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A review by rachelgertrude
Snow Mountain Passage by James D. Houston
2.0
I was drawn to this book because it is a fictionalized account of the Donner Party, and I think the history of Westward expansion is fascinating.
Houston alternates between telling the story of the mountain-bound Donner Party in the "Trail Notes of Patty Reed", and narrating the tale of Patty's father, Jim Reed, who was initially expelled from the wagon party for killing a man, and who later returned from California to rescue his family and those they traveled with.
I found myself skipping over the long chapters that focused on Jim Reed's travels back to his family, looking for the less-frequent but far more interesting Trail Notes excerpts. Who really cares what small adventures Jim Reed faced compared to the haunting experiences of those in the Donner Party? I can understand Houston's desire to explore the intriguing character of Jim Reed, but his story still couldn't possibly compete with that of the Donner party.
This book was thought-provoking, articulating quite well the joys and difficulties of living with others. The Reed family faced enormous trials on their way to California. The head-strong mistakes Jim Reed made on the journey West were paid for dearly by his wife and children; yet, in the end, it was the same headstrong nature that drew him to return in very difficult conditions to rescue them. This is an inspiring tale of courage and perseverance.
Houston alternates between telling the story of the mountain-bound Donner Party in the "Trail Notes of Patty Reed", and narrating the tale of Patty's father, Jim Reed, who was initially expelled from the wagon party for killing a man, and who later returned from California to rescue his family and those they traveled with.
I found myself skipping over the long chapters that focused on Jim Reed's travels back to his family, looking for the less-frequent but far more interesting Trail Notes excerpts. Who really cares what small adventures Jim Reed faced compared to the haunting experiences of those in the Donner Party? I can understand Houston's desire to explore the intriguing character of Jim Reed, but his story still couldn't possibly compete with that of the Donner party.
This book was thought-provoking, articulating quite well the joys and difficulties of living with others. The Reed family faced enormous trials on their way to California. The head-strong mistakes Jim Reed made on the journey West were paid for dearly by his wife and children; yet, in the end, it was the same headstrong nature that drew him to return in very difficult conditions to rescue them. This is an inspiring tale of courage and perseverance.