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3.94 AVERAGE
3.94 AVERAGE
Wow. Just wow. The link between this novel and Outlander has been made time and time again but I loved Into the Wilderness so much more. There’s drama, politics, romance, found family, feminism, Western-inspired themes, and Native American representation, which are all things I love. I’m not gonna lie, the introduction of Native American characters made me nervous because I’ve read other historical romances that have been so offensive or ignorant that I had to DNF them. Thankfully, it felt like Sara Donati did her research and really tried to do their culture and the prejudice they faced justice.
I’m not even gonna talk about Nathaniel, that’s my baby.
I’m not even gonna talk about Nathaniel, that’s my baby.
Loved it and can't wait to read the next one! The first book in a long time that I've wanted to stay up all night reading.
Frankly, this book was too much for me. When I read about the connections/similarities with Outlander, I was excited, and when I first started reading I was more enthralled than I had been so far with Outlander. I also LOVE The Last of the Mohicans so I was excited about that too. But that didn't last long.
What I expected was a natural progression of Nathaniel and Elizabeth falling in love with a sprinkling of ~ scandal ~ from Richard Todd or her father, but instead it was a zero-to-60 progression of scandal with Richard Todd sprinkled with romance. Nathaniel and Elizabeth spend so much of the first part of the book mad at each other, and in stupid ways -- they're mad because they HARDLY KNOW EACH OTHER and yet they're committing to marriage and, somehow, totally smitten -- which happened almost immediately. They don't know each other so of course their communication is crap. This is not appealing to me to read, at all.
To be honest I had to skip forward a few times because it was just too much for me. One of my issues with Outlander is that there's always some sort of drama going on, and it's exactly the same with Nathaniel and Elizabeth. Perhaps about halfway through they had the sort of relationship stability that makes a gal swoon -- but by then I was so annoyed with them and the book, it didn't mean much to me.
I also don't understand the point of involving the Last of the Mohicans characters but changing them slightly. Why not call Nathaniel Dan'l instead and leave the original names the same?
The thing I did like about this book -- which is what pulled me in, in the beginning -- is the author's attention to detail and the painting of the picture. It was clearly researched and I appreciated the descriptions of what life was like back then. I appreciate that Elizabeth was against slavery. I liked her aunt's character a lot. Actually I liked really all of the female characters. They were all interesting and compelling.
Maybe one day I will come back and read this book all the way through with more patience, but not for awhile.
What I expected was a natural progression of Nathaniel and Elizabeth falling in love with a sprinkling of ~ scandal ~ from Richard Todd or her father, but instead it was a zero-to-60 progression of scandal with Richard Todd sprinkled with romance. Nathaniel and Elizabeth spend so much of the first part of the book mad at each other, and in stupid ways -- they're mad because they HARDLY KNOW EACH OTHER and yet they're committing to marriage and, somehow, totally smitten -- which happened almost immediately. They don't know each other so of course their communication is crap. This is not appealing to me to read, at all.
To be honest I had to skip forward a few times because it was just too much for me. One of my issues with Outlander is that there's always some sort of drama going on, and it's exactly the same with Nathaniel and Elizabeth. Perhaps about halfway through they had the sort of relationship stability that makes a gal swoon -- but by then I was so annoyed with them and the book, it didn't mean much to me.
I also don't understand the point of involving the Last of the Mohicans characters but changing them slightly. Why not call Nathaniel Dan'l instead and leave the original names the same?
The thing I did like about this book -- which is what pulled me in, in the beginning -- is the author's attention to detail and the painting of the picture. It was clearly researched and I appreciated the descriptions of what life was like back then. I appreciate that Elizabeth was against slavery. I liked her aunt's character a lot. Actually I liked really all of the female characters. They were all interesting and compelling.
Maybe one day I will come back and read this book all the way through with more patience, but not for awhile.
Bought it because Diana Gabaldon wrote the blurb on the cover. She really really wants to be Diana Gabaldon, but seems to have read too many romance novels. And the reference to Outlander characters was plain freaky. Fun and fluffy though.
If you're a fan of spin-offs like Wide Sargasso Sea, or the film Last of the Mohicans, then this should be right up your alley. This is a historical fiction that continues the story of Hawkeye's family from Last of the Mohicans through the next generation-- Nathaniel Bonner, the son of Hawkeye (Dan'l) and Cora Bonner.
The book is primarily narrated from the third person limited perspective of Elizabeth, the daughter of a prominent judge in the area. Occasionally it offers scenes from the third person limited perspective of her father or brother, or from Nathaniel's perspective. More rarely, it offers scenes from the perspective of other women or minor characters.
The book felt like a well written love letter to the film, which I say as a fan of the film offering a high compliment. It matched the gentle, thoughtful pace and slow unfolding development of characters, and utilized the same trick of offering up the landscape itself as a meaningful character throughout. The only thing missing was the soundtrack: I would highly recommend listening to the Last of the Mohicans soundtrack while reading this book.
The book is primarily narrated from the third person limited perspective of Elizabeth, the daughter of a prominent judge in the area. Occasionally it offers scenes from the third person limited perspective of her father or brother, or from Nathaniel's perspective. More rarely, it offers scenes from the perspective of other women or minor characters.
The book felt like a well written love letter to the film, which I say as a fan of the film offering a high compliment. It matched the gentle, thoughtful pace and slow unfolding development of characters, and utilized the same trick of offering up the landscape itself as a meaningful character throughout. The only thing missing was the soundtrack: I would highly recommend listening to the Last of the Mohicans soundtrack while reading this book.
I feel like I've spent a very long time looking for this book, and when I opened the well-worn library copy I picked up on request of one of my favorite patrons, it felt a lot like going home.
adventurous
tense
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:
Yes
This is an epic read (seriously, it’s 876 pages!) but “Into the Wild,” is also one of my most favorite books. It’s a tale of love, redemption, greed, revenge and community. It’s a fantastic historical fiction romance, telling the tale of what life looked like just a few years after the Revolutionary War. Elizabeth Middleton, a proud spinster, comes to the aptly names Paradise, New York, to start a school and live with her father, the local judge, along with her brother. She meets Nathanial Bonner, a white man, who has Native American family members, including his daughter from a previous marriage. The two fall in love and their romance is seriously #relationshipgoals. They deal with mistrust, jealousy, a scorned suitor and outright racism as they navigate through the pages. That’s maybe 1/3 of the book. Seriously, if you’re looking for a long, yet enjoyable read, I have to recommend this one.
I was anxious to read this book because of the reviews. I found it to be unbearably long . I think it could have been much more effective with 30% less text. The story is interesting, but not gripping. Again, just too many crises and characters.