Risking it all to get to the Promised Land - an Editorial Review of "Swallowing the Muskellunge"

Book Blurb:

London Oxford was prepared to do whatever it took to get to the promised land, but can he get his family safely across the border?

Young Abner Oxford has kept something of his mother's. Something else needs what he has. It's patient, can be quite disarming, and has a monstrous, fierce appetite. Abner and his family, along with a caravan of sleighs, are moving north.

The frigid cold and the blinding white have made the adults slow, weary, and numb. Very few questioned the drag marks in the snow or the mounting number of disappearances. Abner's father felt like that—until it woke him up.

Fans of The Terror, the Fisherman, and El Norte will be hooked.

Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/BBtRH

Editorial Review:

“The loon quickly paddled in front of his chick and hurriedly attempted to nudge it away from shore. When he turned around, he saw that all the remaining shadow creatures had fallen. The dreadful thing seemed to shrivel. When it squatted on the shore, it looked like a human being again. He remembered it staring at him.”

“Swallowing the Muskellunge” by Lawrence P. O’Brien is a haunting, mystical tale that draws the reader into a lingering tale of sadness and loss. There is something in the American wilderness that is timeless, overshadowing the human inhabitants and even the animals. So much is unexplainable, and the opening pages are utterly gripping while also being slightly mysterious. Even for this voracious reader/reviewer, there is always a first, and this book is it. Occasionally, yes, there are classic books including an animal’s perspective, and “Swallowing the Muskellunge” harks back to that marvellous style of writing. O’Brien displays an innate, instinctive understanding of the grandness of nature. The loon’s existence is poignant and will remain in the reader’s mind even as the remainder of the story unfolds. Googling the meaning of the title adds further layers to the narrative.

“From the blackness within Missa Wright's barn, London Oxford stared at the bright, vacant roadway beyond the property line.

“They’s leaving,” London whispered as he heard someone slam Missa Wright's entrance door.

The barn was behind Missa Thomas’s house. The front door was on the other side. The silhouette of London’s son, Abner, stopped at the barn's entrance.

“What’s that, Poppa?” he asked.

“Nothing. I was just remembering something.”

“Like what?”

“Just don't feel like myself,” London said as he hung the horse’s breast collar harness and bridle on the wall.

“Momma says you need to come in.”

“I hear yah. Just finishing up is all.””

And then there are the families. It’s the late 1700s in the Boston area; the Wright Family has gathered to read the patriarch’s Will, the Choates are new to the area, and London and Jane Oxford, are servants with their own family. This reviewer paused while contemplating the true meaning of the word “servant” given the time and context of this novel, and there are some thoughtful musings on this label by London Oxford. O’Brien’s strength is his ability to throw himself into a number of character viewpoints, each as compelling as the last. The internal thoughts of each person (and bird!) are never overdone and add depth to the storyline, as does the authenticity of the dialogue. So much has changed in the intervening two-plus centuries, however family life at its heart seems enduring. The squalling toddler, the family divisions, the raucous family gatherings will resonate with many.

“When he bit down on his lip, he wondered if he was still alive. The frigid cold wouldn't allow him to feel pain. The harrowing wind was constant and unyielding. Snow had turned to ice on his shaggy eyebrows and beard. London couldn't see anything beyond his arms, and the accumulating snow on his body made him feel like a ghost; with the snow blindness, he felt like he was disappearing.”

The narrative also has a dark side. This draws from Native American myths and legends; the tone of the book changes in latter pages. The style of writing remains evocative as the starkness reality of loss and grief are explored during a journey that risks everything as the families travel north. The ending of the book creates a full circle and will stay with the reader for some time.

“Swallowing the Muskellunge” is a riveting and thought-provoking read. Those from the East Coast of North America or with heritage or an interest in that area will find it unputdownable. The wildness of nature, the myths and legends and the human struggle all merge to create an incredible and haunting story that will keep the reader guessing.

*****

“Swallowing the Muskellunge” by Lawrence P O’Brien receives 4 ½ stars from The Historical Fiction Company

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