The Daughter's Walk
Synopsis:
A mother's tragedy, a daughter's desire and the 7000 mile journey that changed their lives.
In 1896 Norwegian American Helga Estby accepted a wager from the fashion industry to walk from Spokane, Washington to New York City within seven months in an effort to earn $10,000. Bringing along her nineteen year-old daughter Clara, the two made their way on the 3500-mile trek by following the railroad tracks and motivated by the money they needed to save the family farm. After returning home to the Estby farm more than a year later, Clara chose to walk on alone by leaving the family and changing her name. Her decisions initiated a more than 20-year separation from the only life she had known.
Historical fiction writer Jane Kirkpatrick picks up where the fact of the Estbys’ walk leaves off to explore Clara's continued journey. What motivated Clara to take such a risk in an era when many women struggled with the issues of rights and independence? And what personal revelations brought Clara to the end of her lonely road? The Daughter's Walk weaves personal history and fiction together to invite readers to consider their own journeys and family separations, to help determine what exile and forgiveness are truly about.
My Review:
I enjoyed reading this book but found that at times it dragged a bit. However, the story of Clara and her mother's journey was truly inspirational. On the other hand, I found Clara's personal life journey after her "exile" was a little depressing. I found myself thinking what I would have done. I guess the times and society's expectations of how women should behave dictated much of her decision-making. At the beginning, I truly related to Helga. Her strength of character and unrelenting will really resonated with me. I've always felt that you make good and bad decisions in life, but they are yours and only yours to answer to. You assume the consequences and no one has a right to pass judgment. I can't help but think that Helga would have agreed with me. Family is important in the journey of life, but only you assume and can answer to where you go on that journey and why...
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