The Daughter's Walk: A Novel by Jane Kirkpatrick

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was excited to receive this book for free from Waterbrook Multnomah. I like this author and have enjoyed a number of her books.

The Daughter's Walk is based on the true story of Helga Estby and her 18 year old daughter Clara, who, in 1896 accepted a wager from the fashion industry to walk from Spokane Washington to New York City within seven months. If successful, they would win $10,000 and save the family farm.

I always like books about spunky women, and these two certainly were. Their lives, and the lives of their family, were forever changed by their decision. They had adventure, but their decision to walk brought them some personal tragedy, and, sadly, they missed the deadline by two weeks. Once they returned to the farm, Clara made the decision to leave her home, and did not return for over 20 years.

Kirkpatrick weaves truth and fiction in the tale as she conjectures what Clara might have done, and what choices she made. This is where it got frustrating for me - not in the story itself, I thought it was good, but I wish I knew what was truth and what was fiction. I want to know the true story of Clara and her choices! I tried to look up some information online, but there wasn't much there - it is a mystery as to the real reason why Clara left and even to some extents what she did.

To view the book trailer, and see some pics of Clara and her mom, go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoxjLeTTw...

If you haven't read any of Kirkpatrick's books yet, you should give her a try! Two of my favorites are A Gathering of Finches and A Sweetness to the Soul.

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