V. A. Shannon

The Donner party is seeing a revival, this is the second book in the last two months that I have read that has been about this fateful tale.

I absolutely loved the heart behind this story. The author's voice is incredible and she weaves a tale that is incredible and tragic. Intense details transport you to the devastating, wintry landscape. Characters fully form in your imagination and become people with whom you feel you can engage. The way in which the main character tells the tale is unique and insightful. Her point-of-view was refreshing, neither self-pitying or boastful, just honest and real with a hint of darkness. Good historical fiction begs you to read more about the events it details, and this story definitely has made me want to check out every resource available to read about this devastating and grisly adventure.… (mais)

It has been 13 years since Mrs. Jacob Klein came west to California. She doesn't like remembering her journey west. She has three children now and a husband....and she doesn't want them to know she was part of the Donner Party. She wants to keep the horror of that winter in the wilderness a secret. Some of the survivors have made money or gained fame from telling partial truths about their experiences that winter....but she doesn't want to risk the truth destroying her new life with her family.

This book switches back and forth from Mrs. Klein's present day to her experiences as part of the Donner Party in the winter of 1846. I don't usually like books that jump back and forth in time, but for this story it worked nicely. Mrs. Klein is hiding so much from her family...she hides behind her married name, never revealing really who she is while telling her story. Some secrets are just too much to share...too dangerous, too revealing. She chooses to remain silent, rather than tell half-truths like others have done.

Mistakes. Rough choices. Consequences. Starvation. The Donner Party is remembered for all of those things. This book adds a human element to the story we've all heard many times before. It isn't all doom and gloom. The author mixes the horror and desperation with courage, optimism and hopefulness. When I was all done with this book, I had to sit back and think for awhile to ascertain what I think about the narrator. Mixed feelings. On the one hand I find Mrs. Klein to be courageous, strong and intelligent. But on the other hand, I find her secretive, manipulative and maybe even a bit weak in that she can't tell the truth about herself for fear that her family will be horrified. I can understand it....and yet, it made me feel a bit of negative emotions about her. So strong in the face of danger....yet so fearful of telling the truth about the experience. I would suppose if I had something of that nature in my past, I would want to hide it from friends and family as well. And I would be very upset at others using the situation for personal gain, especially if I knew they weren't telling the whole truth.

Interesting and creative story. I am definitely looking forward to more by this author!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**… (mais)

A 15 year old girl joins the Donner party for the trek out west. Running from her home, she joins the Keseberg family as a maid and nanny. The journey starts out smoothly, the group is well provisioned and merry. However, when they decide to take a shortcut, their fortunes change. They are forced to create their own path up steep mountains, exhausting their animals and slowing their pace. The once merry party turns on one another as their rations dwindle, and then Indian attacks kill off most of their animals. At the final pass to California, a snow storm strands the party in the mountains, forcing them to camp out and wait for rescue. One by one they begin to die.

I thought this was a fascinating and well paced book. The characters were multi-dimensional and well created. I did not think that the alternating point of view - the girl as an older married woman - added much to the book. The woman in the older point of view seemed very detached and one-dimensional. Despite this criticism, I enjoyed this book and would read more from this author. Overall, 4 out of 5 stars.… (mais)

WHEN WINTER COMES by V A Shannon
The fictional narrator of this account of the doomed Donner Party is never named, but is a good scribe as she records the events that lead up to the fateful decision to take the “shortcut” that will leave them stranded for the winter in the high Sierras. The author notes at the end detail the facts of that winter.
Well researched and well written, this novel is a good addition to the many accounts of the Donner Party. This one has the benefit of relating the feelings, decisions and character of those unfortunate enough to be part of the group. The narrator is one of the few to survive. She relates some incidents that other accounts gloss over or leave out.
5 of 5 stars… (mais)