Muskrat Ramble by Mim Eichmann
Description Muskrat Ramble by Mim Eichmann
Seamlessly threaded into the emerging hot jazz music scene that captured the hearts of music lovers in 1913 New Orleans, are the themes of the tightening Jim Crow era, World War I and its aftermath of economic ills, political upheavals and epidemics, and the choices, heartbreaks and ultimate decisions of women of all races… at its heart, however, “Muskrat Ramble” is the saga of a young woman’s unwavering devotion to the child she was forced to abandon at birth. The much-anticipated sequel to “A Sparrow Alone”!
My Thoughts Muskrat Ramble by Mim Eichmann
‘Muskrat Ramble’ is the continuation of the story about Hannah Owens Barrington in the first book, ‘A Sparrow Alone’. You can read my thoughts on book 1 here. It picks up her story in 1913 after the school she teaches African American children, closes in Kansas. She moves with her “daughter,” Alice, to New Orleans. She hopes to re-connect with her birth daughter, Emma and to find a job.
She does get to re-connect with Emma, who is now 13 years old. Note, Emma does not know that Hannah is her mother. Emma aspires to be a Jazz singer and is friends with Kid Ory the jazz trombonist.
Hannah also finds a variety of jobs including working in a cigar factory and seamstress work for an opera house.
The backdrop of the book is the Jazz Age in all it’s glory and pitfalls, especially racism. I love the part Kid Ory plays in the story as he was a real-life jazz performer. There were also references to Louis Armstrong. I especially love the Jazz age part of the story, it was like a character, itself.
I also loved how Hannah evolved as she aged. I would love to write more about that but don’t want to risk spoilers.
If you are an historical fiction lover, like myself, you should read ‘Muskrat Ramble’. Be sure to read ‘A Sparrow Alone’ first. This is a rich historical two book series that is well developed and researched. The character come alive in a way that you feel you are there, seeing their lives unfold first hand. These are unforgettable characters that I will not forget! 5 stars!
I received the ebook for my honest opinion.
About Mim Eichmann
A graduate of the Jordan College of Music at Butler University, Indianapolis, IN, Mim Eichmann has found that her creative journey has taken her down many exciting, interwoven pathways. For well over two decades she was known in the Chicago area primarily as the artistic director/ choreographer of Midwest Ballet Theatre, bringing full-length professional ballet performances to thousands of dance lovers every year and was the recipient of many arts’ programming and education grants from the Illinois Arts Council (funded by the National Endowment for the Arts) among others. A desire to become involved again in the folk music world brought about the creation of her acoustic quartet Trillium www.trilliumtheband.com now in its 15th year, a folk band well known for its eclectic repertoire, that performs throughout the Midwest and has also released four cds. She’s also written the lyrics and music and recorded two award-winning original children’s cds. She occasionally schedules concerts of her children’s music and movement programs in the Chicago area.
Ms. Eichmann’s short story “Slomp” won first place in the 2018 Short-Edition/American Library Association’s “Set Stories Free” Competition and was translated into French and Spanish in 2019. The story was also one of 10 fiction finalists in the 2019 San Francisco Writers Conference Contest. Over the years she’s written countless promotional articles for her own and others’ various endeavors. She was also a by-lined arts’ reviewer for The South Bend Tribune in the 1970s. Her many memorable reporting experiences include a personal interview with Vincent Price during a power outage and the opportunity to preview the musical “Annie” with the original cast at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. a few days before its spectacular Broadway debut.
Throughout her life, Ms. Eichmann has always been captivated by the writings, diaries and journals of late 19th century women, and how so many of these trailblazing women ultimately set the stage for women’s rights during the era’s economic, cultural and political upheavals. She’s now put pen to paper and the historical fiction novel she’s been passionately researching, its rich synopsis gradually evolving over many years, has finally become a reality. Her debut novel “A Sparrow Alone” was published on April 15, 2020 and the novel’s sequel, “Muskrat Ramble” March 23, 2021.
Website: www.mimeichmann.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/EichmannMim
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