Diane C. McPhail plucks from history an audacious young woman, and using the available historical record, brings her to life in the novel FOLLOW THE STARS HOME. Lydia Roosevelt, née Latrobe, daughter of prominent DC architect Benjamin Latrobe, wife of inventor Nicholas
…more Roosevelt, narrates her life-defining adventure story, accompanying her husband, along with their toddler and newborn, on the first steam-powered paddle boat trip from Pittsburgh to New Orleans.
Will they make it, unscathed? Will a successful trip revolutionize travel and trade in the young nation, eager to grow? Will their collaboration, Lydia's ingenious practicality and intimate involvement at every turn, and Nicholas' determination and engineering genius, change history? Even though we know the answers, the author maintains a high level of suspense. ??
Given the enormity of the challenges they face, everything from childbirth to navigating through the famous New Madrid earthquakes of 1811-12, readers can expect to learn a lot and experience vicariously, along with historical figures, moments of grace under pressure. That's the beauty of historical fiction, especially ones that are based on real people whose stories might otherwise be lost. ??
In choosing to use first person narration, the author made another style choice, to adapt a style of writing that we might find in letters from that time period. While this helped Lydia come across as an early 19th Century character more realistically, it also at times felt overly sentimental and repetitive. She revisits the tension between her father and husband multiple times, almost to the point where I wondered if readers were being asked to distance themselves from Lydia. ??
Overall, the writing is excellent, and Lydia's philosophical musings, her metaphorical likening of the river to the passage of time, and especially the high level of excitement so deftly conveyed made this book enjoyable to read. Much to discuss for book clubs. (less)
