Carson, Rae ; Walk on Earth a Stranger ; Informal Buddy Read ; Start Date 2 November 2015 (

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This is an "Informal Buddy Read"
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Book Synopsis:
Gold is in my blood, in my breath, even in the flecks in my eyes.

Lee Westfall has a strong, loving family. She has a home she loves and a loyal steed. She has a best friend—who might want to be something more.

She also has a secret.

Lee can sense gold in the world around her. Veins deep in the earth. Small nuggets in a stream. Even gold dust caught underneath a fingernail. She has kept her family safe and able to buy provisions, even through the harshest winters. But what would someone do to control a girl with that kind of power? A person might murder for it.

When everything Lee holds dear is ripped away, she flees west to California—where gold has just been discovered. Perhaps this will be the one place a magical girl can be herself. If she survives the journey.

The acclaimed Rae Carson begins a sweeping new trilogy set in Gold Rush-era America, about a young woman with a powerful and dangerous gift.

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reserved

[Sully]

Up to Chapter 7 (pg 65)

I feel like a lot has happened very quickly! We definitely hit the ground running with this novel. On one hand, I'm not sure it affords a lot of character development. But then on the other hand, I think it may be the driving force behind Lee's development for the series. It definitely drives her decisions up to the point I've read.

I'm loving the setting and really setting my hopes high because there really aren't too many "western" type young adult novels to be found. Even with the paranormal element of Lee's water witching for gold, I'm still finding it realistic so far.

I like what her mom says about trusting someone. It's ironic, of course, in the mom's context, but I think it's interesting with where the plot is. For instance, (view spoiler)[until she realized it was her creepy uncle that killed her father, I thought maybe Jefferson had done it. I was just as paranoid as they were about someone finding out and what that would mean for Lee! (hide spoiler)].

What do you think about the relationship weaved for Lee and Jeff? I realize a LOT happened in the opening pages, but it felt awkward and kind of rushed. To be fair though, even Lee feels this way about it, which at least makes it feel a bit more realistic.

[Emily]

Up to Chapter 7

I thought the first chapter was good; it made the story easy to get into for me, and introduced the MC's powers and situation well.

Like you, I'm enjoying the historical setting- hopefully the book will take advantage of the opportunity to be unique and genre-defying. It's a fun mix of historical fiction (which I haven't come across often in YA) and a little bit of fantasy. I am hoping we'll get a more world-building than we've seen so far (in a historical fiction sense (like what the U.S. was like in that time period), not necessarily a fantasy sense, although that would be cool too).

But, unfortunately, so far I'm not super interested. That's probably because I'm not connecting with the MC yet. We have gotten a lot of action, but I don't have much sense of Leah- she seems pretty bland to me. She certainly doesn't seem like the brightest person. (view spoiler)[I'm sure she was in shock right after her parents' deaths, so I can get around her immediate reaction (not realizing the killer was after the gold and that it was gone, etc.). But in the days after she comes up with no plan about what she's going to do now, which bothered me. But maybe that's being unrealistic with her age. (hide spoiler)]

I also find Lee's voice somewhat distracting. The writing style is mostly pretty normal and modern, although too simple for my taste, but there are occasional time-period and rural-dialect elements that I'm finding a bit jarring.

At this point, I'm not fond of Jefferson or think their relationship is very strong, but maybe we'll see development there. (view spoiler)[Instead of really talking with Lee and discussing their options, Jefferson issues an ultimatum and leaves her in her time of greatest need. I realize he has problems of his own, but he doesn't seem to be willing to take Lee's priorities or grief into account very much. And, of course, there is that whole "but a man can’t wait forever and stay a man" line. While I think that there are times when people, men or women, should be assertive about their own wants and needs, they should also take others' wants and needs into account. And I see no problem with a man taking the more submissive role in a relationship. In a perfect world, all relationships would be between two equals, but in reality relationships can work with all sorts of different dynamics. (hide spoiler)]

That said, (view spoiler)[I think she does need to trust someone, and Jefferson is the best bet, as he does seem to care about her. Lee's going to need support and help protecting herself and her secret, so I think it was smart advice from her mother. (hide spoiler)]

I very briefly considered (view spoiler)[whether Jefferson could have killed her parents to get her to come West with him, but I dismissed it pretty quickly (for one thing, Jefferson left the school at the same time she did, so it would have been difficult for him to have beaten her there by enough time to kill them and be gone). I considered Jefferson's father as a suspect more seriously. I had seen on the list of characters at the beginning of my copy that Lee had an uncle, and I guessed it was him before he was even actually mentioned. We are trained as readers to be pretty paranoid in these types of mystery situations! (hide spoiler)]

[Sully]

Emily wrote: "But, unfortunately, so far I'm not super interested. That's probably because I'm not connecting with the MC yet. We have gotten a lot of action, but I don't have much sense of Leah- she seems pretty bland to me. She certainly doesn't seem like the brightest person. (view spoiler)"

I think she sort of comes up with a plan by (view spoiler)[deciding to alter her father's clothes to fit her better and to chop her hair off to disguise herself as a boy as she goes to join Jeff (hide spoiler)]. But you are definitely right in that she's kind of bland so far. Hopefully her character will grow with the plot.


Emily wrote: "I also find Lee's voice somewhat distracting. The writing style is mostly pretty normal and modern, although too simple for my taste, but there are occasional time-period and rural-dialect elements that I'm finding a bit jarring."

I hadn't noticed that yet but I'm sure I will start to now =)

Yeah, I've been less than impressed with how Jeff handled things, but I can see how it worked into the plot.

[Emily]

You're definitely right that after (view spoiler)[her uncle arrives, she does come up with a plan quickly. I had written that comment earlier on, at the point when Jeff leaves and she doesn't know what she's going to do. I was kind of impatient with her to figure out that going West was really her only option. I realize now though that leaving the home where she'd always lived would be a huge, terrifying, and difficult decision, so I was being unfair to her. (hide spoiler)]

[Emily]

Up to Chapter 13

This section has been a fine travel/adventure story, but I'm not getting much out of it beyond that. Compared to the Fire and Thorns trilogy, which I really loved, I'm disappointed so far. I sailed through these last chapters- they kept me interested and even pretty on the edge of my seat in parts, like when (view spoiler)[she's escaping from her home and uncle. (hide spoiler)] However, I wish there were more details and description, plus exploration of some themes and character development of Lee. It reads to me as much younger on the YA scale, closer to middle grade, with how uncomplex many aspects of it are (which is not how I remember the Fire and Thorns trilogy at all). I think part of the simplicity might be a stylistic choice on Carson's part for Lee's voice (which would make sense given Lee's pretty rural and poor background), but I'm also wondering if Carson tried to fit too much travel into too short a book, and thus wasn't able to add things that would have gone deeper than the surface plot. But maybe it's too early to determine that yet.

As I mentioned, Lee's character development is still lacking for me, although I have found myself concerned about her, especially after (view spoiler)[the brothers robbed her, (hide spoiler)] so I am somewhat invested. I do like that she's not some perfect heroine; she makes plenty of mistakes, which is realistic, as she has no experience traveling long distances on her own. I like her resilience, although it seems to be sort of masking any emotional depth to her character. Again, compared with Elisa form The Girl of Fire and Thorns, Lee is very flat and indistinctive, in my opinion.

You know how sometimes your opinion of a book can vary drastically between when you're reading it and when you're thinking about it afterwards? Some books grow in my estimation after the fact, and some books, while enjoyable while reading, later fall short. This is one of the latter so far for me; I found aspects to like when I was reading, but the more I think about it, the more dissatisfied I am with it.

[Sully]

Up to Chapter 13 (pg 135)

I started Girl of Fire and Thorns, but it was a DNF for me. Maybe I should give it another shot.

Lee irritates me a little bit; I think it's because she keeps saying she (view spoiler)[can't afford anything after being robbed, but then she keeps going and buying stuff! (hide spoiler)]. That fits in to what you were saying about her being an imperfect heroine, and how she's struggling on her own. And I definitely get that. But that one little detail irks me a bit.

That's a good point about how your opinion of a book can change as you're reflecting on it. So far this book is still middle of the scale to me, but the setting is still holding my attention (plus I love horseys!). I do like at the end of chapter 12 how she points out (view spoiler)[that not everyone is like the brothers or Uncle Hiram and that she's basically trusting these three rough sailor strangers, just as her mama told her to trust someone. That's a huge leap of faith, and a terrifying one at that, especially after what she's just been through. I honestly think it's a bit foolish as well, to be so trusting, but given the alternatives, I think she's probably making the right decision by trusting her mother's advice (hide spoiler)].

[Sully]

Up to Chapter 23 (pg 276)

This book seems to follow a common theme for this style of novel where the MC is making a long trek: it gets kind of boring. The plot starts to lull in several places lately it seems, even though Carson seems to be doing as much as she can to push it along, spanning months as quickly as possible. I think my fundamental problem I'm feeling right now is that every time there is a bit of action, it comes in short bursts, and then I'm just left feeling like, "Ok, what now? How long do I have to wait for the next bit of excitement?" For example, just recently with the (view spoiler)[stampede of the buffalo. It is a bit exciting, but even the injury to Major isn't really gripping for me since we haven't seen a lot of character development yet. And it seems like Carson had ulterior motives with this, and she has Jeff rescue Lee, and she is still working that awkward what-are-we-what-aren't-we between the two of them (hide spoiler)].

I'm still chugging along, but the story is definitely slowing down and since we still aren't getting a whole lot of development of Lee, I'm not liking it as much as when I first started.

[Emily]

It was a while ago, but I remember Girl of Fire and Thorns being quite good and unique (though the beginning wasn't the best). I rated it 4 stars and the rest of the series stayed strong, IMO, so I would recommend it.

I can understand why that bugs you about Lee, she isn't the most money savvy. But I can't even begin to imagine (view spoiler)[being alone, camping out, with basically no belongings and no money. I might not be able to keep from buying things either. (hide spoiler)]

The message at the end of chapter 12 is a good one, but the way it's stated... It's too on the nose for me. I'd rather it was just demonstrated through Lee's actions or discussed in a more sophisticated manner.


Up to Chapter 20

This book is reminding me a lot of the computer game Oregon Trail. Did you play that growing up? I played it a ton. In theory I love the idea of reading a book where the characters make the same journey, but in practice this book isn't delving deep enough on almost any aspect or giving many more details than the game did. It's just like Oregon Trail fan fiction for me right now.

There are definitely points where the traveling drags and gets a bit boring. The author tries to combat that by rushing the story, which is really bugging me. I wish she would have captured our interest with the characters and a more detailed, descriptive, realized setting. Then she wouldn't have to rush through the traveling, which feels solely like a means to an end right now (and since it's the majority of the book, that's a problem), but could have made it interesting in its own right.

I am enjoying some of the discussion about how the settlers viewed Indians.

The author did have me convinced that (view spoiler)[Lee was going to have to leave Independence without Jeff. It bugs me he wasn't looking for her more! I'm glad she found him, both for her sake and for the book's development. The direction that storyline seems to be going, with jealousy and competition between girls, annoys me though. (hide spoiler)]

I was hopeful for some development with the introduction of all the new characters when (view spoiler)[Lee and Jeff join the wagon train. (hide spoiler)] But so far those characters seem one dimensional or not developed really at all. That's with the exception of the Joyners, who I haven't really been able to get a handle on yet.

This is a small nitpick, but the Road-o-meter bugs me. It's unrealistic that something that unnecessary would have been developed in that time and place (beyond the technology being much too advanced)- it's blatantly just to make the author's job of describing the journey easier. I feel like most people back then would have had a pretty good sense for distances on their own anyways.

[Sully]

I never got to play Oregon Trail. My husband was obsessed with that game though, back in its day. It's a game I still eventually want to play. I'm sure I could waste hundreds of hours on it, and it seems to have a lot of key components I like in the few types of games I play.

Yeah, the Road-o-meter seemed kind of pointless. Maybe they did have that kind of ingenuity and technology back then, and it wouldn't have been too hard to calibrate: all you would need would be the diameter of the wheel to determine the number of turns in a mile. But still, you're right. And it really only comes into play once or twice during the entire story.

I wonder what kind of maps they had back then? I doubt many, if any, had made the trek across and back from California to really map the route. Lewis and Clark did their expedition about 45 years before this story takes place, but their aim wasn't for California and went largely north while going west, so I would suspect the route most traveled to the gold rush would have been different. It definitely would have been an unsettling and terrifying journey, to be sure. Not sure I would have had the gumption to do it.

I actually have a somewhat relaxing weekend this week, so I wrapped up my reading this morning. I'll hold off on dissecting it with you because I don't want to spoil anything =) I will say there was a little bit more character development later in the story, at least of some of the minor characters. I do still wish we could have focused more on the characters and their troubles. After all, this type of journey just seems the perfect setting for that.

[Emily]

Sorry I haven't finished yet. I will today!

That's too bad- Oregon Trail was a good game, and decent for kids. It might be too basic compared to the games available today (although I guess there could be a newer more advanced version of it now), but it was excellent at the time.

Yeah, good maps must have been prized, especially since they were probably mostly hand drawn and must have varied in how to scale they were. I think Lee's group probably wouldn't have had too much trouble, as they were following tons of other wagon trains that probably left quite a few signs of their passing along the exact same route, but still.

I definitely don't think I would have had the gumption, as you put it, to make the trek. For one thing, I'm a city (well, suburb) person and not crazy about roughing it. Having driven through the Rocky Mountains many times, I can better imagine just how difficult and potentially deadly that journey would have been in wagons and without roads. I also don't much like change or feel a great need for adventure. Lee obviously has reasons for going to California due to her powers, but if I were in Jefferson's situation, for example, I think I would have taken my chances with finding a job in a bigger town or city in a more developed area closer to where he and Lee started out, despite the potential opportunities in the West. That's also partially because I have information from history that the settlers at this time about how many died on the journey and about how most of those who went to find gold in the gold rush did not end up becoming rich.


Up to Chapter 28

I don't know if it's my mood that's changed or the book, but I've enjoyed this last section much more than I had previously. Probably because there has been more action. It's still not one I would recommend, but it's had more character development all around, Lee has shown some growth, and there's been more showing instead of telling of the themes and messages, which I much prefer. Still, I agree that I view this book as a bit of a missed opportunity.

I don't really understand the title. I understand it somewhat in reference to the book- Lee feels isolated by her gift and circumstances and by having to pretend to be a boy, but at this point is learning to overcome that some and connect with others- but I feel like there could have been more relevant titles. I don't understand it in context to the bible quote, however, (I'm not religious) which is maybe why I'm not appreciating why it was chosen. Do you have a better understanding of it either as part of the quote or as the title?

[kat (wanderfulbooks)]

Emily wrote: "
I don't know if it's my mood that's changed or the book, but I've enjoyed this last section much more than I had previously. Probably because there has been more action. It's still not one I would recommend, but it's had more character development all around, Lee has shown some growth, and there's been more showing instead of telling of the themes and messages, which I much prefer. Still, I agree that I view this book as a bit of a missed opportunity.

I don't really understand the title. I understand it somewhat in reference to the book- Lee feels isolated by her gift and circumstances and by having to pretend to be a boy, but at this point is learning to overcome that some and connect with others- but I feel like there could have been more relevant titles. I don't understand it in context to the bible quote, however, (I'm not religious) which is maybe why I'm not appreciating why it was chosen. Do you have a better understanding of it either as part of the quote or as the title?
"

I felt the same way and I agree on the confusion over the title. It's a relief I'm not the only one who didn;t understand the relevance of the title because for a minute there I thought maybe I didn't quite get the book. I feel like this book could've been more but it failed to deliver. Too bad because I adored the author's previous trilogy and was expecting another good one.

[Sully]

I was hoping to find Oregon Trail on Steam to buy and play this weekend, but no such luck. I think I can stream it for free online though since it is so old, so I'm going to try to play it this weekend =)

You make a good point about them following the beaten path, so to say, from the wagon groups in front of them. I guess I didn't really think about it. I can't imagine the first group of the spring though, once the snow has blanketed and covered some of the trails. If I had been Jeff, like you I would have tried my luck in a different city. I like nature and I'm not that fond of large cities, but I am certainly no trailblazer either! =) I would have thought that maybe Lee would have actually had it better off in a city on the Eastern coast, where the gold has already been mined. It certainly would have been easier to hide her power, and her uncle wouldn't really have thought to look for her there, right? I think it might have actually made more sense for her to go to a city instead of heading west, expect for the fact that she had already lost everything in her life she had ever loved, and was clinging to the one person she had left that she thought she could trust (Jeff). Interesting thought though, to be sure!

It definitely picks up the pace and gets more action, but I agree that it seems like a missed opportunity/missed mark.

I am not that fond of the title either. I think it's because like you said, she has to hide her identity. And even when (view spoiler)[Jeff finds out her identity (hide spoiler)], she still has secrets she keeps and truths she hides, so that part of her is still hidden/that part of her is a "Stranger". And she definitely walked the Earth. But I definitely think there could have been a better, more well suited title. I like the cover though!

[Emily]

Finished

I'm rating this 2.5 stars. I'm leaning towards rounding up right now, but I keep going back and forth.

I like the cover quite a bit too- I bet the physical copy is really pretty with the gold and that lettering! The title does have a nice ring to it, I will say that, even if I don't really get the significance.

I definitely enjoyed the second half more than the first, but still thought characters, issues, themes, messages, world building, even aspects of the journey, etc. were not really explored much beyond the surface. One character who I felt was an exception to this to some degree was Mrs. Joyner. Her character development seemed deeper and more nuanced to me, and I thought the issues regarding marriage and having children before the modern age that she brought up were very interesting.

It annoyed me that (view spoiler)[Lee didn't have any sort of plan for dealing with her uncle, despite having months to think about it. (hide spoiler)]

I appreciate that this book didn't (view spoiler)[have the typical love triangle of a female MC and two love interests. I would have preferred it to not have one at all, but still. (Though, I guess it's a series, so there is still time.) However, I feel it was a cop out to have the triangle solved by Therese dying. (hide spoiler)] Overall, I found the romance as lackluster as everything else.

I think there are probably too many books out there I want to read to bother with the sequel to this one when it comes out, unless I hear it's fabulous and better than this one.

[Sully]

Mrs. Joyner! Yes! That was the same reaction I had. Out of all the characters, she's the only one I really see growth in and my Lord, did she come a long way. (view spoiler)[When Lee and Jeff decide to scavenge the table and tablecloth for her, I found that moment so inspiring. Because Mrs. Joyner really didn't even care anymore, but they wanted to bring her that one small comfort and reminder of the past (hide spoiler)]. I actually ended up liking her in the end. I think she will do well out in Cali.

Yeah, the ending with the (view spoiler)["final showdown" with the uncle (hide spoiler)] felt so staged and corny. I understand the message behind it, but it just felt so fake to me that I couldn't really enjoy it. If it is a light month of new releases when the next one comes out, I might give the trilogy one more shot. But I just wasted a week on Rose Society after a lackluster start to Young Elites, so maybe I will have learned my lesson by then =)