The Oregon Trail: A New American Journey by Rinker Buck
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Summary
In the bestselling tradition of Bill Bryson and Tony Horwitz, Rinker Buck's The Oregon Trail is a major work of participatory history: an epic account of traveling the 2,000-mile length of the Oregon Trail the old-fashioned way, in a covered wagon with a team of mules, which hasn't been done in a century, that also tells the rich history of the trail, the people who made the migration, and its significance to the country.
This collection of stories is absolutely fantastic. You'll have the opportunity to dive deep into the world of Rinker Buck and his awesome brother, experiencing firsthand what it's truly like to journey in a wagon. Additionally, you'll gain fascinating insights into the unique challenges of living with and handling mules. As someone who has been an avid listener for 16 years, I can confidently say that this book easily makes it into my top 10 favorites!
I was really looking forward to enjoying this book. The concept of two guys embarking on a modern-day journey along the Oregon Trail with a wagon and a team sounds like an incredible adventure.
Unfortunately, the author spends an excessive amount of time delving into details about various aspects such as wagons and trail guides. Normally, I appreciate attention to detail, but in this case, it becomes overwhelming. Additionally, the author's constant complaints about RVers, kids, religion, and the miles covered on the trail turn the book into a bit of a whine fest.
However, the highlight of the book is the relationship between the author and his brother, with their engaging conversation at the conclusion of the journey.
On a negative note, the narrator of this audiobook is one of the worst I have encountered. Although it is commendable that the author himself reads the book, his delivery often sounds monotone and uninspiring, which greatly detracts from the overall experience.
Despite its flaws, the book did spark my curiosity to learn more about the Oregon Trail, and it also planted a desire within me to own mules someday. Nevertheless, I cannot recommend this audiobook. Perhaps it would fare better in paperback format.
I really enjoyed how the author seamlessly blended historical insights with their personal experiences of traversing the Oregon Trail. The way they depicted the dynamics within their family was absolutely captivating. Overall, it was a fantastic audiobook and I highly recommend it!
After reading books for over 60 years, I have encountered only one other book that I couldn't bring myself to finish. The author takes detours into lengthy diatribes against various subjects such as the Tea Party (expressing dissent), God (expressing dissent), the pioneers who settled the west (asserting that the government was solely responsible), and physicians and medicine. I'm sorry, but I don't believe there is any room for such content in a book that is marketed as non-fiction.
When we imagine the Oregon Trail or the Appalachian Trail, we often picture leisurely hikes, with pioneers casually strolling along and maybe encountering the occasional Indian skirmish. However, The Oregon Trail sheds light on the harsh reality of this westward journey, revealing its true dangers and hardships. The author, who happens to be a talented narrator of his own story, provides readers with a captivating mix of historical insights and personal experiences from his own covered wagon adventure. Accompanied by his eccentric brother, their journey takes on the dynamic of a modern-day Sancho Panza and Don Quixote tale set along the Oregon Trail.
I initially hesitated to buy this audiobook because of the not-so-great reviews. However, being a history enthusiast and a fan of mules, my thirst for adventure and curiosity ultimately led me to purchase and listen to it.
After a few minutes of getting used to what some people referred to as subpar narration, which I didn't find all that bad, I actually found the narrator's Jersey accent and slightly unpolished reading style somewhat charming. I really enjoyed Buck's storytelling. It reminded me of my own experiences, sitting around a campfire at a horse camp after a long day of trail riding with my loved ones, sharing personal stories over food cooked on an open fire pit.
Having read most of the book, I'm now contemplating adding a mule to our farm's collection of horses. In fact, I even went online to browse through websites selling mules. I even had a dream featuring a mule harnessed alongside our Percheron team.
I'm sorry that some listeners can't appreciate a genuine, real-life story. But for me, I want to extend my gratitude to Mr. Buck for providing such an enjoyable experience.
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