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The Rambling Man
Get swept up in this gripping tale of love, redemption, and the unbreakable bonds of community.
When Jackson "Peaches" Peecher leaves his rural Missouri home to serve in Afghanistan, he and his teenage sweetheart Merene Cory are forced to confront the secrets that have shaped their small town. As the truth about their town’s beloved benefactor and his loyal companion comes to light, Peaches and Merene must navigate the complexities of war, terminal illness, and addiction.
Will the power of love and forgiveness be enough to overcome the darkness that threatens to destroy their world? Dive into this speculative fiction novel that explores the eternal struggles of light and darkness, and discover the transformative power of kindness, community, and love."I really enjoyed reading The Rambling Man by Gabe Reaume. It’s a spiritual tale that revolves around a small mining town and its residents, including its own very special Guardian and his little dog Diz. Barnabas was very spry for his age, full of wisdom and overwhelmingly generous. Diz also has an unusually long life span and is remarkably bright and spry. They always show up exactly when and where they are needed–even if it’s half a world away.
There is a lot of religious symbolism, but I don’t think you necessarily need to be a devout Christian to enjoy the story. It’s not preachy and seems to embrace all religions. People of all faiths may enjoy this spiritual tale of good versus evil, with great storytelling and relatable characters. It also carries the messages of redemption, love, and selflessness.
There are some really sad moments, and moments that will make you giggle out loud as you read it. It also has some really touching scenes and holds a real spiritual mystery about Barnabas and Diz and their true identity (but I won’t spoil it here).
My favorite chapters were when Barnabas saves the young girl Merene from a drug addled pervert, and of course the chapters about Barnabas' back story. As a classic rock fan I must say that I loved the way they incorporated the titular song Rambling Man by the Allman Brothers in this story.
... I give this book 5 out of 5 stars . A truly enjoyable read."--Reedsy Discovery Reviewer
When Jackson "Peaches" Peecher leaves his rural Missouri home to serve in Afghanistan, he and his teenage sweetheart Merene Cory are forced to confront the secrets that have shaped their small town. As the truth about their town’s beloved benefactor and his loyal companion comes to light, Peaches and Merene must navigate the complexities of war, terminal illness, and addiction.
Will the power of love and forgiveness be enough to overcome the darkness that threatens to destroy their world? Dive into this speculative fiction novel that explores the eternal struggles of light and darkness, and discover the transformative power of kindness, community, and love."I really enjoyed reading The Rambling Man by Gabe Reaume. It’s a spiritual tale that revolves around a small mining town and its residents, including its own very special Guardian and his little dog Diz. Barnabas was very spry for his age, full of wisdom and overwhelmingly generous. Diz also has an unusually long life span and is remarkably bright and spry. They always show up exactly when and where they are needed–even if it’s half a world away.
There is a lot of religious symbolism, but I don’t think you necessarily need to be a devout Christian to enjoy the story. It’s not preachy and seems to embrace all religions. People of all faiths may enjoy this spiritual tale of good versus evil, with great storytelling and relatable characters. It also carries the messages of redemption, love, and selflessness.
There are some really sad moments, and moments that will make you giggle out loud as you read it. It also has some really touching scenes and holds a real spiritual mystery about Barnabas and Diz and their true identity (but I won’t spoil it here).
My favorite chapters were when Barnabas saves the young girl Merene from a drug addled pervert, and of course the chapters about Barnabas' back story. As a classic rock fan I must say that I loved the way they incorporated the titular song Rambling Man by the Allman Brothers in this story.
... I give this book 5 out of 5 stars . A truly enjoyable read."--Reedsy Discovery Reviewer
236 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 9, 2025
43 people are currently reading
1150 people want to read
About the author
Gabe Reaume
2 books13 followersGabe Reaume was raised in rural Michigan. He earned a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of North Texas, where he serves on the Public Administration Alumni Board. Gabe met his wife, Cori, at a Texas City Management Association conference several years ago. They have four children.
Gabe lives in Saginaw, Texas, where he serves as the city manager. He would love the chance to visit if you're in the area, especially if coffee is involved.
You can connect with and follow Gabe at www.gabereaume.com
Gabe lives in Saginaw, Texas, where he serves as the city manager. He would love the chance to visit if you're in the area, especially if coffee is involved.
You can connect with and follow Gabe at www.gabereaume.com
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 12, 2025
Merene works at the local store in a small town, part-time because she's still in school. Her mom works there, too. But, mom has a live-in boyfriend who makes Merene uncomfortable, so she is living with Sharyn and Kenneth, an older couple. The store, along with half the town, is owned by Barnabas. He's been around as long as anyone can remember, along with his little dog, Diz. Peaches is Merene's boyfriend. Both want to be doctors.
The town folks all take care of one another. People live in houses owned by Barnabas, but aren't kicked out when rent can't be paid. Tabs at the store go unpaid for months. He pays for proms and local dances and festivals in the small town that is barely surviving. His money comes from owning the coal mine, which has since been abandoned. Barnabas always treated his workers and the township with kindness. He is rarely seen without Diz by his side. Did is an exceptionally intelligent dog.
After graduating high school, Peaches joins the military as a medic, to get his schooling paid for. Sent to Afghanistan after training, he sees some heartbreaking stuff. While he's gone, Diz disappears. Peaches swears he see him in Afghanistan protecting an orphan girl. A carpenter protects the girl and her brother at night, while the dog looks after her when the carpenter can't.
There is a battle between good and evil, throughout history and in Afghanistan. Many questions are asked. Where did the carpenter come from? How can a dog that looks and acts just like Diz be in Afghanistan? Merene wonders where Diz is. Miracles are happening on both sides of the world. She questions these and also exactly how old Barnabas is, because he certainly doesn't act physically old. All questions are eventually answered.
This book hooked me in from the start. I was asking the same questions as the characters, who are robustly written. You feel as if you know them. It's a great storyline and as the questions in your head are answered, it all starts to make sense. I throughly enjoy reading this book. #GoodreadsGiveaways
The town folks all take care of one another. People live in houses owned by Barnabas, but aren't kicked out when rent can't be paid. Tabs at the store go unpaid for months. He pays for proms and local dances and festivals in the small town that is barely surviving. His money comes from owning the coal mine, which has since been abandoned. Barnabas always treated his workers and the township with kindness. He is rarely seen without Diz by his side. Did is an exceptionally intelligent dog.
After graduating high school, Peaches joins the military as a medic, to get his schooling paid for. Sent to Afghanistan after training, he sees some heartbreaking stuff. While he's gone, Diz disappears. Peaches swears he see him in Afghanistan protecting an orphan girl. A carpenter protects the girl and her brother at night, while the dog looks after her when the carpenter can't.
There is a battle between good and evil, throughout history and in Afghanistan. Many questions are asked. Where did the carpenter come from? How can a dog that looks and acts just like Diz be in Afghanistan? Merene wonders where Diz is. Miracles are happening on both sides of the world. She questions these and also exactly how old Barnabas is, because he certainly doesn't act physically old. All questions are eventually answered.
This book hooked me in from the start. I was asking the same questions as the characters, who are robustly written. You feel as if you know them. It's a great storyline and as the questions in your head are answered, it all starts to make sense. I throughly enjoy reading this book. #GoodreadsGiveaways
May 31, 2025
Review of The Rambling Man by Gabe Reaume
Emotional Resonance & Personal Reflections
Reading The Rambling Man felt like stepping into a bittersweet daydream—one that celebrates the allure of wanderlust while quietly exposing its emotional toll. As someone who studies the intersection of mobility and mental health, I was struck by the protagonist’s solitude, which oscillated between liberation and loneliness. There’s a raw authenticity to Reaume’s portrayal of rootlessness that left me both envious and unsettled. I found myself underlining passages about the fleeting connections made on the road, which mirrored my own work with transient populations and their struggles for belonging.
Strengths & Gaps
-Lyrical Vulnerability: Reaume’s prose shines in its unflinching honesty about the costs of freedom. The descriptions of landscapes as both refuge and prison resonated deeply, echoing public health research on how environment shapes well-being.
-Gendered Blind Spots: The romanticization of the “rambling” archetype inadvertently highlights privilege—how society applauds male wanderers but stigmatizes women (especially mothers or marginalized identities) for similar choices. A nod to intersectional experiences (e.g., women of color navigating unsafe spaces) would have added depth.
-Health as Subtext: The protagonist’s physical and mental resilience is implied but not critically examined. As a public health practitioner, I longed for even a fleeting acknowledgment of systemic barriers (e.g., lack of healthcare access for unhoused travelers).
Constructive Criticism
-Intersectional Layers: The narrative’s narrow focus on a solitary figure misses an opportunity to explore how race, class, and gender dictate who gets to roam safely. Imagine how powerful a subplot about a queer traveler or a migrant woman’s journey could have been.
-Community vs. Individualism: While self-reliance is central, the story occasionally overlooks the communal networks that sustain real-life ramblers (e.g., mutual aid groups, shelters). This omission feels at odds with today’s crises of isolation and inequity.
-Structural Context: A brief reflection on societal structures (e.g., poverty, policing of public spaces) would have grounded the protagonist’s journey in the realities many face.
Final Verdict
The Rambling Man is a poetic but imperfect ode to transience. It moved me with its emotional candor yet left me wrestling with its unexamined privileges. I’d recommend it—with the caveat that readers supplement it with feminist and public health perspectives on mobility.
Rating: 3.75/5 (Beautiful writing, but hunger for deeper critique remains).
Gratitude: Thank you to the publisher and Goodreads Giveaways for the free copy—this review reflects my honest engagement as a reader invested in equity-driven storytelling.
Emotional Resonance & Personal Reflections
Reading The Rambling Man felt like stepping into a bittersweet daydream—one that celebrates the allure of wanderlust while quietly exposing its emotional toll. As someone who studies the intersection of mobility and mental health, I was struck by the protagonist’s solitude, which oscillated between liberation and loneliness. There’s a raw authenticity to Reaume’s portrayal of rootlessness that left me both envious and unsettled. I found myself underlining passages about the fleeting connections made on the road, which mirrored my own work with transient populations and their struggles for belonging.
Strengths & Gaps
-Lyrical Vulnerability: Reaume’s prose shines in its unflinching honesty about the costs of freedom. The descriptions of landscapes as both refuge and prison resonated deeply, echoing public health research on how environment shapes well-being.
-Gendered Blind Spots: The romanticization of the “rambling” archetype inadvertently highlights privilege—how society applauds male wanderers but stigmatizes women (especially mothers or marginalized identities) for similar choices. A nod to intersectional experiences (e.g., women of color navigating unsafe spaces) would have added depth.
-Health as Subtext: The protagonist’s physical and mental resilience is implied but not critically examined. As a public health practitioner, I longed for even a fleeting acknowledgment of systemic barriers (e.g., lack of healthcare access for unhoused travelers).
Constructive Criticism
-Intersectional Layers: The narrative’s narrow focus on a solitary figure misses an opportunity to explore how race, class, and gender dictate who gets to roam safely. Imagine how powerful a subplot about a queer traveler or a migrant woman’s journey could have been.
-Community vs. Individualism: While self-reliance is central, the story occasionally overlooks the communal networks that sustain real-life ramblers (e.g., mutual aid groups, shelters). This omission feels at odds with today’s crises of isolation and inequity.
-Structural Context: A brief reflection on societal structures (e.g., poverty, policing of public spaces) would have grounded the protagonist’s journey in the realities many face.
Final Verdict
The Rambling Man is a poetic but imperfect ode to transience. It moved me with its emotional candor yet left me wrestling with its unexamined privileges. I’d recommend it—with the caveat that readers supplement it with feminist and public health perspectives on mobility.
Rating: 3.75/5 (Beautiful writing, but hunger for deeper critique remains).
Gratitude: Thank you to the publisher and Goodreads Giveaways for the free copy—this review reflects my honest engagement as a reader invested in equity-driven storytelling.
December 6, 2025
This was a book I found through Kindle Unlimited. I was immediately drawn into the town and characters. It took a spiritual path, and was filled with love and hope without being preachy. There were also sad events and humorous moments. Definitely not my typical reading choice, but it was a good and thoughtful read.
August 8, 2025
wonderfilled
A remarkable book! I wish everyone would read it. An allegory that shows the light and the truth of the Gospels in a way that will get through to people’s hearts. One of the best books I’ve ever read!
A remarkable book! I wish everyone would read it. An allegory that shows the light and the truth of the Gospels in a way that will get through to people’s hearts. One of the best books I’ve ever read!
September 15, 2025
I won this copy through a Goodreads Giveaway. I enjoyed this book tremendously. The characters and storyline kept me interested all the way to the end and I loved figuring out who Barnabas and Diz really were. Thanks for choosing me to read your book!
August 3, 2025
Rambling Man is a novel that takes readers on a journey through time, place, and memory. What makes Rambling Man particularly compelling is its ensemble of interesting characters, each of whom brings their own flavor and depth to the story. The titular "Rambling Man," a restless, charismatic drifter who seems to have lived many lives in one, is equal parts mystery and mentor. His presence casts a long shadow across generations.
Plot twists abound in Rambling Man. These moments are skillfully paced, keeping the reader emotionally invested and constantly questioning what they thought they knew.
The relationship between people of different generations is something I found particularly interesting.
Rambling Man is a thoughtful, character-driven novel that explores the spaces between people and the ties that bind them despite those spaces. With memorable characters and deeply human plot turns, it’s a powerful reminder that the spiritual realm is always present. The God of the universe is always influencing creation.
Plot twists abound in Rambling Man. These moments are skillfully paced, keeping the reader emotionally invested and constantly questioning what they thought they knew.
The relationship between people of different generations is something I found particularly interesting.
Rambling Man is a thoughtful, character-driven novel that explores the spaces between people and the ties that bind them despite those spaces. With memorable characters and deeply human plot turns, it’s a powerful reminder that the spiritual realm is always present. The God of the universe is always influencing creation.
December 9, 2025
The Rambling Man is a moving, soulful story that blends small-town secrets, spiritual mystery, and unforgettable characters. Jackson “Peaches” Peecher’s journey from wartime trauma to personal redemption is beautifully balanced against the quiet strength of Merene and the deep, symbolic presence of Barnabas and his extraordinary companion Diz.
What stood out to me most was the book’s heart: its exploration of love, community, and the constant struggle between light and darkness. The emotional range is exceptional there are moments that ache, moments that uplift, and scenes that stay with you long after the final page.
A thoughtful and touching novel with a spiritual glow. A truly rewarding read.
What stood out to me most was the book’s heart: its exploration of love, community, and the constant struggle between light and darkness. The emotional range is exceptional there are moments that ache, moments that uplift, and scenes that stay with you long after the final page.
A thoughtful and touching novel with a spiritual glow. A truly rewarding read.
May 20, 2025
🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews