Review by Booklist Review
These 24 essays gathered by Trubek, founder of Belt Publishing, are a testament to the changing nature of the Rust Belt over the last 60 years. Introduced as a concept in the early 1980s by Walter Mondale, the American Rust Belt has loose geographic ties but can be interpreted as a postindustrial Midwest characterized by the move from a factory-based economy to a service-based one. From New York to Wisconsin, these essays trace the effects of this change on places themselves, but more so on people's lives and livelihood. Readers meet parents in Flint, Michigan, who are terrified that their toddler will swallow bath water, a father trying to protect his daughter from her heroin-addicted mother, a new social worker learning to navigate the system, an artist lamenting the gentrification of parts of Cleveland. Though themes emerge in this timely collection, it is varied in topic and writing style and ultimately paints intimate portraits of neglected places that are often used as political talking points. A good companion piece to J. D. Vance's Hillbilly Elegy (2016).--Sexton, Kathy Copyright 2018 Booklist
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Trubek, the founder of Belt Publishing, presents 24 essays by current and former residents of the Rust Belt states that explore the region's postindustrial decline, as well as its resilience. One writer vividly recalls white flight to the suburbs in Detroit in the 1960s, and a present-day Flint, Mich., resident describes the cold dread of bathing a child in contaminated water. In a heartbreaking and urgent take on the opioid crisis, a Pennsylvania writer chronicles his efforts to gain custody of his daughter from her heroin-addicted mother. More than one essayist upbraids urban gentrifiers-the "armies of confused Williamsburg rejects" who elevate rents and push longtime (often older, nonwhite) residents out of their neighborhoods. In a moment of modest celebration, an Ohio resident chooses to elaborate on the state's gritty reputation with an ode to the dingiest gay bar in Cincinnati. These essays go a long way toward expanding the narrative about the Rust Belt in that they refute stereotypes, explore a vastly varied series of experiences, and provide a valuable history lesson on industrialism. (Apr.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
These 24 essays on life in the Rust Belt -appeared previously in Belt Magazine. In this edited collection, Belt Publishing founder Trubek presents a close-up view of the region, with highly personal essays ranging from creative nonfiction to social science research. Subjects include drug addiction, racial segregation, the environment, poverty, health, and more. The tone reflects a grim hopelessness about the fate of people in the Rust Belt, a region that was once a major manufacturing center. The quality of the pieces varies considerably, and some may be discouraged by the lack of focus, as essays meander from one topic to another. A few writings mention disappointment about the efforts to revitalize cities with trendy enclaves but little more. Among the best entries are those that reflect bittersweet nostalgia for the area by those who have emigrated. Other essays express deep resentment toward those who departed, while those who remain face enduring challenges. VERDICT Readers wanting a clear introduction to life in the Rust Belt might want to look for better edited and organized works in the manner of the oral history and photos found in Thomas Dublin's When the Mines Closed.-Charles K. Piehl, Minnesota State Univ., Mankato © Copyright 2018. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
An assortment of essays by writers who stand on various autobiographical elevations to view America's Rust Belt.Several writersincluding editor Trubek (The History and Uncertain Future of Handwriting, 2016, etc.), the founder and director of Belt Publishingdiscuss the origin of the term Rust Belt, tracing it to Walter Mondale in 1984. However, the concern of these essayists is not so much with the term itself as with the social, economic, and personal elements of the Belt. Trubek has assembled an impressively diverse array of voices, including men, women, gay, straight, black, white, Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and others. Some are professional writers, journalists, historians, teachers, and editors; some are public officials; some are people who have grown up in such Rust Belt communities as Cleveland, Akron, Buffalo, Detroit, and Flint. Some voices are bitter, even angry. Black historian and urban planner Henry Louis Taylor Jr. discusses Buffalo's "hipster, latte-drinking whites" and a "city being re-created for whites." Other writers are bitter about the disproportionate poverty in cities, poor schools and public services, drug abuse and violence, heartless coal companies, and city governments that allow retailers to abandon buildings. But currents of hope also flow throughout. One writer tells about public gardens and community restoration, and another urges Rust Belt residents to move onnot by forgetting but by crafting new ideas of community and progress. Others try to understand the historical and cultural forces that have created the Belt. The essays vary widely in quality; a glance at the notes on the contributors helps explain why: not everyone here is a "professional" writer. Regardless, it seems almost churlish to complain about the quality of a voice that is telling you something significant, something you really ought to knowand need to understand.Essays that are uneven in quality but unrelenting in their frank, even painful, descriptions and assessments of one of America's most devastated lands. Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
