The Indifferent Stars Above

I knew enough about this harrowing tragedy and it was still not enough to prepare me when the Donner Party eventually becomes stranded. This heartbreaking, riveting and complicated story (due to the idea of Manifest Destiny and it's effect on the indigenous people at the time) was hard to put down. You follow Sarah Fosdick, a new bride, through a journey along 87 other families who try to make their way to California, and the foils of traversing new lands bring to many. The book is supported by letters and accounts of those who also made the journey and the physiological and psychological evidence to support the choices made by so many desperate to survive.

I'm a sucker for some historical fiction and this did not disappoint.

A great mix of historical accuracy and an imagining of specifics that history can't know for sure about the unutterably tragic story of the Donner Party

I couldn't believe how much I didn't know about the Donner Party. Jesus Christ this shit was HARROWING.

I liked the decision to zoom in on one particular individual of the party (Sarah Graves) while still giving added context. It was overall a pretty good balance between narrative flow and big picture stuff, and for a Westward Expansion book I thought it did an okay job of attempting to depict Native American perspectives though it wasn't the focus.

If you're interested in the Donner Party, would definitely recommend.

The author follows one young woman's harrowing journey from Illinois to California and the bitter months spent trapped by snow in the mountains without food. Her bravery and fortitude are remarkable. Luck was not on their side. Plus, her father's willingness to take risks was somewhat responsible for their getting themselves into the mess, but also helped get at least some of them out of it. Very interesting look at the way humans behave in extreme conditions.