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Falling Forward: A Woman's Journey West
2021 WINNER COLORADO AUTHORS LEAGUE AWARD - HISTORICAL FICTION2022 CIBA GOETHE AWARD FINALIST - HISTORICAL FICTION2023 FEATHERED QUILL BRONZE AWARD - WOMEN'S FICTIONHow far will she follow her dreams?Ohio farm country, 1897. Louisa, the spirited eldest daughter of Herzig and Clara Steinbacher, has her whole life ahead of her. She is seventeen, and dreams of the "outside world" beyond her doorstep. But when Clara dies in childbirth, Louisa is suddenly thrust into adulthood—with the burden of her mother's responsibilities...and the care of her younger siblings. The only world she has ever known closes around her.Then Herzig, an elder in their strict Mennonite community, hires young, handsome Thomas to help on the farm. Thomas is hardworking, honest...and not of the Faith. But Louisa can't hide her growing feelings for him. Her choices set in motion a transformation she never expected. But at what cost?
328 pages, Kindle Edition
Published January 12, 2021
61 people are currently reading
64 people want to read
About the author
Pat Benedict Jurgens
1 book7 followersPat Jurgens is a writer and retired librarian who has published numerous articles in local and regional magazines. She has won awards from the Denver Women’s Press Club, Poetry Society of Colorado, and Jefferson County Historical Commission. She loves living in an old mountain cabin with her husband Carl and rescue dog Zoe. Falling Forward, a Woman’s Journey West is her first novel.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
March 17, 2021
This book caught my interest early and held it until the end.
The main character in the story is Louisa, a young lady being raised in the traditional Mennonite ways by her father, Herzig and mother Clara. In this tradition, there are definite lines drawn between the sexes, and Louisa is learning all the things necessary to the "fairer sex". After her mom dies in childbirth, Louisa is suddenly forced to grow up to take care of the younger children and the homestead. Her days are long, starting before sun up and lasting past sun down. Bread must be baked, the garden requires a lot of tending, and the younger children need her.
She is especially close to her sister Lydia, and when Louisa has to leave her beloved school when her mom passes, Louisa is determined that Lydia will get the education denied to her. Louisa begins to realize she wants more out of life than marriage and children, and dreams of the outside world, triggering a wanderlust she should not be feeling. This is the time period when women were first murmuring about getting the right to vote, and Louisa puts herself into that movement, which costs her dearly.
When Louisa falls in love with a worker on the farm, she is determined to marry for love, even though he is not Mennonite. This causes a tremendous uproar within the Mennonite community, and despite her father saying he will not support such a marriage, Louisa, being headstrong and in love, marries. She finds herself shunned not only from the dinner table (even though she's the one making all the food) but from all of the Church activities she holds dear.
Life goes on, and Louisa follows her husband's desire to head west and enter a business deal with his very untrustworthy uncle.
That is all I will divulge as the story really takes off from there. I adored Louisa and her courage despite having tragedies in her life, and despite the universe seeming to want her kept from achieving anything that mattered.
While I highly recommend this book as an excellent read, I must say that the ending left me hanging, and there is not (as of this review) a second book available. If and when that comes about, I will definitely be reading it.
The main character in the story is Louisa, a young lady being raised in the traditional Mennonite ways by her father, Herzig and mother Clara. In this tradition, there are definite lines drawn between the sexes, and Louisa is learning all the things necessary to the "fairer sex". After her mom dies in childbirth, Louisa is suddenly forced to grow up to take care of the younger children and the homestead. Her days are long, starting before sun up and lasting past sun down. Bread must be baked, the garden requires a lot of tending, and the younger children need her.
She is especially close to her sister Lydia, and when Louisa has to leave her beloved school when her mom passes, Louisa is determined that Lydia will get the education denied to her. Louisa begins to realize she wants more out of life than marriage and children, and dreams of the outside world, triggering a wanderlust she should not be feeling. This is the time period when women were first murmuring about getting the right to vote, and Louisa puts herself into that movement, which costs her dearly.
When Louisa falls in love with a worker on the farm, she is determined to marry for love, even though he is not Mennonite. This causes a tremendous uproar within the Mennonite community, and despite her father saying he will not support such a marriage, Louisa, being headstrong and in love, marries. She finds herself shunned not only from the dinner table (even though she's the one making all the food) but from all of the Church activities she holds dear.
Life goes on, and Louisa follows her husband's desire to head west and enter a business deal with his very untrustworthy uncle.
That is all I will divulge as the story really takes off from there. I adored Louisa and her courage despite having tragedies in her life, and despite the universe seeming to want her kept from achieving anything that mattered.
While I highly recommend this book as an excellent read, I must say that the ending left me hanging, and there is not (as of this review) a second book available. If and when that comes about, I will definitely be reading it.
April 13, 2021
Falling Forward, a Woman's Journey West, is about a greater journey than just traveling west from Ohio. The shifts in self awareness and confidence that happen as Louise Steinbacher lives her life create a compelling story. From the beginning, I was entranced by Louisa. The story of a Mennonite girl struggling against the restrictions of her faith seemed rather trite, but it's only a small part of the story. Louisa falls in love and marries out of her faith, which causes her to be shunned by her community. Later she leaves her widowed father, little sister, and adult brothers and travels across the country with her husband and young children. Everything that happens to her after that requires Louisa to shore up her strength and move her life in a different direction. Louisa proves to be a resilient woman capable of caring for herself and her family.
The different scenarios: with the Mennonites, the train ride out west, in California, and the Grand Canyon, all seem like separate unconnected events that are initially told rather sparsely. The setting descriptions are well done, but the character development could be stronger. I would have liked to see more of what Louisa was thinking, of how the experiences were changing her and how they related to the overall story. Later, all of this is well wrapped up, but it would have been nice to have a bit of it sooner. It's when Louisa finally arrives in Colorado that she truly blossoms. The incidents she's experienced come back to haunt her or support her, and she grows as a result. Her life isn't all rosy, however. She has to deal with her sister's death, a family secret, her brother-in-law's disappearance, starting a business, espousing unpopular women's rights ideas, being committed to a sanitarium, and attentions from men both welcome and unwelcome. Every setback makes Louisa stronger, and that is an excellent message for readers. I enjoyed this book very much.
The different scenarios: with the Mennonites, the train ride out west, in California, and the Grand Canyon, all seem like separate unconnected events that are initially told rather sparsely. The setting descriptions are well done, but the character development could be stronger. I would have liked to see more of what Louisa was thinking, of how the experiences were changing her and how they related to the overall story. Later, all of this is well wrapped up, but it would have been nice to have a bit of it sooner. It's when Louisa finally arrives in Colorado that she truly blossoms. The incidents she's experienced come back to haunt her or support her, and she grows as a result. Her life isn't all rosy, however. She has to deal with her sister's death, a family secret, her brother-in-law's disappearance, starting a business, espousing unpopular women's rights ideas, being committed to a sanitarium, and attentions from men both welcome and unwelcome. Every setback makes Louisa stronger, and that is an excellent message for readers. I enjoyed this book very much.
January 4, 2022
Literary recognition and accolades for Pat Jurgens's debut and award-winning novel “Falling Forward A Woman's Journey West” are well deserved. The story of Louisa Steinbacher, a 17-year-old Mennonite young woman, is a saga of self-discovery and coming of age set in the historical west near the turn of the century. With Jurgens's meticulous research and period details, Louisa's story comes alive. The reader learns more about the foundations of the Mennonite community that shapes her story. The insertion of Germanic dialect in the story adds authenticity to the story. Jurgens's vivid descriptive writing gives readers a sense of place from the farmlands of Ohio, to the unforgiving desert landscape of CA, to the majestic mountains of CO. It's an engaging story that moves the pacing of the story along.
Louisa has a dream wanting to leave the restrictive close-knit Mennonite community and carve her own path. With her mother's sudden death Louisa's plans are put on hold as she assumes the role of running the family household. Sometime later a marriage proposal from Thomas, a hired hand on the farm, offers Louisa a chance to move away from a world that has shunned her and to follow her dreams. The couple and their two small children leave the Mennonite community for a new life in CA following Thomas's dream. Failure to start a successful farming venture adds to the couple's disappointments. Thomas's accident and sudden death set in motion a new life for Louisa and her young children she never could have envisioned. After a series of jobs and finding she needed more financial security for her children, Louisa moves from CA and finally settles in Golden, CO. She finds inner strength and solace living among the mountains overcoming the challenges and obstacles of a single mom who faces navigating a patriarch society. With determined resolve and her forward-thinking ideas, Louisa opens a bakery and tea room despite encountering political hindrances and male chauvinism. Louisa also finds herself swept up in the suffrage movement finding camaraderie with like-minded women in her community. The author makes keen observations about women's roles during this era. Louisa is beginning to forge a new life.
Jurgens skillfully adds a depth of emotion to her rich characters whose relationships are often complex. Readers who enjoy stories about women that are strong, courageous, resilient, and determined will certainly find Louisa's story embodies all these traits. She is a likable character to be admired for her strong sense of family and work ethic. Reading Louisa's story is like reading her diary being privy to her inner thoughts, hopes, and dreams. Louisa's journey of self-discovery and spiritual awakening was a refreshing read. A bit of a twist and a turn develops toward the end of the story when a family secret is unveiled impacting Louisa's choice setting her heart on a different course.
Falling forward in life enables you to dream big and take risks. By learning from one's mistakes one can definitely avoid falling back. Jurgens successfully creates Lousia character who embraces this philosophy.
Louisa has a dream wanting to leave the restrictive close-knit Mennonite community and carve her own path. With her mother's sudden death Louisa's plans are put on hold as she assumes the role of running the family household. Sometime later a marriage proposal from Thomas, a hired hand on the farm, offers Louisa a chance to move away from a world that has shunned her and to follow her dreams. The couple and their two small children leave the Mennonite community for a new life in CA following Thomas's dream. Failure to start a successful farming venture adds to the couple's disappointments. Thomas's accident and sudden death set in motion a new life for Louisa and her young children she never could have envisioned. After a series of jobs and finding she needed more financial security for her children, Louisa moves from CA and finally settles in Golden, CO. She finds inner strength and solace living among the mountains overcoming the challenges and obstacles of a single mom who faces navigating a patriarch society. With determined resolve and her forward-thinking ideas, Louisa opens a bakery and tea room despite encountering political hindrances and male chauvinism. Louisa also finds herself swept up in the suffrage movement finding camaraderie with like-minded women in her community. The author makes keen observations about women's roles during this era. Louisa is beginning to forge a new life.
Jurgens skillfully adds a depth of emotion to her rich characters whose relationships are often complex. Readers who enjoy stories about women that are strong, courageous, resilient, and determined will certainly find Louisa's story embodies all these traits. She is a likable character to be admired for her strong sense of family and work ethic. Reading Louisa's story is like reading her diary being privy to her inner thoughts, hopes, and dreams. Louisa's journey of self-discovery and spiritual awakening was a refreshing read. A bit of a twist and a turn develops toward the end of the story when a family secret is unveiled impacting Louisa's choice setting her heart on a different course.
Falling forward in life enables you to dream big and take risks. By learning from one's mistakes one can definitely avoid falling back. Jurgens successfully creates Lousia character who embraces this philosophy.
January 14, 2022
Louisa, Mennonite, Ohio Farm. 1897
Mom dies ASAP in childbirth. Louise raises her sister Lydia, Noah and older brothers. She takes care of her father Herwig and the farm house.
Tramps stop by farm and they bestow kindness. Zeke They don’t fight back and are passive.
-1899-Marries Thomas and gets shunned.
-1906 Moves out west to California to grow melon farm with Uncle Buford. On train ride they get held up and lose their money. She helps a random man named Mr Inman who is a rich railroad man.
It’s a scam and Buford is a drunk. She loses a baby girl Thomas dies in well accident.
-1906 Louisa leaves in nights right Mattie and Daniel. They visit Grand Canyon and she stays to work as a Harvey Girl. She hooks up with a cowboy who causes her to lose her job and disappears.
-1908 She moved to Colorado and stays with her sister Lydia FB her husband Harry.
Winter- Lydia dies of typhoid fever.
-1909- Harry leaves/disappears. Louise gets Mr Inman to find her bakery. She opens a tearoom and sells baked goods. She also gets involved in Women’s Suffrage.
-She gets in conflicts with Butlers. Ambrose also makes a pass at her at the picnic.
Louisa a has men enemy’s but lots of female friends. During a parade she sees Zeke!
-Riding her horse in the rain, she almost gets caught in a flash flood but Harry come sour of a cave and saves her. She promised to keep his secret. He tells her sister Gert is in a home in Ohio. Louisa goes to see her.
1912- Louisa gets arrested at the voting polls. Admitted to an insane asylum. Hysterical paroxysm.
John Inmans wife dies.
Winter 1813/1914-snowstorm. John Inman stays with her3 days. Mattie was misising but they found her in the barn with a mute little girl. Louisa finds out it as john that had the governor release her from the sanitarium.
Summer 1914- John Inman asks her to marry him.
Gert gets released on her 17th bday b/c Mongloid idiots don’t usually live past 16. She chooses to take care of her sister and not marry John.
Mom dies ASAP in childbirth. Louise raises her sister Lydia, Noah and older brothers. She takes care of her father Herwig and the farm house.
Tramps stop by farm and they bestow kindness. Zeke They don’t fight back and are passive.
-1899-Marries Thomas and gets shunned.
-1906 Moves out west to California to grow melon farm with Uncle Buford. On train ride they get held up and lose their money. She helps a random man named Mr Inman who is a rich railroad man.
It’s a scam and Buford is a drunk. She loses a baby girl Thomas dies in well accident.
-1906 Louisa leaves in nights right Mattie and Daniel. They visit Grand Canyon and she stays to work as a Harvey Girl. She hooks up with a cowboy who causes her to lose her job and disappears.
-1908 She moved to Colorado and stays with her sister Lydia FB her husband Harry.
Winter- Lydia dies of typhoid fever.
-1909- Harry leaves/disappears. Louise gets Mr Inman to find her bakery. She opens a tearoom and sells baked goods. She also gets involved in Women’s Suffrage.
-She gets in conflicts with Butlers. Ambrose also makes a pass at her at the picnic.
Louisa a has men enemy’s but lots of female friends. During a parade she sees Zeke!
-Riding her horse in the rain, she almost gets caught in a flash flood but Harry come sour of a cave and saves her. She promised to keep his secret. He tells her sister Gert is in a home in Ohio. Louisa goes to see her.
1912- Louisa gets arrested at the voting polls. Admitted to an insane asylum. Hysterical paroxysm.
John Inmans wife dies.
Winter 1813/1914-snowstorm. John Inman stays with her3 days. Mattie was misising but they found her in the barn with a mute little girl. Louisa finds out it as john that had the governor release her from the sanitarium.
Summer 1914- John Inman asks her to marry him.
Gert gets released on her 17th bday b/c Mongloid idiots don’t usually live past 16. She chooses to take care of her sister and not marry John.
April 25, 2021
Louise’s epic journey from the sequestered Mennonite community in Iowa to the freedom of the wild west of Colorado is one that inspires women to plunge forward in life. She follows her husband with two young children clinging to her side to find their fortune in California. The untimely death of her husband leaves her stranded and abandoned in a strange land. She ends up working at the Grand Canyon for the summer and becomes centered in nature. She moves to Colorado where her sister has taken up residence in Golden and learns that a widow making her own way is not welcome. She finds strength in the majesty of the Rocky Mountains to combat the forces against her and becomes involved in the struggle for women to achieve equality. This is an uplifting saga with a surprise ending.
April 16, 2021
A journey into history
Once I picked up this book, I couldn't put it down. Myself a granddaughter of a suffragette, it reminds us of what our ancestors went through to achieve what many now take for granted--the right to vote, and also to participate in business. Louisa, the protagonist, is a strong-minded woman with an iron grasp of what is right and what is wrong. Throughout her journey, she educates us about what life held for a woman around the turn of the twentieth century. Spattered throughout with historical nuggets, this is a story of tenacity and resilience. I won't say more--no spoilers here! But, this was definietly worth the read. Well done!
Once I picked up this book, I couldn't put it down. Myself a granddaughter of a suffragette, it reminds us of what our ancestors went through to achieve what many now take for granted--the right to vote, and also to participate in business. Louisa, the protagonist, is a strong-minded woman with an iron grasp of what is right and what is wrong. Throughout her journey, she educates us about what life held for a woman around the turn of the twentieth century. Spattered throughout with historical nuggets, this is a story of tenacity and resilience. I won't say more--no spoilers here! But, this was definietly worth the read. Well done!
March 10, 2022
An unenthusiastic three stars for this one. There was some interesting local history, but the characters all lacked nuance. Because of this, it was hard to really root for Louisa, who went through every trying situation you can imagine. I’m trying to think of an alliterative “Perils of Pauline” type title that would work with “Louisa.” I did like that at the end
October 3, 2022
I was really sucked into this novel due to the beautiful writing and the great character development. The story starts in the late 1890s on a Mennonite farm in Ohio where a young girl is forced to grow up and manage the household when her mother dies in childbirth. But she yearns for adventure and finds it by marrying a ranch hand and moving to California with him. One tragedy after another besets her and she finds her inner strength to not just cope but to blossom. If you love historical fiction, you'll love this book.
M.J. Evans, Award-winning author of "The Sand Pounder-Love and Drama on Horseback in WWII"
M.J. Evans, Award-winning author of "The Sand Pounder-Love and Drama on Horseback in WWII"
October 17, 2021
This was a good story overall. It moved in a direction I wasn't expecting based on just the description of the story, but that wasn't bad. Louisa experiences and represents most of what a woman of that era dealt with, and so she seemed to have more than her fair share of difficulties. I was disappointed in the ending, and yet I understand why it ended as it did, because of what Louisa represented.
March 5, 2021
Excellent
Heartwarming! A historical novel of hopes and dreams, heartache and healing. The challenges are faced by a strong woman with a big heart and a strong backbone. I couldn’t put it down!
Heartwarming! A historical novel of hopes and dreams, heartache and healing. The challenges are faced by a strong woman with a big heart and a strong backbone. I couldn’t put it down!
Read
April 16, 2021Excellent
This book has all the markings of a great novel. It is well written, characters are well developed, and it holds the readers interest. I would absolutely recommend this book!
This book has all the markings of a great novel. It is well written, characters are well developed, and it holds the readers interest. I would absolutely recommend this book!
Read
January 22, 2023I was actually sad to see the end of this book. That doesn't happen often. Louisa is such a strong woman and I loved the fact that she could continue with her life after all the heartbreaks. I was glad she left the Mennonites because they would have just held her back. Great read.
March 13, 2021
Loved it!
A moving historical tale of living, loving and loss. If you can feel the pain as if you are right there... That is a great author to me!
A moving historical tale of living, loving and loss. If you can feel the pain as if you are right there... That is a great author to me!
April 10, 2021
John
This is a well written book that covers a great deal of US geography as well as history. The story was easy to follow and was a pleasure to read.
This is a well written book that covers a great deal of US geography as well as history. The story was easy to follow and was a pleasure to read.
October 22, 2021
Enjoyed the reality of the story and it's characters. Would love to see a sequel.
June 30, 2022
Loved reading this book from a Colorado author. Very well done and great story.
April 13, 2023
An amazing and heartfelt story of a woman from a Mennonite daughter to a strong women in the developing western town of Golden, Colorado and her journey of of strength and discovery. Reminding all of us that we can endure more than we believe we can.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews