American Rust by Philipp Meyer

Release date: 2009 / 367 pages

Synopsis (from front cover): Set in a beautiful but economically devastated Pennsylvania steel town, American Rust is a novel of the lost American dream and the desperation — as well as the acts of friendship, loyalty, and love — that arises from its loss. From local bars to trainyards to prison, it is the story of two young men, bound to the town by family, responsibility, inertia, and the beauty around them, who dream of a future beyond the factories and abandoned homes.

First line: “Isaac’s mother was dead five years but he hadn’t stopped thinking about her.”

Review:  In the spirit of full disclosure, I have to begin by saying I probably won’t be objective this in review.  American Rust is so absolutely my favorite type of novel, that I’m about to gush unapologetically…   American Rust is one of the best literary novels I’ve read in a long, long time.

I love novels with intentional prose — and I don’t mean that the author used correct grammar or effective sentence variety.  By intentional prose, I mean the syntax matches the subject matter and characterization so perfectly you just have to pause and admire.  American Rust opens with a scene, told with a third person omniscient point of view, that sets in motion a series of events that pick up speed and barrel toward an inevitable conclusion.  The scene involves two young men, mostly well-meaning but a little foolish, in the wrong place at the wrong time, and ends in an irreversible tragedy neither intended nor escapable.  

After the initial exposition, Meyer switches the perspective between multiple characters – the two young men, Poe and Isaac, as well as Poe’s mother, Isaac’s sister and father, and the sheriff.  The prose of each section switches to match each character — one who has an IQ over 150, another who is a well-meaning, feckless, loyal-to-a-fault buddy, a misguided father steeped in bitterness and wheelchair-bound, and a sister who has managed to escape her hometown, but only physically.

Note the following examples of syntax that each reflect a very different consciousness: 

Poe:  Except he still smelled like Lee, he would be washing that off as well, he wondered if he could save it somehow but there was no way, smells they came and went you could not save them, it was not like a picture you could make in your mind that you could refer to over and over.

Isaac: Sleeping or awake, no difference. Gray area between them. Dull blue light from the porthole and the view of the car behind you. Noise of the train, vibration, you’re a part of it, rattling. Meat tenderizing. Forgive us our daily softness. Pitch black again — another tunnel. Make you deaf — plug your ears. Pray it ends soon — the fumes. Long enough tunnel you’ll suffocate. Short tunnel, please. The fumes got worse and worse yet and his eyes began to burn.

Henry: He was still in his bedroom. With effort he took deep breaths, sometimes when he slept he didn’t get enough oxygen. How small your life feels — that was what you couldn’t explain to people. If I could have known how it would turn out I would have known what to do. Slow slip down.

My favorite novels focus on an action or an event and then painstakingly reveal the effects of that action on all involved.  In this case, I loved having access to every thought of each character as he/she experienced the fall-out of one action.  Each character struggles to come to terms with his or role in the events – usually blaming themselves, rarely blaming the circumstances of their lives.  This novel is not populated with victims or self-pity. 

And while this novel could have so quickly become an indictment of big business – or of difficult economic times — or of what can happen to an undereducated life — instead we are allowed to live in the skin of the characters and are not allowed to turn their lives into symbols — either politically or morally. Billy never becomes “dumb football star with misguided loyalty who should have gone to college.”  He is always Billy Poe, doing the best he can moment-to-moment, whether with his buddy, his love, or fighting for his life in prison. 

We are made aware of the universal human needs that transcend socioeconomic issues, educational levels, and even intellect.   Every one of the characters is fully realized — and makes the reader realize how we all want the same thing in the end: respect, love, happiness, meaningful work.

Beyond the literal characterization, the setting has the status of a character in and of itself.  Growing up in Michigan and witnessing what can happen to a “one-industry” town (or state), I empathized with the citizens of this dying Pennsylvania steel town. However, as someone who left her hometown twenty years ago and moved to a state that embraces industrial diversity, I also have a certain amount of emotional distance.  Even as a young child I wondered at stories of auto workers who would vandalize foreign-made cars in the parking lot of their factory.  I couldn’t help but fear that their loyalty would only be rewarded as long as there was a profit to made from their sweat.  Jaded?  Perhaps…  Realistic?  Apparently… 

The title of this novel American Rust was perfect.  I felt the pain and sense of hopelessness — the feeling of being trapped — that the characters experienced deeper than I may have if I was born in my current state. 

As evidenced in the following passages, Meyer’s description of the beautiful landscape somehow made the desperation of its tenants even more painful, too.

From Buell they headed north along the river and her father, piloting the Ford Tempo he’d outfitted with hand controls, drove too fast for the narrow road. But soon enough she ws distracted by the beauty of the trees and vines and sheer outcroppings of red-brown rock, the untamed greenness cascading over everything, tree limbs stretching for light over the water, a small white rowboat tied in their shadows. Farther along she couldn’t help noticing the old coal chute stretching the length of the hillside, passing high over the road on its steel supports, the sky visible through its rusted floor; the iron suspension bridge crossing the river.

Driving up and down the steep hills, all woods and farmers’ fields, the sudden ravines and valleys, so much hidden away, you could get to the highest promenade around and still not be able to see half of what was in front of you, the land was so tucked in on itself. Everything green, swamps in the lowlands.

Now, one more disclaimer…  I read 80 pages a day and never read more than this allotment, despite the gripping and fast-paced narrative.  American Rust is unflinching realism and I was more than happy to return to my everyday life at the end of each section. In addition, I wanted to savor the craftsmanship of the writing, which I am better able to do “fresh.” I loved this novel, and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys very well-written realism, but I will be reading lighter fare this weekend with little attention to prose or syntax.   

Anyone who has read Outliers knows that our success — or lack thereof — depends more on dumb luck and circumstance  and less on our own actions — so I was all to happy to embrace my own dumb luck at the end of each section.  However, I was always anxious to pick up the novel the next day, too. 

American Rust demands a certain level of attention — as does all great art — and I finished satiated and a little exhausted…  yet wanting a sequel

If you are interested in winning a copy, simply leave me a comment and I’ll choose a  lucky winner by Saturday!  Like to hear more about this novel?  Please read my interview with Phillip Meyer tomorrow.

Curious about what others thought?

• American Rust named one of the Ten Best Books of 2009 by the Washington Post  
• American Rust named a “Book of the Year” by The Economist  

American Rust named

• New York Times Notable Book of 2009  
• “Best Book of 2009” by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  
• Kansas City Star Top 100 Book of 2009  
• Top 100 Book of 2009 by Amazon  
• one of Newsweek’s “Best. Books. Ever” (July 2009)  
• “Favorite Book of 2009” by The Daily Beast  
• Top Book of 2009 by the Idaho Statesman  

Here’s the full list of TLC tour stops!

Tuesday, January 12th:  The Blue Stocking Society

Monday, January 18th:  Literary Feline

Tuesday, January 19th:  Book Club Classics!

Wednesday, January 20th:  A Circle of Books

Thursday, January 21st:  One Person’s Journey Through a World of Books

Tuesday, January 26th:  Luxury Reading

Thursday, January 28th:  Ready When You Are, CB

Tuesday, February 2nd:  Rough Edges

Thursday, February 4th: Bibliophile by the Sea

Monday, February 8th:  Bibliofreak

Tuesday, February 9th:  Becky’s Book Reviews

Thursday, February 11th: The 3 R’s Blog

Friday, February 12th:  Beth Fish Reads

Tuesday, February 16th:  Books on the Brain

Thursday, February 18th:  So Many Precious Books, So Little Time

Monday, February 22nd:  Lit and Life

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