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cmm9200's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Oh my gosh. The ending had me weepy. I was unsure about this book, at first. I'm not an historical fiction girly. I'm so glad I stuck with it. Some slow parts, but the story was amazing. Highly recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Rape, Blood, Child death, and Death of parent
mullensamy's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Loved the last 25% of the story and how everything wrapped up. I'm not one for romance and there was a LOT of romance but it wasn't smutty so I managed just fine. Some of the quotes in this book were the most profound and lovely sentiments that I ever read. Glad I decided to read this one!
a_neverending_tbr's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This story was absolutely enthralling. I love Amy’s writing and this was just as beautifully written as all her other books. It is heartwarming but also tragic and sheds light on a difficult and heartbreaking part of our history. I loved the sweet but passionate love story between Naomi and John Lowery. The Native American history is rich and the picture of the hardship of immigrants on the trail West was vivid. I listened on audio and loved both narrators.
Content Notes: Vague open door romance, rape (vague, brief description), violence consistent for the time period/culture
Content Notes: Vague open door romance, rape (vague, brief description), violence consistent for the time period/culture
jocogr's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Pregnancy, Racism, Violence, Kidnapping, Colonisation, Death of parent, Animal death, Blood, Pandemic/Epidemic, Rape, Death, Gore, and Suicidal thoughts
foraging_pages's review
5.0
I tell her I am trapped where the lost wander, and I don’t see any way out.
Oregon Trail, the 1850s, at the crossroads of cultures and humanity
Where the Lost Wander felt realistic which is what I want from historical fiction but it was also so beautifully written, paced, and well-researched. As a “Western,” it didn’t fall prey to the same prejudices that you might find in other Wild West/Oregon Trail books. It wasn’t an “Indian versus cowboys” situation but rather an engaging tribute to both cultures filled with real places and people.
The main couple is controversially mixed-race. Naomi is white while John is half Native American Pawnee and half white. I enjoyed the theme of identity that the relationship stirred up and the way it shaped the novel in many ways. John “Two Feet” Lowery served as a go between in many instances but wasn’t portrayed as if his heritage was his only favorable feature. Naomi is the young widow and artist who captures his heart and shows him true love for the first time. I enjoyed their love story just as much as I enjoyed the familial relationships on both sides.
This story is a mourning for the old Native American ways. It made me sad to think of how their culture and people have been wiped out. I am happy that writers like Amy Harmon work to keep the old ways in our written history. It deserves to be remembered. Harmon has ties to American settlers while her husband is related to the real John Lowery, so if anyone has the right and the passion to write such a book, she does.
I teared up a little while reading which is rare for me. This story and it’s characters will be on my mind for a long time. Amy Harmon, I’ll definitely be reading more of your books!
Oregon Trail, the 1850s, at the crossroads of cultures and humanity
Where the Lost Wander felt realistic which is what I want from historical fiction but it was also so beautifully written, paced, and well-researched. As a “Western,” it didn’t fall prey to the same prejudices that you might find in other Wild West/Oregon Trail books. It wasn’t an “Indian versus cowboys” situation but rather an engaging tribute to both cultures filled with real places and people.
The main couple is controversially mixed-race. Naomi is white while John is half Native American Pawnee and half white. I enjoyed the theme of identity that the relationship stirred up and the way it shaped the novel in many ways. John “Two Feet” Lowery served as a go between in many instances but wasn’t portrayed as if his heritage was his only favorable feature. Naomi is the young widow and artist who captures his heart and shows him true love for the first time. I enjoyed their love story just as much as I enjoyed the familial relationships on both sides.
This story is a mourning for the old Native American ways. It made me sad to think of how their culture and people have been wiped out. I am happy that writers like Amy Harmon work to keep the old ways in our written history. It deserves to be remembered. Harmon has ties to American settlers while her husband is related to the real John Lowery, so if anyone has the right and the passion to write such a book, she does.
I teared up a little while reading which is rare for me. This story and it’s characters will be on my mind for a long time. Amy Harmon, I’ll definitely be reading more of your books!
candacesiegle_greedyreader's review
4.0
The wagon train novel used to a staple of fiction that has fallen somewhat out of favor in the past few decades. It is nice that Amy Harmon has revived it with a nice modern twist that is nonetheless historically accurate. Naomi May is a widow of 20 when she, her large family, and her inlaws head west to California. The move was the brainchid of her husband, who died before they left, but after they had sold everything and had no choice but to go. They're still in mourning and set off on a trip that will be long, dangerous, bone-rattling and exhausting. Naomi has her sketchbook and is drawing everything she sees around her. This will turn out to be very important to all of them.
John Lowry is the son of a Pawnee woman and a white man. Raised by his white family and part of this father's mule business, he joins the wagon train to deliver mules to the next fort. The attraction between Naomi and John is immediate and startling to them and others in the train. Harmon uses these two narrators to give the story depth and nuance.
Other writers could refer to this book as a primer on how to create a female character who is independent and realistic within the bounds of her time. As a woman of the 1850s, Naomi has met few people and is little exposed to wider ways of thinking. Nonetheless she emerges as someone who is her own woman, independent and bold.
"Where the Lost Wander" is a little long, but the story will hold you captive long its twists and turns.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for access to this novel.
~Candace SIegle, Greedy REader
John Lowry is the son of a Pawnee woman and a white man. Raised by his white family and part of this father's mule business, he joins the wagon train to deliver mules to the next fort. The attraction between Naomi and John is immediate and startling to them and others in the train. Harmon uses these two narrators to give the story depth and nuance.
Other writers could refer to this book as a primer on how to create a female character who is independent and realistic within the bounds of her time. As a woman of the 1850s, Naomi has met few people and is little exposed to wider ways of thinking. Nonetheless she emerges as someone who is her own woman, independent and bold.
"Where the Lost Wander" is a little long, but the story will hold you captive long its twists and turns.
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for access to this novel.
~Candace SIegle, Greedy REader
suzysuzy34's review against another edition
5.0
Read and listened too on audible. Wonderful story. Five stars for the story and narration.