Follow the River by JAMES ALEXANDER Thom
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Book Reviews of Follow the River
Book Review: Not for the weak at heart....
Summary: 5 Stars
As a West Virginia resident and one that lives near the Ohio river, I find myself thinking about Mary and her journey home. I find myself wondering what the river looked like to her. This is a fantastic book. I have passed this book on to several people and they all tell me that they can not put it down.If you read this book you will find yourself asking, "what is going to happen next".
What is so remarkable is that this is a true story. I found myself crying when Mary left her newborn baby behind. The perils she and Gretel endure are unbelievable. I would hope that I would be able to persevere as she did in such trying times. I don't think a man could have done any better.
West Virginia history classes need to teach about this wonderful women and not focus so much on learning the counties. I could not believe that this story takes place in our beautiful state and had never even heard of this woman.
The Hallmark channel showed a TV movie based on the book but played lightly on the hardships and was not a true adaptation of the book.
Book Review: A Novel About The Bravery Of Mary Ingles
Summary: 5 Stars
This is the fictionalized telling of the true story of Mary Ingles, a pregnant young white woman, her kidnapping from the late 1700's Virginia frontier by the Ohio Shawnee, her strength and courage during her time as their captive, and her daring escape on foot back up the Ohio River to the white settlements and home. I grew up knowing of Mary Ingles, and even visiting some of the sites in southwestern Ohio that had to do with her story. (A Shawnee village to which she was taken sat on the grounds of today's Eden Park, above downtown Cincinnati; a second Ingles site is very close to Big Bone State Park, in Boone County, Kentucky.) I enjoyed this book, not only for the inspirational tale of a courageous human spirit, but also for its setting, which is the area around which I grew up. The Indian wars of the east were every bit as fiercely-waged as the wars of/against the Plains tribes several generations later, although not nearly as well known. Books like Follow the River serve to remind us of these earlier wars, a forgotten segment of American history.Book Review: Follow the River is the best survival book I've read.
Summary: 5 Stars
I've read this book three times and teach it to my twelfth grade English classes. Mary Ingles is an inspiration of the possibilities of endurance of the human spirit. Victim of a brutal Shawnee attack in the summer of 1755 she is force marched from Virginia to Shawnee, Ohio while nine months pregnant giving birth on the trail. She is sold into slavery and taked to the area near Big Bone Lick State Park in Kentucky. Together with an old Dutch woman she escapes and begins a 1,000 mile trek home through unknown and hostile wilderness. In 43 harrowing days she goes from 125 pounds to under 80 pounds as she faces the elements, starvation, wild animals, hostile Indians, implacable nature, and a companion that turns cannibal. The reader shares the agony of the journey with Mary as she must go the final miles on her hands and knees. The most amazing thing about the story is it is true. Like his other historical novels Thom has done his research and he makes the history come alive for his reader.Book Review: Fascinating
Summary: 5 Stars
A great docu/drama. Thom did an incredible job "filling in" the details if you will, of Ingles incredible story. Something that few, if none of us can relate to these days. This one had actually slipped under the radar until my wife pointed it out to me, as it was not required reading where I went to school. But I feel that I appreciate it even more now than I would have then. A warning though, much of it is quite gruesome, and it does not portray Indians in a soft, "lets make white people feel ashamed for what they did " modern manner. It sheds light into certain savagery committed by Indians that is not heard much in the days of political correctness and bending over backwards to appease. Parts of this book are very disturbing and very,very brutal.
But I think this "punch in the face" style of not holding anything back is the beauty of the book. It presents the story as it happened, stripped bare for all to see. You will appreciate the hardship.
Book Review: Excellent book--I highly recommend it!
Summary: 5 Stars
I first read this book in paperback some time ago. This is this only story of its kind that I can recall details about the setting, time period, the characters and situations in which they lived their lives. This book is real, yes, Virginia, there's a real wilderness out there and Mr. Thom spares nothing and no one from the harsh realities of life in it. I have always felt a special kinship with other women named Mary, which is the name of the main character. In fact, I recall feeling so moved by this account that I loaned the book to my mother, whose name was also--you guessed it--Marye. Only thing was, she had to be different and tacked an extra "e" onto her name! This story will grab hold of you 'round the neck and will not turn loose until you have finished reading it. Even then, Mary's spirit will haunt you, she and the others taken captive. I plan to purchase a new copy of the book and reread the story. I can't get Mary out of my mind.