What is the best book you've read about the Donner Party?

[Anonymous]

Oh, also, thank you for the other suggestions: I watched the movie "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner" and by that account, it appears they got through the pass and went on to live quite well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I've read two Donner Party books - the one you mentioned, and The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of a Donner Party Bride. Definitely worth reading, though I honestly can't remember which of the two I liked better.


As a side note... I've read quite a bit of what I call "disaster literature". All non-fiction, but covering a wide range of topics. I guess it's kind of how some people enjoy watching horror movies (which I hate) - I'm just fascinated by these stories. It started when I read "Into a Thin Air", which I read one New Year's Day. I was so disturbed I couldn't sleep, and immediately began reading the book again from the beginning.

OK, now I probably sound like a weirdo. But anyway, if you like the Donner Party books, I can recommend plenty of other reading that is similarly fascinating.

You'd probably like this one: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/139069.Endurance

I've not read that one. Thank you for the recommendation!

And to my twin and the other PP - I'm super relieved that it's not just me who seems to really enjoy these books.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you everybody! I think I'll read Indifferent Stars Above. I did see a small part of that American Experience on PBS, which was what got my interest piqued. But then, I guess I forgot I was interested until recently.

I have read some "disaster literature" but didn't realize it was its own genre I loved Into Thin Air, The Worst Hard Time...that's all I can think of off the top of my head. But any other recommendations for that would be great too.

A few other good ones:

In the Heart of the Sea: The a Tragedy of the Whaleship Essex by Nathaniel Philbrick (as previously mentioned)
The Johnstown Flood by David McCullough
Young Men and Fire by Norman Maclean
Touching the Void: The True Story of One Man's Miraculous Survival by Joe Simpson (if you only ever read one mountaineering book besides Into Thin Air, make it this one)
Fire on the Mountain: The True Story of the South Canyon Fire by John Maclean
No Way Down: Life and Death on K2 by Graham Bowley
Under a Flaming Sky: The Great Hinckley Firestorm of 1894 by Daniel James Brown (so horrifying, maybe too much gory detail, even for me! Same author as The Indifferent Stars Above)


Based on recent events and therefore much, much more upsetting (and so not something I'd ever lightheartedly categorize as "disaster lit" like the ones above) but some other excellent (if tough) non-fiction reads:

Love Thy Neighbor: A Story of War by Peter Maass
Endgame: The Betrayal and Fall of Srebrenica, Europe's Worst Massacre since World War II by David Rohde
Columbine by Dave Cullen


Hope you enjoy some

[Anonymous]

The book I liked the best was Grim Journey byHoffman Birney

[Anonymous]

Not the Donner Party, but...

The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey is a really great book about another cross-country trek.

[Anonymous]

The Best Land Under Heaven by Michael Wallis -- here's a link to "Fresh Air" interview with the author:

http://www.npr.org/2017/06/27/534557072/what-would-you-do-author-wants-to-stop-sensationalizing-the-donner-party

[Anonymous]

Not Donner but I'm gonna recommend:
Bold Spirit: Helga Estby's Forgotten Walk Across Victorian America

[Anonymous]

Ahhhhh I have found my people! Never heard of the term "disaster lit" before but that totally describes my non-fiction preferences.

I've read alost all the mountaineering disaster books mentioned and have seen that Donner Party special on PBS but never read a book about it. Now I must. Thank you.

[Anonymous]

If you have a mid to late elementary aged child, you could always pick up "The Donner Dinner Party" by Nathan Hale and read it together. My 9 year old loves it, but she loves any gross/disaster/tragedy historical books.

[Anonymous]

The Best Land Under Heaven

Author recently interviewed on Fresh Air.

http://www.npr.org/2017/07/01/534880949/fresh-air-weekend-revisiting-the-donner-party-okja-reporting-on-extremist-groups

[Anonymous]

Still the best Donner book by far - Stewart, Ordeal By Hunger.

[Anonymous]

Nathan Hale's Hazardous Tales! A kids' graphic novel (not overly GRAPHIC graphic) but excellent