Review: Highly recommended
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 06 7, 2013
500 Miles by Parker Williams is an amazing debut book by a talented author. The story flows, the characters are well developed to the point the reader feels like they are real people, and when it was over I wanted more.You know the cliché, I laughed, I cried? Well, it's certainly true with this story. Young Mark is separated from his brother Eric and Jase, the young man he has loved since, well, since he figured out what love is. Eric and Jase are being the altruistic men they were raised to be and join the Army to make a difference in the world. So, off they go to Afghanistan and Mark is left to grow up. Alone.Jase leaves Mark a tape and a note telling him that he will come back to him. As time goes by, Jase realizes he is selfish to ask Mark to grow up without him and just wait for Jase to come back so he... well, I can't tell you because it would spoil the story but there certainly is a gut-wrenching twist to the plot that you will not see coming, and neither did Mark, resulting in a broken heart and a boatload of guilt.Then tragedy strikes, and no one is left undamaged. Mark, his mother and father are suffering at home, waiting first for word and then for their men to come home to them. Jase and Eric are wounded and suffering from PTSD. The meaning of the title 500 Miles and the connection to the song becomes so poignant and grabs your heart and soul, not letting go until the last paragraph of the story. Even then, I am in the grip of loving these men and want more.