Impatient with Desire by Gabrielle Burton

Impatient with DesireNot a trashy romance. Really.

The book in one sentence: Tamsen Donner recounts the ill-fated journey of 80+ pioneers through the Sierra Nevada Mountains in 1846. 

My thoughts: I received Impatient with Desire yesterday in the mail through the LibraryThing Early Bird Reviewers, and I got just a bit of an eyeroll from the hubby when he saw the title of the book. I've sort of sworn off trashy romance novels - and this is what this book seemed to be about - an illicit romance with lots of steamy sex scenes! The cover design sends off mixed signals too - despite the cool mountain panorama, the flowered detail at the bottom again suggests romance. (If you ask me, the title really should be changed; it's misleading - for those who expect a trashy romance, and for those on the lookout for a non-trashy read.)

I had a little explaining to do, that it was historical fiction based on the tribulations of pioneering Americans migrating to California. I found the subject matter fascinating, provoking, if not a bit depressing, but highlighting the tenacity of the human spirit despite whatever life throws. The fact that it is a well-researched piece of fiction underscores that history can come alive, especially told from a first-person point of view; Tamsen Donner is a force to be reckoned with as she is the epitome of the stubborn lover, the ferocious mother, and the strong woman of the time.

I had a bit of a problem with the chronology of this book as it got a little confusing, despite the highly detailed accounts and lists of people in the story.

First line:  Think of all the roads a man a woman walk until they reach the road they'll walk together.

Last line: Chain up!

Verdict: Kudos to Gabrielle Burton on this riveting read! I couldn't put it down, despite some minor confusions.

More reading on the true story upon which this is based:
The Expedition of the Donner Party and Its Tragic Fate
The American Experience: The Donner Party
The Journal of Douglas Allen Deeds : The Donner Party Expedition, 1846 (My Name Is America)
The Expedition of the Donner Party and Its Tragic Fate

Update, July 2011: The cover was changed to this, after much feedback from reviewers. I must say it's a vast improvement. What do you think?




© 2025 guiltless readingMaira Gall