The Daughter’s Walk by Jane Kirkpatrick, A Review
April 2nd, 2011 § 4 Comments
It is 1896 and the Etsbys, Swedish immigrants living in Spokane, Washington, are about to lose their farm. With her husband recovering from illness and unable to work, Helga Etsby accepts an epic offer: sponsors will give her $10,000 dollars if she will walk from Spokane to New York City modeling the new and scandalous woman’s reform dresses. Clara, the family’s eldest daughter, unwillingly goes along on the journey, a walk that will change her and her family’s lives forever.
Based on real people and events, The Daughter’s Walk is a happy deviation in the potentially sickly-sweet genera of Christian historical fiction. Kirkpatrick engrosses you with her epic tale of Clara Etsby, following her from a nineteen year old girl forced into a situation she does not want to be in and on through the ups and downs of its consequences. The historical framework lends the book the authority and detail it needs to make you feel as though you are reading not a novel, but an autobiography. Though I was skeptical through its first few chapters, I found The Daughter’s Walk to be an enjoyable read that pulled me in, and would indeed recommend it to those who enjoy legitimately historical fiction.
I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah Publishing Group for this review.
To see a video of the author discussing this book and download a sample chapter, go here.
This does sound good, to me too, and I really like historical fiction.
And, I even knew this author. I bought one of her books and found out it was the last of a series. Bought the other two and sent them to a book loving friend for her birthday! Thank you for your reviews. Question though, what kind of Christian historical fiction are you not enjoying so much? And have you read anything by Bodie and Brock Thoene?
Thanks for the comment Debbie. I haven’t read anything by Thoene. To be honest I haven’t read a whole lot in the genera, but two I read were kind of happy go lucky romances. I enjoyed them at the time, but I don’t think they are on the level of The Daughter’s Walk. I liked Rivers’ Redeeming Love, but still it didn’t have quite the same feel of truth to it, but that is to be expected I suppose, as The Daughter’s Walk was based on true events. Blessings!
Eden, I don’t read historical fiction much (with fairly rare exceptions). With your comments, I will at least keep this one in mind.
But the reason I’m commenting here is mostly that I just read “about the blogger” again (second time, if my memory’s right.) It impressed me even more than it did the first time. Much more, in fact. Enough that it made me think someone should write a book about YOU. Of course, your story isn’t finished yet. But if the first chapter is any indication, it’ll be good. I – and we – pray that the as yet unwritten chapters will be guided by the Lord and will be equally good!
Thank you for your kind comment Pete. The reason I started telling the “story” where I did was I kind of feel like the things that happened to my grandfather and brother were very important in my spiritual development. I grew up hearing those stories, as well as how I came to be here, and I think they play a large role in my relationship with God. I guess you could call it my spiritual heritage, and I am grateful for it. God has been good to my family in the past, continues to be so in the present, and I know will be in the future. Blessings!