American Rust- Phillip Meyer

[Amanda]

A novel about the failure of the American dream right in the spirit of a classic Steinbeck novel, but set in the American Rust belt of the early 2000s.

Taking place in a fictional town in Fayette County Pennsylvania, the story follows friends between 2 families, as they struggle with money, crime, caring for their families, and "getting out" amidst the dying economy of the area. The central conflict surrounds a second degree murder committed/witnessed by childhood friends Issacs and Billy and how that tests them and the loyalties amongst their family members.

I thought this book did a great job illustrating the desolation and difficulty in these areas, and the different mentalities around 'getting out' and what that means. I gave it 4 stars.

[Kristel]

Read in 2017
Story of decline in the American Steel Mill in Pennsylvannia and the decline of the families still hanging on. It is a family story and a story of friendship and a story of love. This was Philipp Meyer's debut novel published in 2009. I found the story entertaining though brutal with violence and excessive sexual details I didn't need to enjoy the story. There is some foreshadowing so it is possible to guess the ending though I didn't fully. One reviewer called it a perfect storm of tragedy. The characters are well crafted but I also felt that the choices made didn't make a lot of sense because, well just because. I don't want to give anything away. It was good, readable, it was called a best novel of 2009 and making some lists like Newsweek and Times, but it really never won any awards and other than being included on the 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, it really has no other claim to fame.

[Gail]

I am reading Zola this month and American Rust falls in line with Zola's work in investigating the tension and conflict between how the economy and the culture dictate your fate and how your own personal character and family/ friend relationships dictate that fate. The descriptions of the conditions of the old steel mill country in PA and the contrast between the rust hulks of industry versus the polluted but still beautiful natural landscape was well done. I also enjoyed the various voices of the characters and how we are allowed to see into the choices that ultimately lead them to tragedy and perhaps escape, although it is largely escape into the unknown where no one knows you and the economic and cultural conditions are worse rather than better.
Of course, the writing style is not Zola....
I did enjoy it however and thought it was a bit of a gem.

[Patrick]

***

This was quite meh for me. But I guess that one can't mistake the obvious parallels with the American society in general and the gradual disintegration of the Rust Belt: they can't face their problems united without making bad decisions and the situation worse. How long have they grappled with problems of race, gun control, overreach of religion in political decisions (e.g. abortion)... Yet, the longer it goes, the worse it becomes, at least in the eyes of external observers. On that basis, the American society is heading for worse outcomes than the characters of this novel.

[Diane]

This is the story of two young men, Billy and Issac, who fall into trouble in their small rural town that has been swallowed up by poverty after the steel mill closed. Each chapter was from the voice of one of the major characters which I liked. The whole story is over a short period of time which does not lend itself to much character development. Two of the characters are touted as genius which I did not find believable and made their decisions that much more baffling. Overall, I liked the story and I felt I got a taste of this rural Pennsylvania town.

"In the end it was rust. That was what defined this place."