East Winds: A Global Quest to Reckon with Marriage
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- Create Date：2022-11-17 10:19:34
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Rachel Rueckert
- ISBN：B0BLXWKPP1
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Reviews
Rachel
，
A beautifully written memoir that grapples with universal questions of marriage， culture， and identity through a frank， self-aware lens。 I am neither married nor Mormon and I relate to many of the questions and ideas in this book。 A great choice for a book club as this book is sure to prompt reflection and robust discussion！
Laina
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It’s rare to find a memoir that is this introspective and propulsive at once。 I will be re-reading this one， not just to experience Rueckert’s journey again， but also to learn from the way she brings the reader so smoothly back and forth in time， or through research and deep thought and back to the main journey。 I never felt too far from the story that was keeping me turning the pages—a story of self-discovery， evolving faith， and the early months of a marriage—and the narrative never felt too h It’s rare to find a memoir that is this introspective and propulsive at once。 I will be re-reading this one， not just to experience Rueckert’s journey again， but also to learn from the way she brings the reader so smoothly back and forth in time， or through research and deep thought and back to the main journey。 I never felt too far from the story that was keeping me turning the pages—a story of self-discovery， evolving faith， and the early months of a marriage—and the narrative never felt too heavy with research。 Still， this memoir taught me so much about the world， the many nuances of grief and love and faith， marriage customs， and the power of social scripts， all in Rueckert’s ever-curious， engaging， generous， genuine voice。 。。。more
Allison Williams
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In East Winds， Rachel Rueckert journeys around the world and into the heart of a marriage， asking how we can truly know our partner， ourselves， and the truth of our bond。 Exploring communities in Asia， South America and Europe as well as excavating her own Mormon roots， Rueckert’s warm， frank voice takes the reader across oceans and generations， examining how love， family， connection and commitment are reflected in and through culture。 A fascinating travelogue and a charmingly bumpy love story， In East Winds， Rachel Rueckert journeys around the world and into the heart of a marriage， asking how we can truly know our partner， ourselves， and the truth of our bond。 Exploring communities in Asia， South America and Europe as well as excavating her own Mormon roots， Rueckert’s warm， frank voice takes the reader across oceans and generations， examining how love， family， connection and commitment are reflected in and through culture。 A fascinating travelogue and a charmingly bumpy love story， East Winds is an ultimately joyous struggle for identity as and with a partner that many women will recognize within themselves。 。。。more
Stefani Anderson
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East Winds moved me so deeply and gave words to feelings that I have felt my whole life but never knew how to articulate。 The author’s internal and external journey through her yearlong honeymoon around the world （and her backstory） is captivating， relatable， funny， and gave me uncontrollable wanderlust because the writing was just that beautiful！ I was left in tears more than once during this book。 I couldn’t put it down and I can’t wait for more people to be able to be touched by her journey。 East Winds moved me so deeply and gave words to feelings that I have felt my whole life but never knew how to articulate。 The author’s internal and external journey through her yearlong honeymoon around the world （and her backstory） is captivating， relatable， funny， and gave me uncontrollable wanderlust because the writing was just that beautiful！ I was left in tears more than once during this book。 I couldn’t put it down and I can’t wait for more people to be able to be touched by her journey。 I also loved the anthropological lens of exploring marriage around the world because it is something that has always interested me。 Thank you Rachel for being so vulnerable and willing to share your story。 This book is one I hold dear to my heart and I know it will touch many others。 。。。more
Michelle Cox
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A beautiful coming of age story about facing some very real and valid fears around marriage。 Although I came to this story from a different perspective （married myself for 28 years）， I honor the earnest struggle that Rachel endured around the prospect of marriage and how it might change her。 For me， the most impactful passage of the story is when Rachel recognizes her need to relinquish her need for control and chooses to embrace uncertainty。 She recognizes that her striving and suffering do not A beautiful coming of age story about facing some very real and valid fears around marriage。 Although I came to this story from a different perspective （married myself for 28 years）， I honor the earnest struggle that Rachel endured around the prospect of marriage and how it might change her。 For me， the most impactful passage of the story is when Rachel recognizes her need to relinquish her need for control and chooses to embrace uncertainty。 She recognizes that her striving and suffering do not preclude her from the pains and sorrows of this life。 As a woman and traveler who's a little farther down the Camino of life， I celebrate this choice and offer encouragement for all that will come。 。。。more
Kamian Coppins
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I have very strict criteria for giving a book 5 stars （I rated my brother's book only 4 stars） and it's that I have to a） love the book obviously， b） not want to change anything about it and c） want to read it again。 I was lucky to participate in giving feedback to an earlier manuscript along with a book club in 2020， and again lucky to receive an advanced copy of this book in its final form。 I will read this book again！！ A beautiful memoir with emotional depth and stunning scenery。 And the epig I have very strict criteria for giving a book 5 stars （I rated my brother's book only 4 stars） and it's that I have to a） love the book obviously， b） not want to change anything about it and c） want to read it again。 I was lucky to participate in giving feedback to an earlier manuscript along with a book club in 2020， and again lucky to receive an advanced copy of this book in its final form。 I will read this book again！！ A beautiful memoir with emotional depth and stunning scenery。 And the epigraphs are just so perfect。 。。。more
Melissa Gopp-Warner
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This was such an entertaining， thought-provoking read。 I so respect the author for questioning her inherited models of relationship and following her curiosity to investigate partnership in cultures different from her own。 Raised Mormon and married in her mid-twenties， the author finds herself torn between the expectations placed on her as a bride and her inner drive to travel the world。 She navigates this tension beautifully and finds her way to an authentic combination of love and exploration。 This was such an entertaining， thought-provoking read。 I so respect the author for questioning her inherited models of relationship and following her curiosity to investigate partnership in cultures different from her own。 Raised Mormon and married in her mid-twenties， the author finds herself torn between the expectations placed on her as a bride and her inner drive to travel the world。 She navigates this tension beautifully and finds her way to an authentic combination of love and exploration。 My favorite chapters followed her journey on the Camino de Santiago。 I definitely caught the hiking bug by the end！ 。。。more
Elizabeth Jafek
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Wow。 This one was a compelling read -- about marriage， about choices， about religion， about family。 We follow Rachel and her new husband around the world， through some pretty crazy adventures， but the part that really pulled me in was how vulnerable the author gets about her struggles with choice she made the commit to one person， even someone she really loves。 This it the part directly after the "happily-ever-after。" We learn about Rachel's upbringing and experience with religion and expectatio Wow。 This one was a compelling read -- about marriage， about choices， about religion， about family。 We follow Rachel and her new husband around the world， through some pretty crazy adventures， but the part that really pulled me in was how vulnerable the author gets about her struggles with choice she made the commit to one person， even someone she really loves。 This it the part directly after the "happily-ever-after。" We learn about Rachel's upbringing and experience with religion and expectations for women in the Mormon church， as well as traditions and expectations in different cultures around the world。 And all of it beautifully written！Made me reflect on myself and how I came to make many of the choices I've made。 。。。more
Gloria
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A bold， honest， beautifully written memoir。 Rachel's questions surrounding marriage and identity， stirred within my own yearning to live life with fullness and integrity。 Through her stories， she embodies how to live with these questions and the power in doing so。 A bold， honest， beautifully written memoir。 Rachel's questions surrounding marriage and identity， stirred within my own yearning to live life with fullness and integrity。 Through her stories， she embodies how to live with these questions and the power in doing so。 。。。more
Caroleine James
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I spent my entire childhood simultaneously excited for and terrified of my future life-changing Mormon wedding。 I just know this book is going to stare into my very SOUL。 Really looking forward to reading， esp since Rueckert’s nuanced and beautiful approach is going to be perfect for this topic。
Elspeth Naramore
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I won this in a Goodreads giveaway and was intrigued by the premise。 It was engaging， well written and thought provoking。 The author was self aware and didn't try to make the book more than it was （a problem with some memoirs I have read）。 I would recommend this book to someone who enjoys memoirs。I enjoyed the book much more than I expected。 Right after I got married at 23， I moved to Utah and found it to be a culture shock as a non-Mormon。 Since the author is a Utah Mormon， I had some preconcep I won this in a Goodreads giveaway and was intrigued by the premise。 It was engaging， well written and thought provoking。 The author was self aware and didn't try to make the book more than it was （a problem with some memoirs I have read）。 I would recommend this book to someone who enjoys memoirs。I enjoyed the book much more than I expected。 Right after I got married at 23， I moved to Utah and found it to be a culture shock as a non-Mormon。 Since the author is a Utah Mormon， I had some preconceptions going into the book and they were definitely flipped over。 Many of the author's struggles with marriage aligned with the culture I experienced in Utah。 。。。more
Emma Freestone
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I can't speak highly enough of East Winds！！ I highly recommend this absolutely gorgeous and genuine book。 This book means so much to me！ Reading it felt like talking to a good friend—a good friend who is a masterful storyteller with an eye for beauty and insight。 I couldn't put the book down。 It spoke exactly to the things on my mind and heart。 I want all my friends to read this book。 I know they'll love it too。 Thank you thank you Rachel for such an absolutely beautiful book and for sharing you I can't speak highly enough of East Winds！！ I highly recommend this absolutely gorgeous and genuine book。 This book means so much to me！ Reading it felt like talking to a good friend—a good friend who is a masterful storyteller with an eye for beauty and insight。 I couldn't put the book down。 It spoke exactly to the things on my mind and heart。 I want all my friends to read this book。 I know they'll love it too。 Thank you thank you Rachel for such an absolutely beautiful book and for sharing your heart。 I will treasure East Winds and return to it for years！ 。。。more
Ciel Wendel
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 I read Rachel Ruckert’s novel East Winds over 17 days， and it felt like I was on her year long honeymoon along with her husband， her fears， and her memories。 Rachel was raised in Utah as a Mormon。 During her upbringing she was taught that as a woman the most important thing she would do in her life would be to marry and become a mother。 When her own family of origin was broken and her parents marriage ended Rachel began questioning the teachings of her faith community surrounding marriage。 Rache I read Rachel Ruckert’s novel East Winds over 17 days， and it felt like I was on her year long honeymoon along with her husband， her fears， and her memories。 Rachel was raised in Utah as a Mormon。 During her upbringing she was taught that as a woman the most important thing she would do in her life would be to marry and become a mother。 When her own family of origin was broken and her parents marriage ended Rachel began questioning the teachings of her faith community surrounding marriage。 Rachel is restless and hungry for life experiences and the wisdom and perspective travel brings。Rachel focuses on her education and ends up in Boston where she falls in love with a mormon man。 She had been planning a year-long world tour and they decide to get married and make the trip a honeymoon。 Being together 24/7 in new and sometimes dangerous situations with her new husband creates a kind of pressure cooker and Rachel spend the year studying what marriage means in the various cultures they encounter on their trip。 Rachel is wise beyond her years and asks many of the questions most of us don’t ask until after we are married for a decade or longer。 By the end of the book she does not necessarily have all the answers but she has more clarity on what essence of marriage is and can be。 。。。more
Ramblin Hamlin
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𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬: 𝐀 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐥 𝐑𝐮𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐭 is a coming of age memoir where Rachel discusses her fears about being a newly married woman。 She's a wanderer and world traveler。 She has concerns about how much her identity might change and what she may lose by being a married Morman woman。 Her anxieties stem from the deterioration of her parents' marriage as well as the divorice rate in the US。 Rachel and new husband Austin decide to go on a year long quest to learn about 𝐄𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐖𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐬: 𝐀 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐛𝐚𝐥 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐥 𝐑𝐮𝐞𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐫𝐭 is a coming of age memoir where Rachel discusses her fears about being a newly married woman。 She's a wanderer and world traveler。 She has concerns about how much her identity might change and what she may lose by being a married Morman woman。 Her anxieties stem from the deterioration of her parents' marriage as well as the divorice rate in the US。 Rachel and new husband Austin decide to go on a year long quest to learn about marriage around the world。 I really enjoyed Rachel's elegant and beautiful writing style。 She poured her soul into her words。 I could feel her fierce independent personality coming through the pages and her husband's support of wanting her to continue to be true to herself。 Marriage is complex and can be challenging for any couple。 When you add in the culture of their religion with their will go against the grain of the normal ideals well it can make it that much more difficult。 I loved reading about their adventures and what they learned about themselves and their marriage。 After I finished I found myself scrolling through Rachels page to see photos from their travels。 。。。more
Mikaela
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What a beautiful portrayal of faith， individuality， and love。 Rachel grapples with a question many Christian women struggle with: am I a stereotype？ Her insights offer diverse perspectives on how our marriages and religions play into our sense of self。
Haylee Ham
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East Winds helped me to name and describe feelings I felt keenly as a young woman contemplating marriage。 The author very unselfishly shares intimate details of her flaws and her hang ups （resulting from a very relatable cultural upbringing） that resonated deeply with me。 I am grateful to the author for being so open in this intensely personal memoir of a woman still growing up and a marriage in its infancy。
Victoria Hartmann
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This book literally kept me up all night。 The portraits are remarkable， the writing crisp and poignant。 The chapter with the author and her fellow pilgrims singing while walking the Camino de Santiago juxtaposed with the singing of her foremothers across the plains was incredible。 Absolutely loved this book！！
Ali
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I was fortunate enough to have received an advanced copy of the book。 Here’s my review:This memoir is thoughtful， engaging， and relatable。 It’s a book I wish I had years ago， but I am grateful to have it now。 Rachel asks questions and confesses things that feel taboo but shouldn’t be。 The book helped me to feel less alone。 If you’re interested in nature; traveling; different cultures; questions about marriage， relationships， and community; coming of age as a woman; or religion in contemporary so I was fortunate enough to have received an advanced copy of the book。 Here’s my review:This memoir is thoughtful， engaging， and relatable。 It’s a book I wish I had years ago， but I am grateful to have it now。 Rachel asks questions and confesses things that feel taboo but shouldn’t be。 The book helped me to feel less alone。 If you’re interested in nature; traveling; different cultures; questions about marriage， relationships， and community; coming of age as a woman; or religion in contemporary society， then this book has something in it for you。 The chapters are artfully arranged and easily digestible—I stayed interested throughout the entire book and devoured it quickly。 。。。more
Stephanie
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Engaging from start to finish。 Well told， beautifully articulated， and deeply genuine。 Her quest for understanding and wanderlust resonate with my own。 I never tire of seeing—and understanding—the world through others' eyes。 Engaging from start to finish。 Well told， beautifully articulated， and deeply genuine。 Her quest for understanding and wanderlust resonate with my own。 I never tire of seeing—and understanding—the world through others' eyes。 。。。more
Rick Bailey
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The allure of travel is complex。 It is an escape from routine。 It enlarges our understanding of a greater world。 And， we hope， travel provides an opportunity for soul searching and self discovery。 Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat， Pray， Love comes to mind。 In her deeply engaging memoir， East Winds: A Global Quest to Reckon with Marriage， Rachel Rueckert explores these themes。 The result is a richly satisfying read。East Winds provides an account of a year-long trip around the world， a trip Rueckert initia The allure of travel is complex。 It is an escape from routine。 It enlarges our understanding of a greater world。 And， we hope， travel provides an opportunity for soul searching and self discovery。 Elizabeth Gilbert’s Eat， Pray， Love comes to mind。 In her deeply engaging memoir， East Winds: A Global Quest to Reckon with Marriage， Rachel Rueckert explores these themes。 The result is a richly satisfying read。East Winds provides an account of a year-long trip around the world， a trip Rueckert initially plans to take by herself。 She works two years in Boston， as part of Teach for America， saving money for the trip。 Then a husband comes along。 There is courtship， then a traditional Mormon wedding。 Two weeks later， they leave for South America。 Her trip is now their trip。 “I had fallen in love fair and square，” she remarks， suggesting a solid foundation for this relationship。 Nevertheless， with marriage come questions。 And so begin two narrative threads she weaves together–part travelogue， with detailed accounts of their experiences in South America， Asia， and Europe; and part memoir， a searching analysis of her personal and family history， along with her faith tradition and its conception of marriage。 The goal， as Rueckert states in her title， is to understand marriage， though “reckon” expresses a wider scope and deeper sense of urgency。 “I’d never done well with permanent，” she announces early on。 “Husband represented a commitment toward the stereotypical package I’d spent most of my millennial life resisting: Mormon， Married， Mother。 The End。”Permanence is the problem。 She is the child of a broken home （her parents divorced when she was thirteen）。 At fifteen， she moves from her mother’s house to her father’s。 She works。 She studies。 She does not prepare for a traditional Mormon marriage。 Once she is married， Rueckert tries to reconcile the family story she knows with the Mormon concept of “sealing，” the bonding of two people for all of eternity。 Earthly bonds， she knows， will break。 “Leave or get left，” she thinks。 In her personal history， leave is dominant， and comes with a burden of guilt。 “Though I’d stuck it out plenty in my life—school， jobs no matter how difficult， my complicated commitment to religion， my relationship with Austin—I imagined none of these added enough evidence to redeem me from my original sin of leaving my mother， or the haunt of her leaving me。”About marriage， at virtually every stop and stay there is something to learn。 In Peru a new friend Patrick introduces her to the concept of “trial marriage，” which can last 3-5 years， during which a woman’s “capabilities” （cooking， cleaning， sex， compatibility） are tested。 Anan， a new friend in Thailand， explains marriage traditions of the Lahu tribe。 In some of her most gorgeous writing Rueckert describes the clothing， the colors and ceremonies， and their significance。 The Lahu marry young–girls at age eleven or twelve， boys age thirteen or fourteen。 There is a sacred space where couples dance at the New Year。 “There，” Anan explains， “you can change wives if you end up dancing with someone new。” In India， their longest stay （two months）， she wonders about Hindu marriage and learns from her new friend Chaitra （the name means “beginning”） about the rite of passage。 A traditional marriage is arranged。 Compatibility is determined by horoscope。 At one stage in the two-hour wedding ceremony， the groom pretends to walk away， “resisting the call of marriage in favor of another， more alluring path。”In these moments Rueckert shifts from travelogue to memoir mode: recalling a year-long relationship in which she thought she had found “the one”; remembering， on a trip during her undergraduate years， what the Buddhist monks and nuns told her about marriage （monks: “avoiding marriage and family was the quickest way to nirvana， a release from suffering，” nuns: “marriage is when all your troubles start， the beginning of all suffering）。 She recalls the feeling an engagement ring on her finger （“The silver ring with a blue topaz stone felt unnatural on my left hand as I sat near the back of a Boston University classroom”）， senses the reactions of her classmates when she announces， after Teaching for America， her plan was to get married （“the frozen smiles of surprise when I named a date”）。 Travel presents challenges， reveals character， and tests a relationship。 On multiple occasions， in train stations， on trails， in refuges， exhaustion and stress build and detonate。 After some very difficult moments at a train station， Rueckert and her husband， consumed by the conflict， participate in a lantern festival。 The ritual serves as a moment of reconciliation for them， beautifully rendered in her prose: “Austin and I walked with our krathong through the unfamiliar Chiang Mai streets lined with lush trees and vivid flowers。 Plumeria wafted like ripe peaches as eager kids lit off the first sky lanterns， unable to wait until pitch black。 Rows of tea lights flickered in front of buildings and temples。” Their new friend Nita tells them， “Candles light the way when we do not see a path but want good to come。”Not to be missed in this wonderful book is Rueckert’s account of their 500-mile walk to Santiago de Compostela。 The pilgrims are many， the writing lush， her reflection and meditations deep。 At one point along the trail， she uses the term a “person ago”-- “This is fun，” I’d said to [Austin] a few hours earlier， dizzy from the austere vista。 That already felt like another person ago。 Was this fun？ And if not， what else could it be？ （my emphasis） We are many things， past selves， current and future selves。 Identity has many faces。 Nothing challenges our sense of self quite like marriage。 The shift from I/me/my to we/us/our is bound to be fraught。 In three short sections of this book， there are catalogs， long lists of people， impressions， vignettes， details。 In the dedication of the book she lists women with male-centric traditions pressing unbearably down upon them。 A sample:[For] The sixteen-year-old who felt concerned about where to attend college， only to be told by her boyfriend， “It doesn’t matter where you go。 You’ll only need your degree if your husband dies。”[For] The girl who received dishes， pans， and towels for holidays （while her brother received stereos and skis），[For] The young woman who was encouraged to wear makeup because “the frosted cookies are always the first to go。”[For] The twenty-something， struggling with eating disorders and depression[For] The woman who was told that if she wore her Army Class A uniform to church， she would never “attract” a husband because he would feel like he wasn’t the boss in the relationship。[For] The woman who stayed in an abusive marriage because leaders told her that once you choose your love， you love your choice—no matter what。 At midpoint Rueckert lists tidbits of advice given at her wedding。 A sample :“Remember， SEX IS FOR BABIES。”“Sometimes it is more important to be married than right。”“Learn to sacrifice and put your spouse first。”“Always hold hands even when you don’t want to。”“Never give up and never surrender。”“Don’t do it。”“Enjoy it all！”“Name the first one Calvin！”“Swallow your pride and fix things to get past the ugly parts and grow together 。 。 。 cuz it’s for eternity baby， no goin’ back！！！” And near the end the book， she records snapshots from the sometimes ravishing， frequently challenging walk to Compostela:The noise of plastic bags rustling in the morning before anyone dared to flip on the lights。The stench of still-warm shoes lining albergue entrances。The middle-school teacher snoring on his back， mouth agape， What it felt like to pull on dirty， crusty underwear again after a lukewarm shower。 How locals left bakeries with newspaper parcels cradled under their arms。 How Suzy walked beside me， pacing her steps so her shadow would shade my feet。 The pleasure of stopping for two breakfasts per day。 The elderly village women in long dresses who set aside brooms to lean across their individual balconies， gossiping in quick， hushed Spanish。 What it felt like to pull up a chair next to perfect strangers at dinner without feeling awkward。 The effect of these lists is to bookend the travelogue/memoir’s content， to trace the arc of this important discussion， toward a tentative grasp of what marriage entails: “A daily negotiation， a daily act of faith—a faith different from my tenuous relationship with God， where I’d wrongly internalized that doubt had no place。” Doubt has a place in this marriage。 Freedom has a space。 Rachel Rueckert gives the reader a thoughtful reckoning。 。。。more
Valerie
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Incredible author。 Already bought a copy of the book to send to a friend。
Sarah Rosenthal
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To say that this is solely a memoir， or solely a travel book， or even solely a nonfiction book about faith and marriage doesn't do EAST WINDS justice。 Rueckert's story is unlike any I've read before， and it opened my mind in regards to what love， feminism， and commitment can truly mean in 2022。Although I consider myself a secular person， I found myself riveted by Rueckert's research into marriage and its intersections with both faith and culture worldwide。 Her story of partnership， cooperation， To say that this is solely a memoir， or solely a travel book， or even solely a nonfiction book about faith and marriage doesn't do EAST WINDS justice。 Rueckert's story is unlike any I've read before， and it opened my mind in regards to what love， feminism， and commitment can truly mean in 2022。Although I consider myself a secular person， I found myself riveted by Rueckert's research into marriage and its intersections with both faith and culture worldwide。 Her story of partnership， cooperation， and travel were relatable。 I laughed and I cried and I just kept on reading。 Rueckert explores the kinds of questions I myself wrestled with when committing to a life partner: what does intimacy mean？ What is the role of marriage today， and how does it enhance/oppress women？ How does one "submit" to marriage without completely submitting one's sense of self？Don't sleep on EAST WINDS。 There's nothing else like it out there。 。。。more
Lisa Van
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The first time I read EAST WINDS， I couldn't put it down。 I have now read it three times and can honestly say that I fell more deeply in love with it with each read （I would marry it right now like Pee Wee Herman married fruit salad in that one episode）。 Rachel's voice is strong and honest and fresh and soothing and unflinching。 This book is for everyone who likes a good story， being entertained， travel， or interrogating the reasons behind one's choices and the things we are told to want。 In oth The first time I read EAST WINDS， I couldn't put it down。 I have now read it three times and can honestly say that I fell more deeply in love with it with each read （I would marry it right now like Pee Wee Herman married fruit salad in that one episode）。 Rachel's voice is strong and honest and fresh and soothing and unflinching。 This book is for everyone who likes a good story， being entertained， travel， or interrogating the reasons behind one's choices and the things we are told to want。 In other words， it's for pretty much everyone。 。。。more
Natalie Taylor
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A stunningly beautiful memoir that grapples with questions of Mormonism， marriage， and trusting yourself。 I personally could relate to so much of it， and I loved the epic travel stories as well as beautifully written reflections and insights woven throughout。 A real page-turner and genuine pleasure to read！
Richard Nielsen
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This took me on a journey， and I loved it。 It's a really powerful and vulnerable story of getting married when you're not sure it's the right thing to do， and then taking an amazing honeymoon to try to figure it all out。 There are no trite answers， but rather a lot of soulful reflection along the way about the tensions between independence and commitment in an intimate partnership。 It reminded me in parts of Katherine May's "Electricity of Every Living Thing" （there's a lot of walking and self d This took me on a journey， and I loved it。 It's a really powerful and vulnerable story of getting married when you're not sure it's the right thing to do， and then taking an amazing honeymoon to try to figure it all out。 There are no trite answers， but rather a lot of soulful reflection along the way about the tensions between independence and commitment in an intimate partnership。 It reminded me in parts of Katherine May's "Electricity of Every Living Thing" （there's a lot of walking and self discovery） and Tara Westover's "Educated" （grappling with the aftermath of an unstable， abusive childhood）。 Also， if you are like long distance through-hiking， you should read this book！ The stories of the Camino de Santiago in the last third are worth the price of admission by themselves。 。。。more
Rosie Serago
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This book wrestles with topics near and dear to the souls of many women。 Rueckert has an extraordinary ability to bring vulnerability， insight， reality and hope into a well-told， captivating story。 Must read！
Joanna
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This is a book that stays with you。 Rachel’s writing paints a vivid picture of a young woman for the reader that makes you think and inspires you to live a more thoughtful and adventurous life。
Andee
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I love travel books， memoirs， and books that ask me to reflect on my experiences and assumptions。 This book is such a delightful intersection of these interests！ Rachel is such an engaging writer。 I can’t wait to see what she does next！
Paige
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East Winds was a fantastic memoir that I simply couldn’t put down。 From wild travel stories to the author’s insightful thoughts around marriage and faith， it had something for everyone。 Wonderful coming-of-age story that every woman should read！
Ingrid Lola
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