Customer Reviews

Whither Thou Goest, I Will Go

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I just finished reading, "Whither Thou Goest, I Will Go" by Naomi Dathan, literally in one sitting. I could not put the story down. I have to confess that I have read a lot of Christian novels in which the characters were wooden, their lives just so much unbelievablefroth, but this book is nothing like those.

The author did her homework on the Blizzard of 1888 in the Midwest and, even though these are Christians who are going through this disaster, they are not totally spared for the sake of a comfortable story. I cannot give the ending away, but it is realistic and beautiful at the same time, a real true-to-life ending for a real Christian family. Of course, I don't know if the author actually based the story on real people or her own ancestors, but I wouldn't be surprised if that were the case.

The characters have depth and complexity and the well known story of pioneer life on the Great Plains in the late 1800's is fascinating no matter how many times I've read about it. The story's main plot line is the killer Blizzard 1888, but after the first chapter opens on the midst of the Blizzard, Ms. Dathan takes you back in time to the beginning of the marriage of our heroine and her husband. She tells you about our heroine's life before moving to the Great Plains, the vastly different society she was born into and her expectations of what her future holds for her with her new husband.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves history. The Christian theme is not forced or phony and by recommending this story to anyone, I mean whether Christian or non Christian. The majority of the people that lived on the Plains at that time were devout believers, no matter their denomination, and a story without that aspect would be false.

I very much enjoyed (and was on the edge of my seat) Ms. Dathan's book and will be looking up more titles by her.

Whither Thou Goest is an excellent first book from novelist Naomi Dathan. It is set around the Children's Blizzard in the late 1800's, and I learned so much about a period I had little knowledge of previously.But more important, to me, than the historical perspective was the relationships between the characters.

Jem begins the book as a spoiled brat who has been given everything she ever wanted, first by her parents and then by her husband, Seth. And Seth is portrayed as a gallant ex-military officer, brave and strong. Jem, perhaps deserves a good spanking at first, but when Seth drags them to Nebraska to live in a sod house, she learns more about work than she ever wanted to know.

Seth, too, has his transitions. For the majority of the book I found him insensitive, arrogant, stubborn and often, mean.

What goes around, comes around and through the trials and tribulations of trying to survive on the prairie with a small child and only themselves to keep them safe, Jem and Seth both evolve. Jem becomes stronger and more self-reliant, while Seth suffers blow after blow to his confidence.

The blizzard itself is the catalyst for most of the change in the couple.

I was captivated by the book and truly cared about what happened to Jem and Seth and their little boy, Charley. And when a reader really cares about the characters, I believe the author has done a superlative job. This Naomi Dathan did with humor and pathos and a true eye for detail.

Read it. You'll love it. You'll love Jem and Seth. And you'll be waiting to hear more from Ms. Dathan.

I went into reading this book expecting a predictable "Christian" fictional story but hoping for more. I loved it. The transformation that the main character goes through from the beginning through the tragedy is remarkable. I laughed at her frivolity in the beginning, and ached for her as she began her journey into maturity. I really felt the first half of the novel excellently portrayed this journey. I was not 100% satisfied with the resolution of the book however. I did not feel it gave as authentic of a glimpse into what the character experienced post tragedy. It may be that was purposeful. It is certainly fitting to feel numb and just focus on survival. I would like to have heard more about how this impacted her spiritual life. Does she give up on God? Why or why not? In fact, I felt like I could skip the last 5 pages or so because it seemed like a perfect set up for a next novel. On that note, I would definitely love to read a sequel. I felt like I understood this historical event better and saw glimpses of the actual lives of real pioneering men and women of that generation, rather than getting to know fictional characters. There was a realism and depth that was well portrayed. I think I simply would like to know more about the next chapter of her life.

I am not an author, publisher or book reviewer by trade however I do enjoy reading a good book. I was asked to read and review the book before it was release. With that said I have to say I enjoyed reading this book and it is now in my favorite top ten books. My only regret is that I will not be able to own it in hard cover.

I enjoy reading books set in the frontier times about the lives and times of not just the settlers but about the native Americans also. Although this was the first book that I have read from this author in my opinion it ranks up there with Allan W Eckert, James Alexander Thom, Don Wright and of course Laura Ingalls Wilder.

From the beginning I fell in love with the main characters and was drawn into their love story and hardships. Jem at times I adored and at times I just shook my head at her whining. She was a girl that was taken from a well to do family in the heart of the city (where every wish was granted and things where done for her) and because of her love for her husband Seth followed him to the wild frontier (where every thing is worked for and you do everything) to homestead. Their life was not easy, there were battles, heart breaks, feelings of betrayal, loneliness, sickness, but there was also a dream!

I couldn't put this book down and lost sleep to finish it. I am praying that there will be a second or a series of books for the characters. I want to know more about Jem and Seth, her father, her sisters, William and Susan, and well all of them!

For now I think I'll reread the book! It's a great read I loved it!

The author pulled me into this story with the first few pages of the book. She started the book out in Jan 1888 giving us a glimpse of something that happened, something that propelled me to read the book as quickly as I could to figure out the why and how of what she described in the opening pages. Once she gives us a glimpse of Jan 1888 then she takes us back seventeen months to allow us to see how a family goes from living the life of luxury to becoming homesteaders living in a Soddy.

Jem Perkins was used to living a life of ease. She had always had someone to take care of her every need. When she married her husband Seth her father even provided a nice house for them.Seth who was in the Army learns something about Jem's father, something that might land him in jail, and costs Seth his position in the army. Seth knows that Jem's father will have to sell everything to make amends for what he has done which means Jem and Seth will no longer have a place to live, so Seth takes their savings and decides they will become homesteaders out west. Jem, who had never cooked or kept house now has to become a pioneer lady and learn to do all these things. Can Jem every manage?

I really loved this story. I loved seeing Jem grow and change. She was such a remarkable person, and withstood many trials. Her faith became a real part of her life. I liked Seth's character as well, but often felt like he was a bit hard on Jem. The author left a few loose ends with this story, which really has me hoping for a sequel.

Fans of historical fiction are going to devour this story. Amazing characters, and a fast moving plot filled with the ups and downs of homesteading life was very touching and emotionally moving. Add to this an inspirational message of perseverance and it makes for a story that I just couldn't stop reading. I will certainly be watching for more from this author!

Once I started this book I could not put it down...it is a very fast lingering read. It is a well researched based on fact book...so you better have the tissues ready.

The story starts at the beginning of the Perkins marriage, Jemima, Seth and baby Charlie. Life is good for Jem, she has it all a beautiful baby, a handsome husband, a great home and servants. Her father has set her up by giving them their house. She is a spoiled woman, very unprepared for what is about to happen to her.

Because of some scandal involving Jem's father, Seth has left the military and is moving his his family to the prairie of Nebraska. They stop for the winter in Kansas and stay with his old friend William and his wife Susan and their family. What a shock for Jem...she is rude and quite unaccepting of her circumstances. She is literaly forced into accepting the role of a wife on the prairie. You will feel sorry for her...she sure hadn't planned on a life of this nature.

Actually it turned into a good lesson for Jem, and helps prepare her for what is to to come. I loved the faith shown in this book. Hard to accept all that happens here, but you see God helping them. You will get lost here, and am glad to know that some of my questions are going to be answered in the next book..or two??

I received this book from First Wild Card Tours and the author Naomi Dathan, and was not required to give a positive review

Whither Thou Goest, I Will Go

by Naomi Dathan

I am thankful for the opportunity to read this book! It is not your typical everything turns out wonderful tale. It is a book about hardships, loss and survival.

My mother liked 'hard times' books like this one. I liked the fact that it showed true emotion between the characters-- a clash of wills that turned into working for the common good. I recommend this book and I hope the author continues to write many more in the future.

This story offers a glimpse into how hard life was (and still is to a great degree) in the west, and brings to light the story of the Children's Blizzard, which took place in January 1888.

Hot, scorching summers and brutal and unpredictable winters, the land is unforgiving and only the most stalwart individuals can survive. What chance do a couple of city folk stand?

Seth is a good man, brave and strong. Fair and ethical. He's been a good provider for his family, a good father to his son, if a bit estranged from his wife.

Jemima has been raised a spoiled daughter and is now a somewhat indulged wife.

Jem and Seth married "liking" one another, "lusting" after one another, and perhaps even "loving" one another, but they didn't really know one another and weren't friends. Seth is with the military and has been gone traveling much of their marriage. Jem has been coddled and indulged by her father, who lives nearby and gave Seth and Jem the house that they live in with their infant son Charley.

Life takes a turn, and Seth chooses to move the family out West to become homesteaders in Nebraska. They know that life will be tough, but Seth seems to underestimate just how hard things can get.

In the beginning, Jem is spoiled, selfish and annoying. She isn't very likable by any means, often using tears to get her way with the men in her life. But the more that life throws at the family, the more Jem rises to the occasion.

My greatest disappointment with this story and the characters was Seth. I was disappointed that he only saw Jem for who she had been, and did not acknowledge the amazing woman that she had become. She showed herself in many circumstances to perhaps be even stronger and tougher than Seth.

My final word: This was a lovely story, and it really held me throughout. I kept wondering what was going to happen next? Would they survive the West? Would they find their way back to each other? Would life cast them a lifeline? I've been interested in the past with the Children's Blizzard, and this was a nice introduction to it. Tragic and stirring, leading you through the story with little drops of hope like Gretel's trail of breadcrumbs, I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys a moving story that can touch your soul.

Wither Thou Goest, I Will Go tells the tale of a young couple, and their son who head out west to start a brand new life, living life on the prairie. They face trials and hardship that try and test their marriage.

I was surprised by how well written this book was. And I liked how the homesteading life was depicted as raw and rough, with countless everyday challenges to face. The pace was swift, and it was not easy to put down, but at times I got really frustrated with the characters and how they treated each other. The way the character ineracted ran hot and cold during the duration of the book, and showed the gradual change inside the characters' hearts. Even though I could see that they were going through a rough time adjusting to prairie life, and their struggles were huge, I soon grew weary of Seth and Jem's indifference to each other.

By the end I appreciated Jem's change from a pampered soldier's wife, to a determined pioneer woman who embodies one of the many faces of the women who thrived out west.

Overall, Wither Thou Goest, I Will Go is a the tale of a strong pioneer woman, who finds herself, and perserveres through her faith in God. There are beautiful moments that will make you smile, and others that tell the of the harsh unforgiving side of the prairie that broke many spirits. This is a tale of wounds and healing, of hardship and love.

Final Rating: 4 out of 5

I received this book from the publisher through First WILD Card Blog Tours, in return for an honest review.

This is an amazing story based on true events. I got so involved with the characters from the beginning that I had a hard time ending the book. I wanted to continue reading about them. An incredible and emotional story with christian values. An excellent chapter into history with a beautifully written story.