980s Michigan. His hometown has reached a dead end, just like Larry has. But that’s only one of his problems. He’s also the guardian of his headstrong nephew Anthony, even though he doesn’t know how to raise children. All Larry knows about is baseball and cars. All Anthony wants is an Atari and a VCR. Just when Larry’s given up all hope of a regular family, he meets Anna, a ray of light piercing the darkness of his bleak life. Anna has many fears of her own, however, and when mixed with Larry’s, the combination threatens to wreck their relationship before it can save them both.
You can’t afford to miss this surprisingly introspective book of two people struggling to find purpose and happiness in life. This powerful story is perfect for those struggling to live the life they’ve imagined.
You can’t afford to miss this surprisingly introspective book of two people struggling to find purpose and happiness in life. This powerful story is perfect for those struggling to live the life they’ve imagined.
285 pages, Paperback
Published February 4, 2020
About the author
Rob Bauer
20 books39 followersI’m Rob Bauer, author of historical fiction and nonfiction books and owner of Rob Bauer Books. I hold a PhD in American History and was a Distinguished Doctoral Fellow at the University of Arkansas.
I love writing historical fiction. To me, it’s a continuation of what I used to do as a college professor—educate people about interesting historical events—except now I get to do so through fun stories. With historical fiction I hope I can reach a larger audience, too. My first novel is free to everyone on my website! You can find it at - http://robbauerbooks.com/a-free-ebook...
I also write nonfiction about baseball history because I’ve always loved the game, its history, and its lore. I sometimes joke that baseball may be the one thing in life I truly understand. Although I love the statistical side of the game, if you don’t, never fear because my histories go light on the statistics and heavy on what baseball was like in the past. They’re stories about baseball, but stories with a point.
The history blog on my website offers posts on a variety of interesting historical figures and events. I’d love to have you follow along at - http://robbauerbooks.com/blog/
When I’m not working on my next story or writing project, I enjoy spending time at the beach. And, oh yeah, I still read a history book or two. When I’m not watching baseball.
I love writing historical fiction. To me, it’s a continuation of what I used to do as a college professor—educate people about interesting historical events—except now I get to do so through fun stories. With historical fiction I hope I can reach a larger audience, too. My first novel is free to everyone on my website! You can find it at - http://robbauerbooks.com/a-free-ebook...
I also write nonfiction about baseball history because I’ve always loved the game, its history, and its lore. I sometimes joke that baseball may be the one thing in life I truly understand. Although I love the statistical side of the game, if you don’t, never fear because my histories go light on the statistics and heavy on what baseball was like in the past. They’re stories about baseball, but stories with a point.
The history blog on my website offers posts on a variety of interesting historical figures and events. I’d love to have you follow along at - http://robbauerbooks.com/blog/
When I’m not working on my next story or writing project, I enjoy spending time at the beach. And, oh yeah, I still read a history book or two. When I’m not watching baseball.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 29, 2020
This is a lovely historical romance, set in the 1980s in a small town that had seen its better days, at least as far as employment was concerned. And Larry Edwards fits right in. He’s a decent man without the luck to match.
With no family of his own and now in his 40s, Larry finds himself as the uncle/father to his deceased sister’s teenage son, Anthony. And like the decent man he is, he takes on uncle-hood without a clue how to raise kids. He gives it the old college try, but well; Larry’s luck keeps rearing its ugly head.
When Larry loses his job and nearly his life is when his life takes a turn. Anna, a college student, older than the usual co-ed enters the scene and brings a much-needed spark into his existence.
But Anna has problems of her own. Big problems. And luckily, Anna has found the man to assist her as much as she helps Larry and an added bonus—help with his nephew.
There’s more to this story than a simple romance. In fact, there’s nothing simple about it. These two have no idea what to do with their relationship. Is it a mere friendship, with nothing mere about it? Or is it something deeper? What do each of them want? What do they deserve, given their past behavior and current circumstances?
There’s also a mystery to be solved, with gripping intrigue, and severe consequences of solving it, including possible death and putting a close friend in harm’s way. But solve it, Larry must.
The life lessons Larry imparts to Anthony along the way is a wondrous adventure for them both and to watch their relationship change and blossom takes the reader on a beautiful journey of discovering what it means to be family.
I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who loves digging deep into the psyche of a character to really understand him. Or if you simply love romance or tender relationships between family members, this story is for you.
With no family of his own and now in his 40s, Larry finds himself as the uncle/father to his deceased sister’s teenage son, Anthony. And like the decent man he is, he takes on uncle-hood without a clue how to raise kids. He gives it the old college try, but well; Larry’s luck keeps rearing its ugly head.
When Larry loses his job and nearly his life is when his life takes a turn. Anna, a college student, older than the usual co-ed enters the scene and brings a much-needed spark into his existence.
But Anna has problems of her own. Big problems. And luckily, Anna has found the man to assist her as much as she helps Larry and an added bonus—help with his nephew.
There’s more to this story than a simple romance. In fact, there’s nothing simple about it. These two have no idea what to do with their relationship. Is it a mere friendship, with nothing mere about it? Or is it something deeper? What do each of them want? What do they deserve, given their past behavior and current circumstances?
There’s also a mystery to be solved, with gripping intrigue, and severe consequences of solving it, including possible death and putting a close friend in harm’s way. But solve it, Larry must.
The life lessons Larry imparts to Anthony along the way is a wondrous adventure for them both and to watch their relationship change and blossom takes the reader on a beautiful journey of discovering what it means to be family.
I would HIGHLY recommend this book to anyone who loves digging deep into the psyche of a character to really understand him. Or if you simply love romance or tender relationships between family members, this story is for you.
December 21, 2022
A Romance
This book was not what o expected, though I’m not sure what it was that I expected. It’s a story of personal growth by a guy who is in his early 40’s in the 1980’s. But a lot of that personal growth is attributed to the romantic partner he meets.
The story is told almost entirely in dialogue, which I found unusual but effective. The mindset of people, social scene, and even products presented were very much in line with what I remember about the 80’s. Perhaps it was written then, I didn’t check the copyright or publishing dates.
The best thing about this book is that the main character is Everyman. The vernacular used in dialogue, how he thinks and lives, how he relates to his friends—all is down to earth and genuine midwestern people and life. I could relate to the guy’s struggles and found him quite likable.
Nice story.
This book was not what o expected, though I’m not sure what it was that I expected. It’s a story of personal growth by a guy who is in his early 40’s in the 1980’s. But a lot of that personal growth is attributed to the romantic partner he meets.
The story is told almost entirely in dialogue, which I found unusual but effective. The mindset of people, social scene, and even products presented were very much in line with what I remember about the 80’s. Perhaps it was written then, I didn’t check the copyright or publishing dates.
The best thing about this book is that the main character is Everyman. The vernacular used in dialogue, how he thinks and lives, how he relates to his friends—all is down to earth and genuine midwestern people and life. I could relate to the guy’s struggles and found him quite likable.
Nice story.
November 29, 2022
The author brings you a true to life reality story, but not the “reality” stories tv brings you. This is a bed of roses, thorns included! We learn about their real life and it’s not always easy. You root for the characters and you’ll tell them about their bad ideas. Great love story that builds slowly and comes to a crescendo built by forces beyond their control.
Give this human interest story a read.
Give this human interest story a read.
July 23, 2021
I enjoyed this book. I bought it because I was born and raised in the Rust Belt of Michigan. So I was hoping for it to be closer to my hometown. But Port Huron is close enough to Ypsilanti. I have been here there and everywhere in between. I came of age in the 80's so this book was right up my alley. I would recommend this book.
April 13, 2022
I should have paid more attention to the book blurb. It’s not the author’s fault that this is not my kind of entertainment. It’s a little too true to life and depressing for me. Well written with natural dialogue and realistic characters.
July 27, 2020
The book’s not going to win any literary awards, but it’s an entertaining quick read. I enjoyed the the fact that Bauer set his novel in an era that I easily relate to.
October 25, 2022
I liked this book. It's got drama and emotion, a love story and a mystery. It's an easy and entertaining, if not sad at times, read. Mostly clean. I'd give the language a PG-13 rating.
January 10, 2023
The Long Way Home
Larry Edwards is raising his 15-yr-old nephew Anthony without benefit of a wife and with no parenting skills, not that any parent has great wisdom in handling a teenage boy. Larry has a balky truck, an aching back, and a job at the hardware store and is at that stage in life where the road ahead is bleak and his best years seem in the past. Like most former high school jocks he and his buds meet at the bar to discus sports and the four best years of their lives as a non-jock once put it. I was in St Louis on game night when the Royals played the Cardinals in the Werld Series.
Bad mouthing the Blue Jays doesn’t score points with a Canadian. At least when an American Team wins at Hockey we can point to the Canadian players who helped win it. Go Crosby. Go Gretzky.
Hopefully matters pickup for the pair as the first section is rather a downer. Lacking is self-confidence and self-esteem. They live in the so-called rust belt where jobs are scare and outlooks are poor. Anna is the victim of her boyfriend’s roid rage and Lawrence finds himself unemployed.
For once our principal characters are ordinary folk neither incredibly beautiful nor muscle model handsome. But this is a romance and follows a typical formula. Just when the couple are nearing rapprochement youthful indiscretions waylay Lawrence and threaten connubial relations.
Larry Edwards is raising his 15-yr-old nephew Anthony without benefit of a wife and with no parenting skills, not that any parent has great wisdom in handling a teenage boy. Larry has a balky truck, an aching back, and a job at the hardware store and is at that stage in life where the road ahead is bleak and his best years seem in the past. Like most former high school jocks he and his buds meet at the bar to discus sports and the four best years of their lives as a non-jock once put it. I was in St Louis on game night when the Royals played the Cardinals in the Werld Series.
Bad mouthing the Blue Jays doesn’t score points with a Canadian. At least when an American Team wins at Hockey we can point to the Canadian players who helped win it. Go Crosby. Go Gretzky.
Hopefully matters pickup for the pair as the first section is rather a downer. Lacking is self-confidence and self-esteem. They live in the so-called rust belt where jobs are scare and outlooks are poor. Anna is the victim of her boyfriend’s roid rage and Lawrence finds himself unemployed.
For once our principal characters are ordinary folk neither incredibly beautiful nor muscle model handsome. But this is a romance and follows a typical formula. Just when the couple are nearing rapprochement youthful indiscretions waylay Lawrence and threaten connubial relations.
July 11, 2020
Excellent novel that anyone that grew up in the 80s and early 90s will appreciate. There's a little romance, a little humor, a bit of intrigue, and a plethora of characters that you're sure to love.
If you're looking for a great read to pass the time, you'll likely be pleased you chose The Long Way Home.
5 stars because I loved this novel.
If you're looking for a great read to pass the time, you'll likely be pleased you chose The Long Way Home.
5 stars because I loved this novel.
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews