The Longest Road

by Jeanne Williams

"Moving, accurate picture of Dust Bowl Americaresonates with Woody Guthrie's songs and has a good, strong heart." Mercury News, San Jose, California"Gritty details and keen social observations...Williams' colorful story keeps the reader engaged." Publishers Weekly

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Historical

404 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1993

About the author

Pseudonyms: Megan Castell, Jeanne Crecy, Jeanne Foster, Deirdre Rowan, Kristian Michaels, J.R. Williams

Reviews

[Denise · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first twenty chapters of The Longest Road. The hardships of the dust bowl and the Great Depression were brought to life for me. I’d seen the Ken Burns series, and this was exactly what the people in Kansas and Oklahoma lived through. It seemed almost like Grapes of Wrath, one of my favorite American novels of all time.

I loved the children, Laurie and Buddy, as they “lit out for the territories” hoping to get to California and find their dad. They showed such spunk, riding the rails and finding a way to get what they needed to survive. The people they met along the way were almost mythic: Way is the flawed savior, travelling with the kids and protecting them from dangerous people. Morrrigan is the muse, opening the world of music to Laurie and also providing her with a safe way to make money.

The problems I had with the book was the road was too long. I wasn’t nearly as interested in the oil fields as I was with these plucky and resourceful children. I liked the evil grandfather’s wife, and the role she played in ameliorating his verbal poison. I had some trouble with the father leaving the children with such a nasty old man, but he was obviously at his wits end and mourning the very recent death of their mother.

These are minor problems. I did enjoy the book very much and will recommend it to my young adult friends who know little of this era. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Open Road in exchange for an honest review.

[Kathryn Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a story of a strong-willed young girl who loses her father and mother in the dust bowl of Oklahoma and travels by train with her younger brother to California and back, encountering a lot of interesting people and adventures along the way. Lots of historical information about America's dust bowl, the lead up to World War II, hobo life and more. A little sentimental, but still enjoyable read.

[Bonnye Reed · Rating 4 out of 5]

NGAB I received a free electronic copy of this novel from Netgalley, Jeanne Williams, and Open Road Integrated Media. Thank you for sharing your work with me.

This was an excellent novel. I read a lot, and it has been a long time since I encountered a novel I hated to see end. Ms. Williams keeps her story crisp, her protagonists balanced and well rounded, and folds her tale seamlessly into the world of oil and dust and war we know as the southwestern United States in the 1930's - 1940's. This is an exciting journey through the hardships and joys, the tribulations and exaltations of that time. It is a story that lifted me, and I will read again in time. I was pleased to see that several of Ms. Williams novels are being reprinted - the perfect time to find and add her to my list of must-read authors.

Pub date July 5,2016

[Annabel Thorstenson · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the last book in the condensed series I’ve been reading and I really enjoyed it! It’s set in 1930s Dust Bowl which I really like- reminds me of Grapes of Wrath. Maybe a tad bit idealistic/unrealistic, but it was really good.

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a HUGE Patty Duke fan. I mean huge. I've met her several times and even my license plate says PDUKEFN. Knowing she narrated this was the only reason I got this from audible but I'm glad I did. I was first concerned that I would be distracted by Patty Duke's narration but it was a GREAT story! I really enjoyed it and she was a fantastic narrator. So good, I often forgot that's why I picked this book! The story starts in the dust bowl of the 1930s and the hardships remind me of my granny and her family in Kentucky (although a completely different region and circumstances but it felt like something like how my Granny and her family lived). Would definitely pick up another by this author. Also, Anna (Patty Duke) needs to do more books. Really...

[Mandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me this one. The premise is potentially engaging – two young children making their way in Dust Bowl America – but the writing just wasn’t up to it. It’s a nice enough story, I suppose, if with some rather improbable plot twists, but the author is far too fond of letting her characters explain the historical background so that their speech sounds false and unnatural. It’s all a bit too romanticised as well – I imagine life was a lot harder than the way Williams depicts it. It’s not enough to describe poverty – you have to make the reader feel it. And the central child character is just too good to be true. So I had to give this one up, unfortunately.

[Polly Krize · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The cruel effects of the Great Depression send twelve-year old Laurie and her young brother Buddy out on the highways of America to live with their grandfather in Oklahoma's panhandle. To escape his brutality, they hop a train to California, which leads to more heartbreak. The songs of Johnny Morrigan inspire them to keep their hopes up, leading them to Texas, Morrigan and life-changing events. Recommended reading.

[Debbie · Rating 4 out of 5]

According to my Good Reads statistics for this year, The Longest Road was the least popular book I read with only 245 people reading it. A lot of people are missing out on a great read! The Longest Road reminded me of the Grapes of Wrath – except that it is a lighter, less depressing version told from a young girl’s perspective. Laurie and her younger brother are left with their grandfather in Oklahoma after the death of their mother. Their father has headed to California hoping for work. Laurie and her brother take off after him, hopping freight trains and receiving help from kind strangers along their journey. Music plays an important role in this book and there’s a great deal of information on popular songs during this era. The book also included details about the Dust Bowl, politics, World War II and oil drilling. I loved the plot twists – every time it seems that Laurie and Buddy find some happiness and security in their lives something happens to throw their futures in jeopardy. This truly is a Great American read that I hope more people will read and enjoy.

[Don · Rating 3 out of 5]

For the most part I enjoyed The Longest Road. I listened to it and that may have been a mistake. It is read by Patty Duke, so I thought that would add to the book. However at times her voice(s) was too squeaky and irritating, pretty much an uneven performance.

The only fault I would find with the story is that at times the author lists off a series of events as if the reader was completely ignorant of the time period in which the story takes place. The ending was a little anticlimatic, but overall a good story.

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had great trouble sticking to this book, setting it aside for days or a week then trying it again. The idea of a girl learning to be a folk singer during the Dust Bowl could have been such a great story, but this novel missed the mark for me. I did not think the writing was good and the plot was often improbable. I really wanted to like it, many left such nice reviews and the idea was appealing. For me it just didn't work.

[Gaye · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really Enjoyed This Book

The story takes place during the dust bowl and WW2. The times were difficult for many, but the main character has bad and good things happen in her life and meets a lot of good and a few bad people. She is mature and has good judgement for someone so young. She is very likable and it’s fun to follow her ups and downs. Some parts of the book seemed a little improbable or might have rated it 5 Star.

[Becky Roper · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt like this book should have been titled "The Longest Book". It was a saga of two young children left orphaned during the dustbowl years and continues with their story into WWII years. There were several improbable events and I grew weary of the narrative tone. I'm not sure why I kept reading.

[Jenny Lyon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learnt a lot about the history of the ‘Dust Bowl’ disaster and The Great Depression of the early 1900’s in America.
It was an engrossing story of 2 young children’s survival and their desperate journey throughout Americas heartland.
Throughout the story they meet interesting, flawed and evil characters but eventually find happiness through creating a new family.

[Marnie Boyers · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was a bit disappointed in this one. I couldn't make myself finish it. I totally lost interest. Such a shame.

[Rainbowgardener · Rating 3 out of 5]

If I had rated this half way through, I would have given it four stars. It was an engaging novel of the Depression and the Dust Bowl days. A little stereotypical--a pair of plucky kids end up orphaned and then adopted by a grizzled hobo and they all save each other-- but still enjoyable and with a lot of good background about what the times were like, all the Okies were flooding into California and no jobs to be had.

About the time the story gets up to the New Deal, it fades out. There's five pages basically listing all the New Deal alphabet soup of agencies and what they did. It is thinly disguised as a conversation among several people, but when did people ever just sit around and name government agencies to each other? Then the war starts and much of the rest of the book is a blow by blow brief history of WWII, what was happening on the different fronts. The US gets into the war and basically all the male characters join up, except of course for our villain (boo! hiss!). The villain gets more and more like the cardboard villain character in the old melodramas ("You must pay the rent!" "I can't pay the rent!". ..."Curses, foiled again."). The plucky kids and the adopted mom they acquired along the way carry on and save the day. There's an extremely sappy and predictable romance and The End comes on screen in a burst of pink clouds.

So three stars is an average of four stars for the first half and two for the second. Not really recommended; there's better novels covering the same periods. The author would have done better just to make this a novel of Depression and Dust Bowl days and flesh it out better and just end with a glimpse of better days to come. Trying to cover so much ground didn't work real well.

[Kaye S. · Rating 2 out of 5]

Title should’ve been The Longest Book ughhh– At over 470 pages, it felt like a slog. I finished at least three other books before I could push through to the end.

The Dust Bowl setting and early historical context started strong, with harsh realities and interesting details—like the hobo lifestyle. But that’s about it.

Things that made the book 2-star worthy:
1. Dragged-out middle & boring pacing. After a promising start, the narrative lost momentum.

2. Dub was an annoying villain who kept just popping up all the time. His obsession with the family was weird.

3. Laurie’s fixation on Johnny felt off and obsessive, especially because they met when she was much younger.

4. Uneven portrayal of Christianity. At times, it seemed like the author was mocking Christianity; other times, she treated it seriously. The mixed signals bothered me and if I had to swing one way or the other I think she was mocking Christianity and promoting self-reliance.

5. Too tidy & rushed ending. After a painfully slow story, everything wrapped up too quickly.

6. Contrived plot twists & unrealistic characters. Laurie felt way to mature and did not act typical for a girl her age.

The Longest Road had potential with its historical setting and plot, but ultimately its tedious pacing, jarring character obsessions, and rushed resolution (especially when the rest of the book dragged) made it disappointing.

[songsmithlala Bekediah Berckejones Wilfinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Longest Road by Jeanne Williams is a wonderful book! It will stay in my heart like an old friend forever. I grew up with stories of the Great Depression. In the plains states, the Dust Bowl marked my grandparents & my parents generations forever. This book introduces the reader to one family’s tragedies & triumphs in facing the worst times a family could face. It makes very personal & real the Dust Bowl, Depression, & the exodus of an entire generation to seek jobs & survival over the next rise. The history is absolutely accurate, moving all the way through the WWII years of fear & loss. I loved this book. I laughed, I cried, & I rejoiced that I had read this wonderful tale. And if you read the audio version, Patty Duke (yes, *that* Patty Duke) is absolutely fabulous at bringing all the characters to vivid life, helping greatly to cement them in your heart!

[Jakky · Rating 4 out of 5]

This started off as one of the best books I’ve read in a really, really long time. The writing was captivating and the characters rang true to me. The story itself took a lot of unexpected turns and I enjoyed following wherever those turns led. However... eventually, it’s as though the author ran out of gas... or perhaps the editor did? The relationships between characters were believable enough, albeit a little (a lot) contrived. But I wanted to believe in them, so I continued on the journey. I admit it; I’m a sucker for a happy ending... but towards the end, the story went from thoughtful, meaningful commentary on the times to predictable, sentimental, anticlimactic finale.

[Andrea Sexton · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Longest Road is a clear-eyed, painful look at America's 1930s dust bowl days. You may find yourself singing along as Laurie rides the rails, learning songs by Woody Guthrie and others. This novel is well-researched and one of Jeanne Williams' major strengths is her judicious use of it -- never too much, never too little. Did you know, for example, that starting in 1919, there was such a thing as the Hobo College in Chicago? This coming of age novel is definitely worth the read, and it contains one of the best comeuppances of any villain -- a death scene you want to revisit over and over again.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

It started off slow with a bit too much religious fodder. I enjoyed how the religious bits toned down as the main character developed into her own voice. If you're into depression era novels of human triumph, this novel delivers. Everything ended happily ever after which seems unlikely in real life, but I am glad the characters were able to find joy.

Most of us today would not have survived the depression by long shot.

[Ron Matsu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything you could ask for in a novel!

I was amazed at the historical content in every chapter. The author wove historical events smoothly into the flow of the novel. There is so much enlightenment about the dust bowl conditions for the land and inhabitants. The power of religion in those times was also well developed through the thoughts, actions and talk of Laurie. The kind-hearted attitude of people who had do little but shared what they had was inspiring.

[Carol Beach · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Great Read

I really enjoyed this book. It had lots of historical data and the story kept me wanting to read more. I almost rated it five stars but some of the things that happened were quite implausible even though they were necessary to keep the narrative moving forward. Will read more from this author.

[Jeanetta Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reflections on life

Stories like this that come right out of life make me realize that no matter what struggles one may think they face, they can't be as tough as those faced during the dust bowl and Great Depression. Being an Oklahoman i recognized many of the landmarks, towns, and takes of early oilfield life. A good, clean, captivating read

[Susan Gaytan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an interesting historical fiction book . A family struggles during the 1930s in the Dust Bowl in Oklahoma . The dad dies and the kids end up riding the box cars . Very good book with several twists and turns .

[Darlenewozniak · Rating 4 out of 5]

The longest Road

This book started slow, in my opinion. Really got into Laurie and her adopted family
Talk about happy endings. Almost too good 2 b true. Guess that's why they call it fiction.

[Cyndy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really good novel about the Dust Bowl and the families who survived it. It is no way as depressing as Grapes of Wrath or anything John Steinbeck wrote. I enjoyed the characters and description of the country as they traveled to-and-fro.

[Revel Theis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

Loved the characters & the setting. Couldn't put it down!!the best book I've read in a while. Will be looking to read this authors work more.

[Jan Lipert · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing in this book is simplistic and Polyanna-ish towards the end - BUT - the period detail is fascinating and well-researched; the book is worth reading for that alone.

[Maryvic · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved these characters

Held me from first page to the end. A good read! More like this one please and thank you so much.

[Bev · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book about the Dust Bowl years. I haven't read much about that time period. Enjoyed the strong characters and all they had to endure.