Unless the Wind Turns

by Mildred Walker, Deirdre McNamer (Introduction)

John Davis has a “dull aching sense of missing out, of not getting anywhere.” There must be millions like him, he thinks. His relations with his wife, Serena, are shallow and unsatisfying. In the late 1930s, he tries to rekindle their marriage by bringing her to a special place from his past—the Montana mountains. He is chagrined when she asks other people to join them on the camping trip. Plans are further disrupted by a catastrophe—a forest fire that rages uncontrolled for three days. Forced to reach outward to others in this crisis, the members of the party ultimately have to face themselves as well. Unless the Wind Turns is fast-moving and psychologically nuanced.

Genres: Historical Fiction

235 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Mildred Schemm Walker (May 2, 1905 – May 27, 1998) was an American novelist who published 12 novels and was nominated for the National Book Award. She graduated from Wells College and from the University of Michigan. She was a faculty member at Wells College from 1955 to 1968. Walker died in 1998 in Portland, Oregon.

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Lorraine McCleary · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first of Mildred Walker's 4 Montana book series. In 1942 Serena and her husband, John, travel by train to Montana to see the place Jonn grew up in. Another married couple and a Viennese MD, Victor, who has fled the Nazi takeover of Austria, accompany them. Serena is an East coast socialite and things are not well between the couple. They take a trail ride up into the mts, but a raging forest fire overtakes them. A complex look at couple relationships written beautifully.

[Jessie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mildred Walker is one of my favorite authors. I loved Winter Wheat so much. This one was very disappointing. I did find some of the psychology of the characters interesting. But I felt it moved along too slowly. Then suddenly ended. I was hoping for a bit better ending and more closure.

[Micebyliz · Rating 4 out of 5]

striking story of survival in post Depression Montana. very good intro as well--do not skip!

[Rosa Angelone · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book ended up having a lot more depth than I thought it would. A group of easterners head to the mountains out West and then a forest fire breaks out.

The first main character we hear from is from those mountains. He grew up in town and went East for school. His father wanted him to connect to his home and would send him to the mountains in the summers to learn how to ride and live.

We meet the characters on the train as they pull into his hometown. His wife invited a couple (the husband is a doctor and the wife is an old school friend) and a Professor from Vienna who resigned when the authorities fired his Jewish co-workers just for being Jewish. He left afraid to stay with a target on his back after the Anschluss.

They go to the mountains. A forest fire breaks out and we get to see how everyone reacts. Is the European brave for standing up to the Nazis or a coward for leaving? Is the husband who plans the vacation smart for trying to get back to his roots or a fool for thinking retreating into what made him happy as a boy will solve his problems. Is it a cruelty to talk about bad outcomes forthrightly or should we be gentle in the face of harsh reality?

This book could easily have picked villains (or at least sad sacks) and heros. It never does really. Each character from the Eastern socialites to the Western guides have moments that explain their view of the world and for the most part it is seamlessly woven into the story.

It could have JUST been about being in and a part of nature or The West. The book was written between 1938--1941 and the wild conflagration engulfing Europe and how and if America should act is a major theme of the story. But it comes upon the reader slowly and builds just as the tension and danger in the story builds.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by the author.

[Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am a huge fan of Ms Walkers books and this was the 8th book of hers which I have read. It is not as highly regarded as some of her others but I found it to be an excellent read. She draws an analogy between the conflagration of WWII in Europe and a wildfire in Montana. This is set against the background of a troubled marriage. The book is also exciting in parts and Ms Walker expertly writes about nature and fire. I found it to be the quickest read of any of her books. Highly recommended for her fans.

[Elena · Rating 3 out of 5]

Didn’t like the 1950s of it all, and didn’t like the main character particularly much. Liked the descriptions of nature, the suspense Walker adds to the action, and the (topical) WWII parallels. 3 stars is generous but well enough earned.

[Jerrica Seilstad · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mildred Walker is my favorite author of all time. I thought I had read all of her books until I discovered this one. As always, it is beautifully written and evokes real emotion. I was on the edge of my seat and could not put this down. I read it all in one sitting.

[Brooke]

Mom Rec

[Jan Christensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book for book club discussion! It’s a small gem from a less known writer. Loved it!

[Kirsten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Definitely not Walker’s best, but I mostly enjoyed this. A bit heavy-handed in places, and I do wish the ending had been better fleshed out.

[Kathy Lyons · Rating 3 out of 5]

A quick, enjoyable read (at times like a thriller) with believable characters; some struggling in marital relations, the meaning of love, life, choice and bravery all while thrust in the midst of an out of control forest fire in Montana. I'm interested to read more books by this author!

Published in 1942, this old and worn book still had its old library card with the stamped due dates and penciled in numbers of the 20 borrowers who checked this book out between 1952 and 1969! Thick pages with stains and rips--it felt nice to hold and enjoy a book like this that hadn't been "discarded" by the library!

[Arlene Corbin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent

[Gerald Curtis · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was my first try at this author, well acclaimed, but I didn’t care for her style.