Follow the River
by James Alexander Thom
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other reviews (showing 1-20 of 1092)
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Read in January, 2008
I happened upon this book through the band in which I play. One of the songs we perform (written by one of my bandmates) was inspired by this book, which tells of the story of Mary Ingles (no relation to Laura Ingalls Wilder), who was kidnapped, along with her children, in a Shawnee indian raid on her village in Virginia in the late 1700's. She was taken to an area of Kentucky near Cincinatti, and, along with a Dutch woman named Gretel, escaped the Indian encampment (leaving her son and newly ...more
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Read in February, 2008
recommended to Dana by:
Random old woman in Borders :)
I love historical fiction because of what I learn about history that I wouldn't learn from a textbook. While always remembering the fictional aspect of the story, I get a sense of culture, conflict, and context from these historical accounts. Follow the River, like other historical fiction, has led me to probe history about its setting, the French and Indian War, a grueling time in the lives of both Native Americans and the new European settlers.
Like Mary Ingles' experience, the book was...more
Like Mary Ingles' experience, the book was...more
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Read in October, 2007
I didn't finish this book. When I finally decided to put it down I just bawled like a baby. The author, in the first chapter, writes a descriptive scene of a baby being tossed around while an Indian in the middle tries to chop it with his ax, in the end, the Indian succeeds. If that wasn't bad enough, The main character lets her three children, including three week old baby be taken in by the culture of the Indians. As a mother who has lost a child, I found this extremely unrealistic and ups...more
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Read in May, 2008
Historical fiction recounting the tale of 2 women survivors of a French and Indian war massacre in Draper's Meadow VA (now located in Blacksburg, VA -- Yes, I actually lived in Draper's Meadows in the early 1980's while attending VA. Tech..hence some of my interest). The tale was researched and written from a women's perspective...it recounts the ordeal of surviving a massacre, being abducted, relocating from VA to well beyond the Ohio, living among the Shawnee and French traders, and most dete...more
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Read in May, 2007
This is one of the best books I've ever read. I read it once when I was a young teen, and again last year as an adult. The book stayed with me all these years. It's a true story about a young woman during the French and Indian War who witnesses much of her family and village massacred and then is taken by Indians. Her husband, who is working in the fields, witnesses everything but is unable to stop it. With her two young sons, who were spared, and a baby due any day, she travels hundreds of mile...more
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Read in April, 2008
4 stars because of the admirable way Thom used actual historical facts to interpret and portray an incredible story. Missing one star because I did not enjoy reading it. I rushed through it, eager to end the agony of the characters. It was constant, acute suffering and I just couldn't take it. Page after page, 400-plus pages, of everything going wrong, everything awful, futile; and narrated in an almost sadistic way. (What revolting and cruel torture will the Indians apply next? Or, what crucibl...more
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Love this book. Bought it at a yard sale for 25 cents and didn't expect much, but by the end of the book, I felt as if I could do anything. The story is based on a true story about a pregnant woman, Mary Ingalls, who is captured by Indians in a raid on her village. The Chief is attracted to her and wants to make her one of his wives. She realizes she will either have to assimilate into the tribe or risk escaping, which means leaving her children (the newborn and a toddler boy) behind with the tr...more
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Read in October, 2007
recommends it for:
historical fiction fans
Based on the true story of Mary Draper Ingles from a early Virginia settlement in 1755. The settlement she lives in is attacked by Indians and she is taken hostage along with her two sons and sister in law.
An amazing story of true love, courage and sheer determination. She escapes the Indians and walks over 600 miles back to "her people" in early winter.
Some of the scenes where the Indians are attacking are horrific and almost make you sick. If you can get past that a...more
An amazing story of true love, courage and sheer determination. She escapes the Indians and walks over 600 miles back to "her people" in early winter.
Some of the scenes where the Indians are attacking are horrific and almost make you sick. If you can get past that a...more
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Read in February, 2008
Although this book is not new (published in 1981) it was highly recommended to me by my brother and mom. It is based on the true ordeal of Mary Ingles, and within the first twenty pages, I was nearly in shock from the description of the violence inflicted upon her family by the Shawnee Indians. At times I had very conflicted feelings about the way the main character dealt with her plight, and I wonder about the liberties the author took in retelling her story. In any event, it was definitely a p...more
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Read in January, 2008
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God, how I hate this book. The actual historical accounts of Ingles' story are interesting and tragic and they illuminate a transitory period of Virginia's history. The novelization was written by a man with, at best, a sophomoric undertanding of women, motherhood, the illegality of most white settlements that far west at the time, the Shawnee . . . guh. Bad, bad book. It's why the words "historical fiction" make me twitch. Read the primary sources if you find the Drapers Meadows ...more
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Read in March, 2008
I wish I had been warned about the first chapter. As a mother with children about the same age as Mary's, it was one of the most difficult things to read. I give this book four stars, because page after page of hunger, cold, and physical pain, became a bit tedious, so I skimmed through the last part. I wish that the author had spent more time on her adjustment back into her community and with her husband. Mary's story is remarkable, however, and definitely worth reading!
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Read in January, 2008
I thought this book was absolutely amazing. This was a true account based on historical documents about a woman's courage, strength and hardships. The book was very detailed and was heart wrentching to learn about attacks and fighting that went on between Indians and English settler. I admired Mary's perseverance and wonder if I would have had it in me to be as stong and dignified as she was in her situation. This book made me experience many different emotions from laughing to having tears in...more
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Read in January, 1987
The right book at the right time is a tonic for the soul. Recommended by a reading friend, Susan Trone, while we lived in Oregon City, OR. This book was well worth the time spent reading. I recall being curled up in a comfy chair wandering through the wilderness with the characters and being drawn reluctantly back to reality by one of my children, his hands cupped around my face. "Mom, Mom, aren't you going to feed us?" (It must have been James). Oops. Sorry. I really couldn't put it d...more
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Read in February, 2007
This book is not for the faint at heart. In the very first chapter there is a lot of violence and tragedy. This book was recommended by a friend and she said that it was her favorite book. I was not aware while reading it that it was a true account of the main character Mary's struggle as she and some members of her family were taken by Indians. Mary is forced to make incredibly difficult discissions and then live with the consequences. I doubt very much that many could survive mentally let ...more
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Read in January, 2008
recommended to Julie by:
Chris Ness
I just reread this book for about the 4th time. It is one of my all time favorites. It was given to me several years ago by a friend and the publishing date is 1981 so it may be out of print. It is a novel but based on a true story of a young woman who is abducted by Indians and carried hundreds of miles away. It is the story of how she made her way back home by following the river she kept looking back on as she was being abducted. It is an amazing story, even more so because it is true. Hard t...more
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Read in April, 2008
Amazing historical fiction based on the life of Mary Ingles who was kidnapped by the Shawnee when she was 9 months pregnant. She gives birth to her third child on the trail and is kept as their slave for several months. When given the chance to escape she does, and follows the river for over 1000 miles to return to her husband. Unbelievable story of survival and determination. Several graphically violent scenes when discussing the massacre, scalpings and torture of prisoners are hard to swall...more
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Read in April, 2008
WOW... Like my friend Becca said this is NOT a book for the faint of heart. Frankly I'm not even convinced that it's a story for the strong of heart. This was probably one of the most difficult books I have ever read. My heart ached for Mary and her sweet sister-in-law who looses a child, infant, in one of the most brutal ways possible. The story is almost unbelievable. I am amazed at the strength and courage of Mary Ingles, and so grateful that I have never, and hope to never, experience anythi...more
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Read in January, 2008
The author is a very good descriptive writer. He can make historical fiction tangible. I didn't much care for the book because of the depicted violence. Horrific events are dwelt upon in minute and offensive detail. I think events of such nature should be stated and left to the reader's imagination to create the scene. The book is good because it illustrates what humans are capable of achieving despite overwhelming odds. Read this book if you think your life is horrible, it will lift you up...more
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