So Long as It's Wild: Standing Strong After My Famous Walk Across America

by Barbara Jenkins

From the New York Times bestselling co-author of The Walk West comes Barbara Jenkins' long-awaited tale, revealing the story of her walk across America, a journey that captured the national media spotlight. From the untold narrative of her impoverished Ozarks hillbilly upbringing, to the crushing aftermath of the walk and her journey toward newfound courage and strength, So Long As It’s Wild is her story.

As a child growing up in the wild beauty of the Ozarks, Barbara often spent her days exploring outside and daydreaming of faraway places in order to escape a life of poverty. She longed to trade her homemade clothes and outdoor toilet for spectacular adventures around the world. That chance came in the form of a wild-eyed, long-haired “viking” young man named Peter.

After an exciting courtship and a wedding on a dime, the young couple departed on foot from New Orleans on July 5, 1976, heading toward the Pacific Coast. News of the couple’s expedition spread like wildfire, landing them on the cover of National Geographic Magazine and in countless other publications. Soon after beginning their nearly three-year journey, Barbara realized the funny, adventure-seeking, charismatic man she married was not the loving partner she thought, but she was well down the rocky path to the Oregon coast by his side. Whether facing aggressive renegades, a life-threatening fall from Engineer Pass, or a devastating heartbreak that caused her to feel lost and alone, she did it all with grit and determination.

Despite the newfound fame and the bestsellers she coauthored, The Walk West and The Road Unseen , Barbara’s side of the story of that infamous walk was left in the shadows. In her own words, she said of that time, “We appeared on magazine covers, were guests on radio and television programs and appeared in newspapers everywhere. International fame and good fortune followed until it evaporated into a trail of heartbreak, a thousand deaths, and my disappearance.” Now Jenkins is telling the rest of the story, sharing her perspective on what took place from the bayous of Louisiana to the Pacific Ocean, and beyond.

With lyrical, transportive prose, So Long as It’s Standing Strong After My Famous Walk Across America is one woman’s tale, stepping out from the mountain of the man she had followed, to find her voice and claim her story.

Genres: Memoir, Nonfiction, Adventure, Audiobook, Biography, Biography Memoir

305 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 12, 2023

About the author

Barbara Jenkins co-authored the nonfiction blockbuster, The Walk West, selected for the permanent White House Library. It was named one of the most influential books on American Culture in a century. She co-authored The Road Unseen, another bestseller that won The Gold Medallion Book Award. Barbara Jenkins walked 3,000 miles across America and was featured on the cover of National Geographic Magazine.

Reviews

[Bonnie DeMoss · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is Barbara Jenkins' account of a journey across America that she took with her husband Peter in the 1970s. Peter got most of the glory at the time, but her version paints a truer tale. The subsequent story of their unraveling marriage and divorce is told in a very honest way.

Barbara's courage in dealing with Peter's many failings is commendable and the true story is sometimes heartbreaking to read.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

[Tori Puente · Rating 3 out of 5]

Kind of hard to rate this one for me. Honestly, the blurb did not read to me at all like an inspirational (Christian) category book; I'm not Christian, so I really don't seek out that genre. Especially in the beginning, it felt like a lot. I even considered quitting, but I like books about traveling rough terrain, especially from women, so I persisted.

The strongest parts were when it focused on the physical and mental challenges of the trek, along with the personal couple issues. The jumps to the backstory/childhood helped set the scene for certain parts, though I don't know that it needed to be chopped up into quite so many pieces. I wish her later in life adventures had been detailed a little more, unless there's another upcoming book about those.

I probably have a different read on this aspect of the story, being a non-Christian, but it was also a fascinating and uneasy read into how religion traps people into thought processes, such as trying to make a relationship with a covert narcissist work. Everything would have been very different with a longer courtship, more caution, less turning the other cheek. But at the end of the day, it was satisfying to read her eventual exit plan and follow-through.

I'd recommend this to those that enjoy stories like Wild or Eat Pray Love (though this book isn't nearly so pretentious as the latter). And a tip to the publisher: be upfront about the religious aspect of this book. Maybe they were banking on fans of Barbara Jenkins (and Peter) already knowing this, but it was a near-turnoff to someone going in blind.

[Mary Clare · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book was simply a joy and privilege.

Jenkins' shares her story in a completely matter-of-fact way and seamlessly weaves two of her life's timelines together. She makes no apologies, but also is honest and raw about herself. From sharing her "hillbilly" upbringing to ultimately finding herself on the road, Jenkins' story is compelling and inspiring. Her writing is fresh and down-to-earth.

I found myself taking countless notes while reading this to reflect back on later. This is really just a beautiful and real story about a powerful woman coming into her own.

5/5, absolutely recommend to everyone. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC!

[Hannah Reagan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and will be telling everyone to read it. I went into this blind knowing nothing of this story or walk. When I started reading this it sparked conversations with older family members that gave me feedback from what they remembered about the walk. The stories and relationships built along the walk kept me intrigued and wanting to read more and more. There was not one chapter that I didn't find myself cheering for Barbara.

[Lindsey Heringer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastic. After reading the author's son's book Mother, Nature, I had to read this. What I didn't realize that I had already been given an advance copy to review. Barbara's story was one of bravery and making her own way in the world, after following in the shadows of her husband. I respect her so much, and empathized with her bitter divorce as my own mother experienced something similar. Such a wonderful memoir of a wonderful lady.

[Linda Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have to give this a 5. Not because it’s the best written book or because it’s about a strong woman (and it is). I was captured by the adventure of the true story. Imagine walking across America! In my opinion, the 70’s were the best of times….and I enjoyed the nostalgia and the people they met along the journey. I will think of this book for a long time!

[Michelle Simoni · Rating 5 out of 5]

I finished this book in two days I was so captivated . I first read a walk across America by Peter Jenkins and I thought it would be fun to read Barbra’s after to see the finishing of the walk . It’s insane how Peter was good at making a good face bc it’s sad to see how he treated her and how fame got to his head . I don’t want this review to be how he is bad but Barbra’s grit and resiliency in Her life and the walk is amazing . I really admire all the things she over came and I am happy Barbra found peace , confidence and happiness in herself . A great book to show resiliency and honestly breaking the cycle of abuse .

[Kylie Cisney · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thrilling adventure flipping back and forth between Barbara Jenkins’ “hillbilly” childhood, her famous walk west, and the aftermath of that fateful decision to join Peter Jenkins on his walk across America. This is a story about who we are told we are, who we want to be, and who we become in the process.

I loved Barbara Jenkins’ poetic, graceful reclamation of her experiences. She is thoughtful, kind, and brave as she weaves together a complicated narrative about her childhood, marriage, and life as a single mother.

[Demi Morrison · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you want to know what it’s like to walk through American from New Orleans to Oregon, this is for you. The descriptions of the land were beautiful. Great story of a woman who just kept going even when she didn’t want to and things were hard.

[Blue · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe I am too serious. Through all that heat I expected Barbara Jenkins to collapse. I could see her in a hospital bed for a few days. Maybe none of us realize how high the temperature can get in the United States. Perhaps, we think it can only happen in the desert. Barbara Jenkins and Peter Jenkins are walking across America together. Soon, they will become husband and wife. The couple meets another couple in Texas. Thoughts are shared about the snakes in the area. She had just killed a poisonous one the day before. Now, let's go over and pull in an alligator. One of those should really make us feel at home.

https://bookblvd.blogspot.com/2023/08...

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read all the Jenkins books when I was 12-14 in the 70s. Back then I thought it was sooooo romantic, but adult me is not that surprised that it wasn't always so great for Barbara. I would have left his ass in TX, just saying. What an odd dissonance that such a challenging, sad, lonely experience actually made her a large part of who she is. I really identify with that.

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was glad to come across this final finish (for me) of the Walk Across America saga; I had always wondered what had happened to Barbara, since I knew she and Peter had gotten divorced. In their second book, I had been appalled by the way he treated her, and had guessed - when I learned of the divorce - that she probably just couldn’t take it anymore. Her story finished well. 4 stars

[Rachel Post]

Sweet and heartwarming. You are the apple of gods eye and everything will be alright. Gotta get some living in!!!

[staykind · Rating 4 out of 5]

a good story. do the men behave badly and hide behind religion ...of course they do. is this a spoiler? no its all too common.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished reading 'The Walk West: A Walk Across America 2' by author Peter Jenkins last week. This second book, published in 1981, was the sequel to Peter's first half of his solo walk in the mid-1970s from New York to Louisiana, recorded in 'A Walk Across America'. At the end of that first walk and while taking a break in Louisiana, he met his future (and I didn't know this, but she was actually his second wife), Barbara.

'The Walk West' which began July 4, 1976 (I'm sure unintentionally) revealed some passages where Peter, the all-American wandering hero, had a darker side wherein he would be angry at (and cruel to) his newlywed wife throughout their journey. Spoiler alert, after the walk, they settled down in Tennessee, had several children, and then ultimately divorced.

On the heels of that book and while it was still fresh in my mind, I purchased his now-ex-wife, Barbara Jenkin's book on the experience that was just released in 2023. In this book she basically tells her side of the story as part of the married team. I'm about 25% done but there were a few things I found interesting.

Barbara's book, 'So Long As It's Wild' recounts, in nearly identical (but much abbreviated) verbiage, many of 'The Walk West' events so I was glad to start reading it so soon after reading Peter's book. Barbara's book (in my opinion) needs to be read *after* 'The Walk West' in order to fully understand what she's trying to convey in her book. In 'So Long As It's Wild', Barbara delves much deeper into her reactions to Peter's explosive temper, his lack of empathy for her feelings and physical pain/abilities.

In both books, both Peter and Barbara write that throughout most of the walk west, they didn't walk in tandem, he would walk far ahead of her. The reality is that he was leaving her vulnerable to the hazards of life on the road in very remote places. They would then catch up together at night and she wrote that, after all day in the hot sun, and with painful feet and back, sweat, dirty and being smelly, Peter would sometimes want to get amorous and was hostile and abusive when she wasn't in the mood. Peter pretty much had no patience for anything concerning Barbara and comes across as quite a misogynist.

One of the big things that I didn't know was that the walk wasn't quite as organic as Peter made it appear, that he was this guy who just loved exploring and meeting new people across America. What is never mentioned in either of his books is that, for at least the second book, he was writing about his experiences for the benefit of National Geographic. Barbara was contracted to record their journey in photos, he was contracted to create experiences and write about them for the magazine. This is only brought up in Barbara's book and I'm like ooooh, I seeeeee. How naive was I?

Barbara is a good writer and has an interesting story to tell, but it does (understandably) seep bitterness which makes it a very different read than the tale of just the experience like the first book 'A Walk Across America' especially.

Would still recommend.

Edited to Add: There are a couple of contradictory sentences in the book that they might want to review and edit if it gets published again. On page 171 of the hardbound version, on the walk she says she wasn’t a huge history buff. Then on page 184 she talks about going to the seminary before she met Peter and she said I had a starving, curious nature and loved history. This is stuck in my head only because I am a huge fan of history and at one point she says she isn’t and then the other she emphatically says that she loves history.


Also, in the book she talks about the fact they hold up (HOLD) in a motel and it should be hole up, which they got right a little later in the book. Yes, I am a freak for the inconsistent details.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the 80s, I devoured Walk Across America and The Walk West, and I credit those books (along with others and the music I listened to) with the inspiration for my own journey across America, albeit by van. I'm ashamed to admit that I only vaguely remember Barbara as one of the authors. Peter Jenkins got all the fame.

Although they did write books together, this is Barbara's retelling of the walk from New Orleans to Oregon - three years on the road! The book is told in two timelines: their walk and Barbara's life before meeting Peter. She was a hillbilly (her word) from the Ozarks who grew up poor. You see the harshness of that life, but also the normality of it. Her mother was very hard on her, constantly putting her down and yelling at her. As I was reading, it sounded to me like her mother was suffering from depression, not surprising for a life that was really very hard. At the same time, Barbara shows how this life prepared her for a lot of the hardships she would end up enduring.

Her travels with Peter show a lot of what I've experienced in my life: That people are often very kind. They meet people almost everywhere they go, often staying with them and getting great hospitality and support. They also see beautiful sights in nature - and deal with a lot of the traumas of nature, as well.

Peter replaces Barbara's mother as a source of browbeating and put downs. I bristled right from the beginning, but had to remember that Barbara grew up in a somewhat earlier time than I did and in a much different culture than I did. She's a staunch Christian and had been taught that women are responsible for the support of the marriage. She remains quiet (when she can) and tries harder.

They complete the walk just as Barbara discovers that she is pregnant. She believes that things will settle down now. But Peter doesn't. He goes out "driving" every evening for hours and spends days, weeks, and longer away from their growing family. Ultimately, Barbara does divorce him and has to call upon more of that hillbilly determination to get through that. (I won't deny, this does sort of become a satisfying revenge memoir. She is never, ever less than fair to Peter, but as a reader, it made me feel validated. He definitely gets my gall and I'm ashamed to have been starry eyed over him as an author and an inspiration for my own journey.)

Barbara is a good writer and the story unfolds beautifully. I thoroughly enjoyed going back to this story and reliving the walk across America. This is a strong woman and I liked getting to know her and hearing her story.

[J Kromrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

In the realm of memoirs and tales of personal triumph, Barbara Jenkins’ “So Long as It’s Wild” stands as a beacon of raw honesty and unfiltered courage. This book is not merely a recounting of an extraordinary journey across America; it is a profound narrative of resilience, a testament to the indomitable human spirit.

Jenkins takes us on a journey that begins in the rugged beauty of the Ozarks, where her childhood was steeped in poverty but rich in imagination. Her longing for adventure and escape from homemade clothes and outdoor toilets is palpable. The opportunity for change presents itself in the form of Peter, a wild-eyed “viking” who sweeps Barbara off her feet and onto a path that would lead them from New Orleans to the Pacific Coast.

The walk itself, which captured the nation’s attention and landed the couple on the cover of National Geographic, is depicted with a vividness that places the reader right alongside Jenkins. We feel the weight of each step, the sting of disillusionment as she realizes the man she married is not the partner she envisioned, and the grit it took to face each challenge, from aggressive encounters to life-threatening falls.

What sets this memoir apart is Jenkins’ willingness to delve into the aftermath of the walk—the crushing heartbreak, the fleeting fame, and the journey towards reclaiming her own story. Her prose is lyrical allowing us to witness her transformation from a follower in the shadow of a man to a figure of strength and inspiration.

“So Long as It’s Wild” is a compelling read, not just for its adventure and the remarkable feat of endurance, but for its deeper exploration of self-discovery and empowerment. Jenkins’ story is a reminder that sometimes the longest journey is the one that leads back to ourselves.

[Chantal Lyons · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read 'A Walk Across America' some years ago, so I was keen to read Barbara Jenkins' memoir to get her side of the story of meeting Peter Jenkins and joining him on the adventure.

Unfortunately, what is undoubtedly a fascinating life story is let down by a mediocre execution. The overarching problem is that Jenkins' story is formed of several compelling pieces - the walk itself, her tumultuous relationship with Peter and his borderline abuse, and her fight to keep her children and her finances in the ensuing divorce. And yet, none of them are dealt with satisfactorily nor do they slot in together to form a greater whole, because the book simply doesn't devote enough time to each. The author has opted instead to intersperse those elements with memories from her childhood, teenagehood and meeting Peter at her grad school. While interesting, it would've worked so much better to have woven them in snippets into the main narrative. As it is, to get through all the necessary detail, Jenkins mainly tells rather than shows. This is no starker than in the chapters about her walk from Louisiana to the Pacific coast. I have read and loved 'Wild' by Cheryl Strayed, but in 'So Long As It's Wild', as a reader I was left with almost zero understanding of what it was like to walk halfway across the USA. There are a few specific moments and incidents give sufficient space in the text, but no more. I felt no sense of having been on a journey with Jenkins, the opposite experience to reading Strayed's memoir.

I hugely enjoyed the few chapters there were about Jenkins' walk, and found myself re-gripped during the chapter about her custody battle with her cheating husband, but - the story could have been so much better told.

[Lynda Stritof · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really wanted to love this. I read a lot of travel stories and hiking autobiographical stuff about the PCT and Appalachian Trail. Someone recommended this on a FB book group I’m in so I bought it on audible. I only finished it because I paid for it.
Sorry but she’s not a great writer. It was so so repetitive with the use of the word “hillbilly” referring to herself and her family. I am sure that word is in here more than 100 times although I didn’t count. She talks so much about how her mother verbally abused her and withheld affection. It’s sad, but she could have left out “I was always told I was ugly” or “I was always told I was dumb” about 20 times and she still would’ve said it too many times. The repetition honestly ruined this book for me. And the religion. I had no idea she would quote so many Bible verses. I’m not interested in religious reads.
Her husband seemed to be an arrogant ass who walked way in front of her and verbally abused her as well. Yet she stayed with him and had three kids. Also this walk took years!!! They lived in CO for almost a year “during” this walk. So the only good part was that at the end, mentions that her son is Jedediah Jenkins who wrote “To Wake the Sleeping Self” which I loved. He just wrote a book about a trip with this author (his mom) and I will definitely read that.

[Kristen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book moved me. It touched my soul. It was everything I didn't know I needed and so much more. I was born a few years after Barbara finished the walk. Sucks for me. Because I would have loved to be alive when the news and tabloids were blowing up about her Walk Across America. How inspiring!

And inspiring she is! The walk was one thing (it gets the blood pumping through my veins just thinking about it), but afterwards. Oh boy, the afterwards! The struggle, the joys, the surprises, the luck, the bonds, the betrayals, all of it. Barbara's story is one to be told and one to hold onto.

I am so, so glad I came across this book and her story. It changed me, as every wonderful non-fiction with serious grit does. Thank you for writing your story, Barbara!

The 4.5 instead of 5 stars is because (so few times), the story-telling felt a little choppy. And also, I'm not sure the book needed to go out of chronological order. The only instance I can think of as to why it was told out of order was the story of how Rebekah's name came to be (which I loved, but didn't seem like enough of a reason).

All-in-all, write another book! Invite me to your Tennessee home because it sounds incredible. Keep doing what you're doing. Stay strong and we love you!

[Genevieve · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading “A Walk Across America” and “The Walk West” when they came out, I “revisited” the Jenkins in “So Long as It’s Wild” and what an eye opener it was.

Where to start…Back in the day, Peter Jenkins captured the nation’s attention with his tales of adventure as he set afoot on his quest of discovery by walking from New England to New Orleans. As many know, “The Walk West” covered the trek from New Orleans to Oregon with his new wife Barbara along the trip and serving as co-author and photographer.

Fast forward to ‘23…Barbara Jenkins presents us with an honest, in-depth look at the trek West and what happened next in their lives from her perspective. And…what a perspective it is.

Their marriage was a mix of unease, communication breakdowns, verbal abuse, absenteeism, adultery and the sharing of three children together. Author Barbara Jenkins leaves no stone unturned as she lays it all bare and explains to us what it was really like to be the second of the four wives of Peter Jenkins and the struggles that she endured during and after their marriage.

I found this book to be a gripping account of her life’s journey, and given the subject matter, rather brave. I highly recommend it.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Net Galley, I recently finished the new memoir by Barbara Jenkins called As Long As It’s Wild. Barbara and her husband Peter were well-known for their sojourn across America on foot documenting it in two books, A Walk Across America and The Walk West. In her newest memoir, Barbara Jenkins gives her personal outlook on what it was like to be a part of that famous twosome, her childhood background, how she and Peter met, married and took off for the second half of that long hike. The stories of their trip across mountains in blizzards,, Texas and Louisiana in the record-setting heat were riveting. And it was heart-warming to hear the stories of kind-hearted people who took them in and gave them shelter in the worst of it—so different from the divisive view of our country today.

However, after the narrative of the trip was done, the story devolves into a very sad tale of a young family beset with a philandering father. Barbara soldiers on trying to care for and provide for her children in the best way possible as Peter fritters away their book income while leaving home nightly to be with other women. It becomes an entirely different book —granted we had foreshadowings of Peter as less than the ideal husband while on their trip, but once they settle down any notion of being couple working together to support each other and their family disappears. We are taken through the trials and tribulations of a nasty divorce and Peter’s subsequent remarriage—all very sad and heartbreaking. Just not exactly what I had signed up for when I committed to reading this galley. I thought the storyline went astray. While I wholeheartedly agree that Peter Jenkins was a cad and Barbara, his long-suffering wife, it was a disappointing end to a story of remarkable accomplishment in the 1970’s.

[Mikala]

I’m a younger generation, so I had no idea who the author is or what her claim to fame was. I’m glad I read this though. As an avid outdoors-person who grew up in an outdoorsy family, it was a good refresher on how far America has come in terms of tolerance and view on Nature.
Barbara’s story is certainly a troubling one. I think it would have been helpful to have a few more comments on the mental health issues her and her family struggled through without diagnoses or treatment (that’s not what we did in the 70s…or 80s…or…).
The hike across America takes up about half of the book to set the scene for her family life. It was all presented very factually without any nuance or self-review. It’s almost like she took her daily journal, edited it briefly and hit publish. I think a good editor could have really helped expound sections of her trauma and helped many readers possibly as well. Maybe that’s not what the author was going for and this really is supposed to be more of an autobiography rather than memoir.

[Betsy Milan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good side story

This is a "behind the scenes" story of Peter and Barbara Jenkins' walk across America which was documented in National Geographic magazine and in two books. It also tells the story of after the walk when the somewhat naive expectations on both of their parts did not materialize with the resultant breakdown of their marriage.

I found the continuous back and forth telling of Ms Jenkins' life from childhood to the time she met Peter interspersed with telling of their walk annoying. I think a more straight forward telling of her story would have served her better. She didn't give life to people other than herself. There is no sparkle, no interest there in the same way minor characters are portrayed in The Walk Across America and The Walk West.

It's an okay book which rounds out the story, but not a great adventure story. It tries to be a story about perseverance but to me it failed there, too, because Ms Jenkins didn't face up to her own failings.

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm old enough to remember when "A Walk Across America" was published, & the acclaim it garnered...& actually have an unread paperback copy of it on my bookshelf! I remember the country being quite captivated by it! So I found this pretty interesting to read of her account of that time, of that walk/journey. We also learn of her family background & her growing up years, how she came to meet Peter Jenkins, & her life after 'the walk'.....& even ending at near present day! I found it to be a quick, easy, interesting look back to a time, at events that I remember....& learned some things about, of that, that I didn't know.... might be interesting to go back & read that old paperback now....
I received an e-ARC of this book from publisher Dexterity via NetGalley for review purposes. All the opinions are my own.

[Kirsten · Rating 4 out of 5]

During my senior year of high school, I read "A Walk Across America" and it rocked my world. I deeply identified with Peter Jenkins' Vietnam-era disillusionment as our country was in the midst of another misguided invasion, this time in Iraq. I admired his choice to set out on a long walk across America and enjoyed his accounts of the kind, quirky folks he met along the way (though I couldn't relate to his choice to become a born-again Christian near the end of the book). To a young idealist, Jenkins was a hero.
Fast-forward 21 (!) years, and here is another side of the story. I enjoyed Barbara's accounts of both her childhood in the Ozarks and her challenging years walking the Western U.S. with Peter. As an older realist, I was disappointed but not shocked to learn that Peter was at best unsupportive and at worst abusive and unfaithful.

[Alyssa Bernhardt · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a reader, I typically do not enjoy books that go back and forth between eras in time so I was skeptical when I first started reading this book. I was mostly interested in her walk and how she felt she didn't have the chance to share her full side of the story in her previous books. However, I must admit that the background of her Ozarks upbringing was helpful in understanding the steps that got her to her walk across America.

Jenkins is a gifted storyteller and I felt so much pride in knowing that she had this opportunity to tell her story in her way. I do wish we had gotten a bit more of her life post walk (some major life events were totally skipped or glazed over), but I found this to be an easy, enjoyable read.

[Sherrie Kleitch · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can be said after finishing a book in which a woman shares so much of her heart and soul? Barbara Jenkins brings her journey of healing from a childhood full of mental abuse and criticism , through a doomed marriage, and into the golden years of her life.

The Jenkin’s journey became known to the world and whispered into my childhood of a walk across the nation. The simplicity of the idea compared to the courageous walk itself is intriguing. The drive to continue to move forward despite challenging circumstances speaks to strong character of Barbara Jenkins.

I had great difficulty putting this book down, as it was captivating and the writing flowed seamlessly. Suitable for late teen and adult audiences.

[Georgia · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a bit different from my usual reads, but as an avid hiker and wilderness lover I came across SO LONG IF IT'S WILD and couldn't help but request it from Netgalley. It's a book I enjoyed reading for the most part; I felt a certain kinship with Jenkins about her imposter syndrome - I always feel like I don't belong in the hiking community (but everyone *does* belong in the outdoors, it is a space for all). Unfortunately what let me down here is the heavy religious undertones that I hadn't been expecting. Granted, I hadn't educated myself properly that the publisher is a Christian publishing house, but they do advertise they publish secular works also, so may be it would be a good point to distinguish between the two.

Thank you to Netgalley and Dexerity for my review copy.

[Wendy Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to read this book, as “A Walk Across America” and “The Walk West” are among my most favorite books. I have read all of the Jenkins family books and have loved them all. I feel like I know this family because I have been following them all my life through their books.
I loved this book for many reasons… Barbara just seems like such a sincere, honest, loyal woman and I loved reading about her experiences. I had no idea of what she went through during the walk and after. It made me admire her even more and reminds me of my own mother. This book shows how she grew into a strong, confident woman and it is quite inspiring.
For those who are familiar with their story, this is definitely an eye opener about what went on behind the scenes of their infamous walk.