Outlasting the Trail

by Mary Barmeyer O'Brien

Mary Rockwood Powers reluctantly left her comfortable life as a doctor's wife in Wisconsin in 1856, one of the many women whose destiny as a settler of the West was determined by her husband's wishes. Trading in her home for canvas roof and wheels, Mary, her husband, and their three children set out on the arduous trek westward to California.

Shortly into their travels west, it became painfully obvious that Doctor Powers was simply not up to the task of making sure his family "outlasted the trail." Mary had to step in and become the head of the household with its canvas roof and wheels--leaving behind her ideals of femininity along with her beloved possessions.

In Outlasting the Trail author Mary Barymeyer O'Brien uses the letters Mary Rockwood Powers wrote to her mother and sister back home as a stepping off point to further illuminate this remarkable woman's story. Based on the dramatic struggle a real family, this novel brings to life a fascinating slice of American history.

Genres: Nonfiction, Cats, Animals, History

320 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 2004

Reviews

[Carolyn]

UPDATE: This book mysteriously disappeared so I was not able to finish it. I think the cats hid it somewhere..... ||| Bought this for 50 cents at a used book sale for my husband. He was supposed to read it because they're HIS cats. Entertaining tone, but I suspect the cats have already read it and outwitted us.

[Josh Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this work of historical fiction. After reading the book, I found out the author is from northwestern Montana. She relied heavily on journals and historical diaries of those who traveled out west during the early pioneer days of our country.

The amount of grit, determination, and sheer will it took just to survive the westward trek during those days almost defies imagination.

[Kati · Rating 1 out of 5]

The first few chapters of this book are discussing the science of cats, especially their evolution and their physiology, and its information just wasn't sitting right. There wasn't anything in particular I could say for certain was wrong, but at the same time much of it just didn't seem right. Then I hit this sentence:

"Domestic dogs have been so manipulated and changed by humankind that today's dogs are an entire genus--not just a species, like domestic cats-- away from their closest wild relatives."

Canis lupus familiaris is NOT a genus away from canis lupus. They're a subspecies of canis lupus! This author has really never heard of wolf-dog hybrids?

I can't imagine how a mistake that profound could even happen, much less make it to print, if the author were doing even a minuscule amount of research. With such basic and easily verified information so incredibly wrong, I don't think I can trust anything else this book says.

[Jess Trebanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've grown up in a multi-cat household; we've never not had cats. I would say I know quite a bit about cat behavior, so I was skeptical that I'd learn much of anything from this. However, it had some stuff I wouldn't have thought of, and so I'd recommend it to anyone trying to figure out the reason why their cat is doing -- or not doing -- some particular thing.

[Denise Huntington · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased the book as a bit of research on what it was like for women to live in the harsh conditions of the American frontier. I enjoyed this because it wasn't just a diary or a compilation of letters but was a bit of an historical novel also. The author extrapolated the details of this woman's/family's journey from Wisconsin to California from the content of a handful of letters written over several months while on the trail and, I think, did a great job at expressing what it was like to live day by day through the harshest conditions imaginable. The main character starts the trails as a meek and mild-mannered cultured woman of the mid-nineteeth century but had to change her manner and her actions while on the trail to ensure the health and safety of her loved ones. It was well written and I enjoyed the book. If I could I would rate it somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars.

[Marieta Grissom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting, page-turner, historical fiction; quick and easy to read. Ms. O'Brien used an interesting technique to write the narrative, moving from the perspective of one character to another, while also incorporating the text of letters that Mary wrote to her mother.

The Powers family survived a harrowing migration from Wisconsin to California and Mary was forced to move from being a submissive wife to a decision-maker as her husband seemed mentally incapable of handling the situation.

How many other families had similar experiences that have never been exposed? Perhaps more than we realize.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a young girl growing up in Ohio, I was enamored with covered wagons and the westward movement. In my mind, I glamorized it.
In adulthood, I’ve driven the approximate trail twice by car and I currently live in Oregon. I am in awe of what the trip in a covered wagon would have been like in comparison.
Of course I now understand and appreciate the severity and danger of the “adventures “ of following the Oregon, Mormon and California trails.
I salute the memories and respect the hardships of those brave, rugged settlers. Every story I read, I learn and admire them more.

[Sharon Prue · Rating 4 out of 5]

Outlasting the Trail by Mary Barmeyer O’Brien was a good and interesting read. It tells the story of a very strong woman’s journey west to California with her family on a wagon train in the 1800s. The story line was compiled from a series of letters written to her family back east. Think of hardship and survival and this book has it. I struggled with this woman and her children the whole way. It was given to me by a friend who received it from a friend and I will definitely pass this one along.

[Sheryl Hanefeld · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book because this is where my love of history started years ago. I always dreamed of living in the pioneers days of America. So reading about a a woman's journey west was interesting. A good book, simple and to the point. Knowing that the letters in the book were from a true story of a woman's journey made the book even more enjoyable.

[Todd McQueen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fictional book based on the actual letters from a remarkable individual. This wife and mother was instrumental in leading her family overland from WI to CA in 1856 during the gold rush. Easy to become immersed in the story and to imagine the many challenges of the arduous trail. Very enjoyable book. 4.5

[MarkedWoman · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book was well written, but the subject was emotionally difficult. I wondered at some points whether I would outlast the volume. While I know the trail would have been almost intolerable for a woman in her circumstances I still marvel that she didn’t turn back at the eastern and say tell her husband to choose either her or the trail. The hardship endured is really beyond words.

[Darcy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good book.

[Connie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This really brought out the trials of crossing to the west in a covered wagon. It was slow to start, but well worth the time to read!

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another good pioneer book. Fiction expanded from the letters and journals of a real woman traveling West in 1856. It's a wonder anyone made the trek successfully, so many were ill-prepared for the journey. While this is a story of the hardships of the journey, the main story for me was the transformation of a woman from submissive follower to confident leader. I cringed as I read how long it took for Mary Powers to step forward and take a leadership position as her husband for whatever reason became increasingly irrational and yet insisted on making life or death decisions for his family, but her reticence was admirable given her understanding of the meaning of wifely submission.
It did become a little maddening though, wondering how long she would risk her life and the life of her family in deference to her unbalanced husband. Her willingness to forgive and continue in partnership with her husband when they reached their destination and his 'former self' returned though was a humbling rebuke to my habit of holding a grudge and continuing to live in bitterness and belligerence. Her attitude towards hardships and unfairness is a real example of peaceful and godly living.

[Patricia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I grew up on pioneer tales and read a lot of Oregon Trail novels. For some reason, I can't think of a single adult novel about the Oregon Trail published in the last five years. Either the pioneer stories lend themselves better to children's literature or our frontier ancestors are not in vogue right now.

This tale is based on the true story of a woman whose husband sets out happily for California, dragging his wife and family along. Not far into the journey, a major depression sets in, leaving him argumentative and unable to pull his weight. His wife Mary must step out of her sphere and ensure the family gets to California.

The story was pretty interesting, but I was skeptical of a lot of the thoughts put in the main character's head by the author. They did not seem authentically eighteenth century to me.

[Fran Fisher · Rating 5 out of 5]

The whole idea of the westward expansion is amazing to start with! This account shows once again the rigors of the trip, the mores of the time when women often had little or no voice in important family decisions. Despite that, the courage of Mary Powers and her perseverance demonstrated in this book is amazing. The journey's hardships are painfully documented, and the ending is rather sad. This family paid a big price for their arduous trip as part of America's westward expansion. In other accounts, the continuing price the families paid after settlement is minimized. This account makes clear that the journey was so difficult that many families were dramatically changed to subsistence level even after settlement at their destination and never fully recovered. That recovery task remained for their descendants.

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a soft spot for narratives of pioneer women. This is a fictionalized account of a True Story, of a woman on the California Trail in 1856. As things started to go wrong, her husband went into a severe depression and was just *useless* and so she basically had to take charge and make sure they got there. Great story, especially since you know it's based on actual letters and journals - but the writing was a little cheesy and sensationalized, and the editing was TERRIBLE. I feel a strong urge to call this press and offer my emergency services as a copy-editor.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book a while ago, and found it very interesting. She heads west although her husband does everything in his power to sabotage it. Uses her letters to paint a picture of what life must have been like for her. Based on a true person, but the story is very fictionalized.

[Splehm · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm a big fan of pioneer stories, and am in awe of the courage and stamina that was required to cross the West to start a new life. I enjoyed this story quite a bit; although I think it is most appropriate for young adult fiction audience.

[Gary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book with surprising tidbits of feline interest, some obvious and others not so. One example of a useful topic, toxic issues with felines. If you have felines, it's worth a read,,,or even just a skim.

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

My cat seemed to develop a bad habit of peeing out of her litterbox. This book REALLY helped to break her of the habit. Straight-forward advice and how-to tips.

[Nina · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some helpful ideas, but unfortunately Carl and Maisie seem disastrously wrong for one another. Recommended by Lynne Niemiec.

[Nina Mcdaniel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I loved the story. The writing was simple but it did the job.

[Veronica · Rating 2 out of 5]

I never was able to finish this book, so many things just felt... wrong.

[Mary · Rating 3 out of 5]

Based on journals of a woman traveling from Wisconsin to Sacramento in the mid 1850's. Matched the landscape as we traveled almost the same route, so 'twas fun!

[Amie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was a quick read, but I really enjoyed it. Was great to read a different prospective and see a woman over come her "training" and make decisions and that men don't and can't always be the "rock".

[Vicky Faulkner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book

I enjoyed taking the trip along with Mary. She was a very strong woman who didn't know at had it in her.

[Jo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enjoyable and enlightening. I am pretty sure I wouldn't have survived that trip!

[Kristina Ehmke]

Actually does have some good tips on dealing with some of the quirky issues with your cat.

[Helga · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book confirms what I've suspected all along: you can't outwit your cat. You can not train your cat. You can only make accomodations and hope for the best.