Where the Lost Wander: A Novel

This book is as long as the journey; it wasn't rushed, it wasn't too slow; I felt like I was on the trail with the family... I could feel the pain of the characters. When I put this book down, the story was constantly replaying in my mind. This is a beautiful masterpiece. It was well-written and pulled some emotional strings deep inside. If you want something good, adventurous, and unique to read, this is your next read! (I have chosen not to go into detail of the characters or any of the plot because the way Amy has written it, doing so would spoil the pureness)

"Where the Lost Wander" by Amy Harmon is an absolutely captivating read! The blend of history and fiction is seamless, pulling me right into the journey of Naomi and John as they navigate hardship, love, and survival on the Oregon Trail. The storytelling is so vivid and immersive that I felt every moment of danger and hope, keeping me on the edge of my seat until the very last page. I finished the book in 2 says! This book has made me a fan of Amy Harmon, and I can’t wait to dive into more of her work. If you love historical fiction with beautifully developed characters and a gripping plot, this is a must-read!

Wonderfully written, more like a telling of a three generation journey. Physical journey to California, emotional journey full of life and death but mostly the endurance in between and then spiritual journey to try to make sense of it all.Beautiful characters, area descriptions, food, culture, era ... all the things. Well done.

Sometimes, I have no words to describe a book I loved so much. And after finishing this book, I couldn’t describe it.This book is in his own class, and has his own place in my heart. In addition, the book entered the list of the best books I read this year.For me, reading a book "twice" is like I'll be abroad right now, but, it happens to me once in while... The last book that made me want to read it twice was four months ago. What does it mean? It's hard for me to disconnect from this book because it's so good that it left a mark on my heart. It’s hard for me to move on to the next book, and I want to start it again as soon as I'm done because I don't want to leave it. And I'm even happier that this happened to me with the author I love the most and admire her, her writing and her courage to write these books.Our journey begins in 1853 in the US.Naomi has never seen herself become a widow at the age of 20. The family embraces and supports her. Especially her mom. She sees her mother as a role model and admire her, She sees her as a smart, great woman, a figure to live by.🛶 "𝓦𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓱𝓸𝓹𝓮 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓵𝓼 𝓵𝓲𝓴𝓮: 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓫𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝓪𝓲𝓻 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓫𝓻𝓮𝓪𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓭 𝓪𝓯𝓽𝓮𝓻 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝔀𝓸𝓻𝓼𝓽 𝓯𝓪𝓵𝓵 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻 𝓽𝓪𝓴𝓮𝓷. 𝓘𝓽 𝓱𝓾𝓻𝓽𝓼." 🛶Throughout the book, I came across situations that Naomi has made and she is simply amazing . To see her develop and grow to face all kinds of people who see her only as 'widow of...' and not as Naomi. It hurt me. And I've always felt as part of a side character who just wants to talk to Naomi and say “you're strong”.When her family decides to start moving elsewhere in the direction of California, she finds herself in a journey of life and death. Joy and sadness. Disasters and quarrels But, she never expected that on this journey she would fall in love again.John is a man who has always lived in both worlds.He was always in the middle of those worlds. He is half white on his father's side and half Indian on his mother's side.🍂 “𝓘𝓽 𝓲𝓼. 𝓘𝓽 𝓲𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓾𝓯𝓯𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓸𝓯 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮. 𝓔𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂 𝓹𝓪𝓻𝓮𝓷𝓽 𝓯𝓮𝓮𝓵𝓼 𝓲𝓽. 𝓘𝓽 𝓲𝓼 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓼𝓾𝓯𝓯𝓮𝓻𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓸𝓯 𝓫𝓮𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓾𝓷𝓪𝓫𝓵𝓮 𝓽𝓸 𝓼𝓱𝓲𝓮𝓵𝓭 𝓸𝓻 𝓼𝓪𝓿𝓮. 𝓘𝓽'𝓼 𝓷𝓸𝓽 𝓵𝓸𝓿𝓮 𝓲𝓯 𝓲𝓽 𝓱𝓾𝓻𝓽𝓼. " 🍂John's character has been through a lot. Try to imagine what it is like to have two worlds and live in them simultaneously. He has undergone a process of change, of acceptance. And the feeling of what it's like to be in love. Because he never knew 'true love' for a woman before . ❤As he joins the journey to California, he meets Naomi with her red hair and bright green eyes. And he slowly begins to discover things about himself. Their journey taught them how to get to know each other together, And the two want to build a life together for themselves.But, when they get attacked in the middle of the journey. The families get separated, And Naomi sees John disappearing in front of her eyes the promise that they promised themselves was going to fade away. They will not be able to be together again. They could not live the life they wanted.💚 “𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓱𝓪𝓻𝓭𝓮𝓼𝓽 𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓪𝓫𝓸𝓾𝓽 𝓵𝓲𝓯𝓮 𝓲𝓼 𝓴𝓷𝓸𝔀𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓶𝓪𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼 𝓪𝓷𝓭 𝔀𝓱𝓪𝓽 𝓶𝓪𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼,” 𝓦𝓲𝓷𝓲𝓯𝓻𝓮𝓭 𝓶𝓾𝓼𝓮𝓼. “𝓘𝓯 𝓷𝓸𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓶𝓪𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼, 𝓽𝓱𝓮𝓷 𝓷𝓸 𝓹𝓸𝓲𝓷𝓽. 𝓘𝓯 𝓮𝓿𝓮𝓻𝔂𝓽𝓱𝓲𝓷𝓰 𝓶𝓪𝓽𝓽𝓮𝓻𝓼, 𝓷𝓸 𝓹𝓾𝓻𝓹𝓸𝓼𝓮. 𝓣𝓱𝓮 𝓽𝓻𝓲𝓬𝓴 𝓲𝓼 𝓽𝓸 𝓯𝓲𝓷𝓭 𝓯𝓲𝓻𝓶 𝓰𝓻𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓭 𝓫𝓮𝓽𝔀𝓮𝓮𝓷 𝓽𝓱𝓮 𝓽𝔀𝓸 𝔀𝓪𝔂𝓼 𝓸𝓯 𝓫𝓮𝓲𝓷𝓰. ” 💚These two taught me some things. How to internalize one another, what it is like to know each other, and how to reconcile with who you are. Because that's who you are.In conclusion , the story was unusual . John and Naomi captivated my heart so much that I just found myself at the end of the book reading once more from the start to enjoy it again. I kept sections for myself to remember them forever. Knowing that Amy’s book is over, for me, is one of the most painful things. Her writing is unlike any other writer. She manages to convey to me something that no other writer can do. The story is combined with suspense and romance, And one journey. About self-learning and about ourselves, all diffrenet kind of pain and giving, and sometimes the pain is the one being buried with us. A magical book, with a romanctic story that just made my heart beat every single line. ❤

What an amazing book to read! It is so rich in description and the portrayal of the characters and relationships are deep and true. As an immigrant from another country and speaking a different language and culture the Two Feet metaphor gave me much to think about. One of the best books I read in a long time and which will stay with me .

From beginning to end the author, hold your interest with intrigue, deep, storytelling, and emotion! I’ll be read it again!

We read this book for our book club and while it isn’t one I would have typically read on my own it was a good book. I enjoyed seeing the different perspectives of Naomi and John. Such trying times that we don’t realize in the current world. Good book!

If I could give this book 10 stars, I would!It gently introduces the characters giving the impression it will be slow. However, it is so well-written, you want to find out more about the characters as you turn each page. The description gives insight to life on the trail and you feel as though you are there with them facing these challenges with little to nothing.The climax hits you with a bang! You are wanting to know what happens following the prologue the entire time. When it finally comes to that part of the story, another world unfolds that introduces readers to the Shoshoni life. Characters’ lives become intertwined and they question where they should be and what they should be doing.The ending (in which I cried) is tied up perfectly, and though it’s not the ending you want to read, somehow it is peaceful and heartbreaking at the same time.