Ordeal by Hunger

Rating:
Summary: Unforgettable
Review: An exhaustively researched, even-handed account of the Great American Disaster. You know the general story, so the narrative builds with the crescendo drumbeats of inevitable tragedy. But Stewart's done the research better than anybody else and fills in the details. There are heroes and villians, but Stewart is always ready to give the benefit of the doubt, and believe the best in the characters until proven otherwise. What's haunting to me is that the Donner Party families were striking for the American Dream just like everybody else. But the men steered their families (thanks to ignorance, chicanery, and bad luck) into a hell.

Rating:
Summary: Fighting to Survive
Review: The book, Ordeal by Hunger, by George Stewart, is truly a great classic. This story explores the hard times and limits people were pushed to when they traveled west to the supposed paradise of California. Their hopes of reaching it before winter disappear as they travel in circles and their food slowly diminishes. They have to result to cannibalism and eat anything they can find in order to survive. Some push on towards California while others wait out the hard winter and build a cabin near a lake. The snow becomes up to 15 feet deep and fighting to stay alive becomes quite a challenge. Many hallucinate and perish. This book is somewhat depressing but gives a true account of history. I recommend this book to readers who are interested in a book that pushes people to their absolute limits. This book is full of vocabulary and is long in length, but in my opinion well worth reading.

Rating:
Summary: Fighting to Survive
Review: The book, Ordeal by Hunger, by George Stewart, is truly a great classic. This story explores the hard times and limits people were pushed to when they traveled west to the supposed paradise of California. Their hopes of reaching it before winter disappear as they travel in circles and their food slowly diminishes. They have to result to cannibalism and eat anything they can find in order to survive. Some push on towards California while others wait out the hard winter and build a cabin near a lake. The snow becomes up to 15 feet deep and fighting to stay alive becomes quite a challenge. Many hallucinate and perish. This book is somewhat depressing but gives a true account of history. I recommend this book to readers who are interested in a book that pushes people to their absolute limits. This book is full of vocabulary and is long in length, but in my opinion well worth reading.

Rating:
Summary: very realistic, informative
Review: This book told the historic story of the Donner party and had excerpts from the diaries of the members (Patrick Breen, and letters from Virginia Reed. VERY GOOD BOOK!