Skip to main content

A Sparrow Alone by Mim Eichmann


 1890's Colorado. Desperate following her mother's sudden death, thirteen-year-old Hannah Owens apprentices as domestic help with a wealthy doctor's family in Colorado Springs. When the doctor declares bankruptcy and abandons his family to finance his mistress Pearl DeVere's brothel, however, Hannah is thrown into a vortex of gold mining bonanzas and busts, rampant prostitution, and the economic, political and cultural upheavals of the era. Two of Cripple Creek's most colorful historic characters, Winfield Scott Stratton, eccentric owner of the richest gold mine in Cripple Creek, and Pearl DeVere, the beautiful madam of The Old Homestead, come to life as this old-fashioned, coming-of-age saga unfolds, the first of two historical fiction novels by debut author Mim Eichmann -- a tribute to the women who set the stage for women's rights.

I love nothing more than curling up on the couch on a rainy day, and being transported to another time in history, which is exactly what happened when I read this book. A Sparrow Alone is a  heartfelt historical novel which draws you in from the very first page. I was immediately transported to another period in time, where the living conditions were extremely difficult, and even more so for women. Eichmann's writing style was inviting, accurate for the time period, and just wonderful! The characters were all brilliant, and felt so real; I found myself so invested in their stories! In particular Hannah, the protagonist who I found very interesting. At times I found myself being appalled by her decisions, before realising that in that time for a girl in her circumstances - what she did was completely normal.  The book is almost completely about prostitution, which is not really my thing to read about, however I found the book very very good. The story is a potion made of pain, suffering, friendship, love and relentless courage, and I recommend it to anyone who is looking for a read which will break your heart, while still being interesting, with moments of warmth. 


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How to Grow a Family Tree by Eliza Henry-Jones

Stella may only be seventeen, but having read every self-help book she can find means she knows a thing or two about helping people. She sure wasn't expecting to be the one in need of help, though. Thanks to her father's gambling addiction, Stella and her family now find themselves living at Fairyland Caravan Park. And hiding this truth from her friends is hard enough without dealing with another secret. Stella's birth mother has sent her a letter.  As Stella deals with the chaos of her family, she must also confront the secrets and past of her 'other' family. But Stella is stronger than she realises. This book was absolutely brilliant. It is possibly one of my favourite YA novels ever!! I absolutely adored the characters, and I LOVED the story. The book has so many beautiful messages, and everyone would benefit from reading this book. The book shows that sometimes things that are covered in gold, are crumbling on the inside, and that sometimes you can find be...
4 comments
Read more

Books I'm Embarrassed to Say I have Never Read

So I have never been one to follow trends... Especially when it comes to reading! I guess part of the problem is that I have probably got 100s of books on my To-Be-Read list, and it is almost impossible to get through them all. Lately, a few people have said to me "How can you read almost 100 books a year, and never have read (insert title)?' so I thought that I would make a post about the books I am embarrassed to say I have NEVER read and why I haven't! Tell me about the books you are ashamed that you have never read in the comments! 1. The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling Ugh I am so sorry! Just writing this makes me feel ashamed! To make things even better - I have never seen the movies either! Please forgive me. I honestly don't really know why I haven't read them. They are so hyped, so I know that I have  to, and I promise that I will read them one day. I guess they just have never appealed to me. People have told me that I am the living and breathing ...
4 comments
Read more

The Silk House by Kayte Nunn

Australian history teacher Thea Rust arrives at an exclusive boarding school in the British countryside only to find that she is to look after the first intake of girls in its 150-year history. She is to stay with them in Silk House, a building with a long and troubled past, where the shadows hide more mysteries than she could ever imagine. In the late 1700s, Rowan Caswell leaves her village to work in the home of an English silk merchant. She is thrust into a new and dangerous world where her talent for herbs and healing soon attracts attention. In London, Mary-Louise Stephenson lives amid the clatter of the weaving trade and dreams of becoming a silk designer, a job that is the domain of men. Arriving in the market town of Oxleigh, she brings with her a length of fabric woven with a pattern of deadly plants that will have far-reaching consequences for all who dwell in the silk house.            The Silk House  was such a gorgeous story, and ...
2 comments
Read more