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Summary: How much can the human body withstand?
Review: This is the fictionalized account of the capture and escape of the real Mary Ingles. Mary is 23-years-old when Shawnee Indians attack her home on the western edge of the frontier in Virginia in 1755 and kidnap her. She is taken to an Indian village hundreds of miles west but remarkably, Mary has the presence of mind to count the days and commit landmarks to memory. After several months of captivity, she escapes. Driven by the desire to see her husband and others of her own folk again Mary overcomes numerous obstacles as she travels for 6 weeks in late autumn using the river as her guide home. The first 150 pages are about the attack, the journey west and captivity. The author uses these events to paint a portrait of Mary that enables the reader to believe Mary had the courage and will (that few possess) necessary to survive the incredible, disgusting, despairing, and ultimately awe-inspiring 600-mile trek home. I couldn't put the book down. Even when the starving Mary resorts to eating bugs and the leavings of buzzards I was compelled to read in spite of my revulsion. A stick, a knife, a blanket and food are no longer everyday items to be taken for granted; they are the tools of survival. A warning to the squeamish - Even though the author has plainly depicted events without over describing, there are some gross passages (childbirth, beatings, being burned alive, hunger which leads them to eat anything and causes vomiting and diarrhea). I had a little trouble believing that the human body could withstand such abuse. It didn't seem possible that the body could continue to exert so much energy at that level of starvation. But the author brings the realities of Mary's incredible journey to life and it is based on a true story. Red Heart is another Thom novel I recently read. Also recommended, but I like this one better.
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Summary: Determination, focus, and survival against all odds!
Review: The first time I read this wonderfully gripping novel was about 15 years ago, and when I started reading it, I could not put it down. Now, 15 years later, I have had the same experience. It kept me up at night and I found myself in the same state of awe as the first reading. Mary Draper Ingles was a 23 year old pregnant mother and wife, when the settlement she lived in was invaded by Shawnee Indians. They killed her mother and took Mary, her 2 sons, and her sister-in-law captive, leading them deep into unsettled territory. While on the trek to the Shawnee camp, she gave birth to a daughter. After being in captivity for months, Mary escaped in the company of an old Dutch woman. Together the two survived a walk of one thousand miles through untamed territory in the beginning of winter w/no food, no warm clothing, no weapons, nothing - except the Ohio River as her guide to "home". Eventually, literally starving to death, the old Dutch companion started seeing Mary as a "meal", and it was Mary's determination and wits that kept her from being Gretel's next meal. The Shawnee Chieftain, Wildcat, kept Mary's 2 young sons - the youngest died shortly after being seperated from his mother, and the oldest stayed w/the Shawnees for around 13 years, before Mary's husband, Will, finally managed to locate him and get him back. She made the very hard and unimaginable decision to leave her baby daughter w/Otter Girl, for she knew there was no way her baby would survive the trek home. When she finally did get back to civilization, she was unrecognizable, starved, and frozen. This is a remarkable story of determination, focus, drive and strength of character of one 23 year old woman! It is well written and as I read it, I find it very easy to "experience" all she experiences. I am in total awe of this great woman and story of her survival. I HIGHLY recommend it for anyone - for I cannot imagine it not touching the heart of any who read it!
Rating: 
Summary: Amazing Journey!
Review: Very engrossing story of a young, pregnant woman making her way from Kentucky back to the Virginia settlement she was kidnapped from in 1755. Travelling an estimated 1000 miles, she managed to do so without serious injury to herself. Along her journey she had to make some very hard decisions. As I read the book, I was aware that it is written from a man's view writing as a woman. I kept thinking that this story would be even better written by a woman with her point of view. I did find myself rushing a little to finish the book in order to find out what happens to her and her family. Don't read the end until you've read the whole book! Over all well worth the money and time to read.
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Summary: THE MOST ADVENTUROUS, "I'M REALLY THERE" BOOKEVER!!!
Review: Never have I read a book that truly made me feel the freezing winter winds, the hollow pain of an empty stomach, or the bruises and scratches that a character felt as much as I did while reading Follow The River. Thom is so intimate in his vivid writing, that you can more than just picture the image, but actually live it...even if it's not the most pleasant depiction ever! The story goes as 23yr old Mary Ingles lives a happy life in the Virginia Mountains. Comfortably she lived with her loving, dear husband, and her two little boys. She is pregnant with her third baby when they come. One July day, Mary and her children are captured by Indians, leaving behind her heart-broken husband, and a terrible, bloody and gorey massacre. For several weeks they travel, all the way up the New River/Ohio (O-Y-O)River. That's about 800miles! Poor Mary suffers terrible things in Shawnee-Town, and is traded to a Frenchman, who takes her another 2-300 miles up the river, away from home. Then, with another captive named Ghetel, she escapes one day. The rest of the book depicts the terrible, awful, merciless hardships she suffers on her 1,000 mile journey home. The way Thom wrote this book, you can feel her terrors, her cuts, the starvation, and you can even taste some pretty disgusting things she had to eat. If you can't stand the most intimate details you've ever heard of, then don't read this book, for at times it may disgust you. But, overall, I couldn't have spent a better couple of days than I did while reading this, and would highly reccommend it!
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Summary: Heartfelt, wonderful book...
Review: Captivating and well written, this book was extremely hard to put down once I picked it up. Centering on young wife and mother Mary Ingles, this book follows the story of her capture by the Indians, and subsequent trials as she attempts to find her way home. To give away more than that would be a terrible slight to this wonderful book; it's one you just gotta read. The author describes everything perfectly; with enough in depth language to really give a feel for what's going on, even the horrifying stuff; but not enough to really gross me out. The accents were a bit overdone, I thought; while they did add some authenticity that wouldn't have been there otherwise, it was awhile before I could puzzle out what anyone was saying. This book deals with some disturbing subject matter, such as infant murder and child abandonment, among others, so I can't say I'd recommend it to anyone younger than 15 or 16.
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Summary: You Go Girl!
Review: James Alexander Thom started research for this book by following the trail of Mary Ingalls. He wrote this book to tell the true story of a young woman whom Indians kidnapped. She eventually escaped and had to travel over the Appalachian Mountains to find her people again. This story comes together through the strength of this one woman and brings out a plot that makes you cry, laugh, and cheer for the impossible.
One of the most impressive things about the novel Follow the River is how it was written. Thom was very careful about the information of Mary Ingalls he collected. Thom mainly interviewed relatives such as her great-great-great granddaughter. Thom also walked along the trail itself and lived outside for several months. He interviewed people that lived along the Ohio River; the river that Mary Ingalls followed to get home. According to Thom, even though he slept where they slept he could not even come near the struggle that this woman went through to try and reach safety again.
What exactly is this story about? It is about a 23-year-old woman who is nine months pregnant. She is kidnapped, along with her sister-in-law and two sons, and is forced to walk over the Appalachian Mountains to the Indian camp. Her children and sister-in-law are sold and separated from her. Along the trail, she gave birth to a baby girl in a way that would put one into awe. However, in order to escape she must give up her baby. It is not possible to escape with a baby in arm. If the child should cry, they would be killed. Then there is the weather and living on barely any food. The baby would die. When she escapes, she gets a German woman to come with her. Ghetel and Mary become friends and lean on each other to get back to the other side of the mountains.
Many dangers await these two women, particularly Mary. Ghetel eventually becomes a danger, herself. Traveling under these conditions can make a person insane and so it does in Ghetel's case. She turns to Mary as a source of food.
It is a beautifully written story that proves itself repeatedly. Can a woman who has never been out in the wilderness make it through unchartered territory? Will she escape the Indians and Ghetel? Will she ever see her family again, the ones at home and the ones she left behind? Naked and starved, Mary Ingalls undertakes a journey that no white person had ever done before. You find yourself rooting for this unbelievable woman and stepping into her path. Not her shoes because she looses them along the way. You beg for mercy for her and cry for her. You laugh for her and cheer for her. This story is truly moving beyond words.
The author of this book also wrote a novel called Long Knife. Follow the River was published by Ballantine Books in New York in 1981. There are 406 pages. I recommend this book for anyone that is looking for a real life adventure.
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Summary: The best of the best...
Review: If you read only one book this year, them let it be "Follow the River" by James Alexander. Send the kids off to school and put the dog out, because you will not be able to put this book down. I love to read about history and this book has it all history,love, tears, and fear. I wish I could be just half the woman Mary was. Thought it all she keep the faith and the need to go home again. Please read this book and you will not be sorry...better yet BUY this book and read it over and over again like we all have.....
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Summary: Undying Faith
Review: I just finished the book this morning and could not wait to find out more about Mary.I live in Virginia in the Shenandoah Valley.So this story really touched close to home.It made me wonder if I would have had the courage and strength to go on.I felt it was I that was Mary.It made me think about the woods beside my house.To imagine this woman,naked,starving,battered and totally at the mercy of freezing wind,rain,and snow getting up each day to go on leaves me in such awe of her courage and strength.I understood her relationship with "Ghetel".I was inspired by her faith in God.Thank you Thom for this book.It will forever stay in my mind and heart.
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Summary: Historically Important Book
Review: The historical significance paired with the authors ability to maintain the readers attention made this book! I can't imagine facing all the challenges to return home, especially knowing your home had been destroyed, and accepting the fact you may never see your children again. Truly captivating and inspiring!
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Summary: Great book!!!
Review: I haven't read this book in a long time. I first read it when I was a freshman in high school (I just turned 21 now). My teacher recommended it to me. It was a great read. A VERY great read. It just tore me to pieces in a few parts of the book. I gave it a four out of five because there were some gory details that could've been left out. Now that Amazon is here, I can write my comments about the book. ...
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