Patty Reed’s Doll

Chapter 13-14 Discussion



As I was reading and rereading these chapters, which I have found I am having to do due to the foggy brain of RMSTF, I was thinking, this group must of felt a bit like I am.. Confused as to not knowing what lay ahead, you know we get in our cars and go for a trip, we might not know every detail of the trip to our destination, but we for the most part, know where we will end up.. They didn't have an atlas, road map, or GPS... They had the info gathered from word of mouth ... Wow, to take this trip and not be definite about which place would be a turning point, or staying straight on course..I cannot imagine, then again, isn't life alot like this still, we might not be in the same era, but we still go forth, heading to our destinations, not absolute in anything, but pretty sure we know where and why....
I felt for them going across the salt flats... Can't imagine the dryness it put them thru.. The air had to be parching.. no moisture..
When I read the mothers gave them sugar cubes to moisten their mouths, I was led to think about how sugar water makes me thirsty..
With all that was covered in these 2 chapters, I can't help but think, they knew not that the journey was almost over, they were surely hoping, but with all that had happened, I am willing to bet, their thoughts were what next?
I was at the beginning thinking this would of been an adventure that many would of loved back then... But now, I can think of no reason I would want to have been on this wagon train.
Westward frontiers would have to carry on without me...
I am staying put.. Enough of a struggle to manage here on the eastcoast..

Hope I don't confuse anyone, this book is really deep, and even from Dolly's view, I find it hard to stay focused..


I can't imagine!  I would be very un happy, getting into the car heading for 'California' and not really even having a map.  I can't imagine relying on word of mouth from strangers!

In the winter here in the north country, when the roads are dry, one still gets 'salty' tastes and dry lips when riding in a car. I guess the salt from the roads gets sucked into the car.  Nasty.

I find it hard to focus on the book too...I would have enjoyed more from Dollie (well, everything is supposedly FROM Dollie) such as her observations onto the trip, like Hitty.

A lot of the people are beginning to regret take this route. Not having Mr Hastings to blame their resentment is focusing on Mr Donner and Mr Reed. When Patty had to burry her other dolls in the desert and she dropped Dolly I thought of Phebe Prebble  dropping Hitty in India. Fortunately Patty saw Dolly and picked her up.