Scribbles & Books: Where the Lost Wander by Amy Harmon

 

"Put your energy into rising above the things that you can't change, Naomi. Keep your mind right."

Goodreads Summary

"In this epic and haunting love story set on the Oregon Trail, a family and their unlikely protector find their way through peril, uncertainty, and loss. The Overland Trail, 1853: Naomi May never expected to be widowed at twenty. Eager to leave her grief behind, she sets off with her family for a life out West. 

On the trail, she forms an instant connection with John Lowry, a half-Pawnee man straddling two worlds and a stranger in both. But life in a wagon train is fraught with hardship, fear, and death. Even as John and Naomi are drawn to each other, the trials of the journey and their disparate pasts work to keep them apart. 

John’s heritage gains them safe passage through hostile territory only to come between them as they seek to build a life together. When a horrific tragedy strikes, decimating Naomi’s family and separating her from John, the promises they made are all they have left. 

Ripped apart, they can’t turn back, they can’t go on, and they can’t let go. Both will have to make terrible sacrifices to find each other, save each other, and eventually…make peace with who they are."

My Thoughts

One can never go wrong with Amy Harmon. The first book I've read from her work was entitled 'What the Wind Knows' and I've been attracted to her style of writing and her ability to weave historical facts into her books is just so fascinating! That's why I didn't hesitate to purchase 'Where the Lost Wander'. 

A Slow Start

I didn't have any expectations for this book as I loved to be surprised. I'm not sure if it's just me, but each time I read, I always find the first few chapters as though I'm climbing a steep mountain. My progress is slow, and the words seem to hook me down to it, disarming me to speed-read. This is exactly how my experience was when I read 'Where the Lost Wander', as well as any other books. 

Starting to Gallop

But, when I picked up my pace, oh boy were there a lot of beauty and gold in this story! First, I can't keep still with the palpable attraction between the two main characters, Naomi May and John Lowry. They have such beautifully contrasting personalities that draw them to each other. 

Naomi & John's Contrasts

Naomi is free-spirited, headstrong, and confident in her own skin. She loves to draw portraits of people more than landscapes as she believes that emotions are harder to transcribe into drawing because it disappears so quickly before it changes to another, unlike the landscapes. 

"Sometimes when we think too long and too hard, we let fear get a foothold." (Naomi May, p.160)

In fact, in one of the chapters, Naomi stood up to a War Chief, even without knowing their language. Not only is she confident in her own skin, she also likes to get things done, and is determined to do so. This side of her fuelled her to express her feelings to a man named John Lowry.

John Lowry in contrast, is a man who deeply cares for Naomi quietly. He is logical, thinks to himself, and prefers to think things through without letting any sort of emotions dictate his decision. 

"I am good with languages and good with sounds, but I am not always good at hearing what people don't say." (John Lowry, p.165)

John Lowry is also called 'Two Feet' in the story because he is a half-Pawnee, half-White, and so he straddles two lands with each of his feet, something that isn't really looked upon in this time period. He experiences a crisis with who he is, and that made him wary of building relationships with other people. In fact, the only time he laughed was when he was with Naomi, and that is a huge deal!

Stories Intertwined

Further into the story, John realizes not to let his logical thoughts overwhelm him so much so that he lets Naomi slip through his fingers. This was of course, a decision that he didn't make solely on his own; he has received guidance from Naomi's mother. 

"Just trying to survive makes things pretty clear most days. We have to eat; we need shelter; we have to keep warm. Those things matter. But none of those things matter at all if you have no one to food, to shelter, or to keep warm. So I guess it's not what matters... but who matters." (Winifred May to John Lowry, p.169)

And he also recalled his adoptive mother, Jennie, saying:

"It's worth it, you know. The pain. It's worth it. The more you love, the more it hurts. But it's worth it. It's the only thing that is." (Jennie to John Lowry, p.170)

On the other hand, Naomi understood more about John, 

"John is driven...and I'm going to let him drive, wherever he needs to go and whatever he needs to do, just as long as he lets me ride beside him." (Naomi May, p.200)

and when they met halfway, it was one of the most satisfying parts of the book! The build-up coming up to this point was marvellously written and I couldn't help but get smitten with both Naomi and John.

The journey they take is a long, gruesome travel in a wagon. They traverse a desert, long stretches of barren land, and twists and turns of the unpaved road with their horses and mules. Along the way, they meet people and tribes that they think are good and kind, but are actually vile. 

 "There's good and bad in all kinds of people." (John Lowry, p.239)

However, there were also characters that they thought were the enemy, but actually helped them survive in the most unlikeliest of times.

"So, be careful about who you hate." (John Lowry, p.239)

A tragedy happens in the story that made me clenched my fist and shed a tear. The succeeding chapters now became faster and time seemed to have sped up compared to when I just started reading. There were new characters that complimented the existing ones. They added more thrill to the story and more heart-tugging moments too. I loved every bit of it!

Final Thoughts

 "I realize now that life is just a continual parting of the ways, some more painful than others." (Naomi May, p.333)

It's time so say goodbye to John Lowry and Naomi May, and all the wonderful characters of this book. 'Where the Lost Wander' made me appreciate the rich culture of the Pawnees. It made me marvel about the way they travelled, how they gave a strong importance to respect, honor, and pride. How they care for the land they live in, and how they stand up for the things they care about. 

And most of all, it reminded me that we must continue our stories and be courageous to face the unknown even when we don't know where we're going next. As long as we have someone to care for, we will be okay, and the journey will be worth it! 

Til the next book review!

Love,

@scribblesandbooks

By: Mary Jedde

Notes

Title: Where the Lost Wander

Author: Amy Harmon

Read in: Kindle Paperwhite

Genre: Historical Fiction

Rating: 5/5 Stars