Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was until 1987 the most important Stahlproduktionsort the world. With the end of the era hundred and fifty thousand people lost their jobs. Against this background, the action contributes to the novel.
Twenty year old Isaac English maintains his father, who is tied after an accident at work in the steel mill to a wheelchair. His mother killed herself, and his sister Lee lives in Connecticut, where she is married to Simon, the son of wealthy parents. Should she take care of the domineering father still thinks Isaac, uses the savings and makes off.
California is his goal. On the way he stops still with his friend Billy Poe. Squatting in front of his trailer, next to him is beer cans pile up, the environment is just as unkempt as the man. Isaac will accompany a part of the way Billy.
A heavy rain forces them to seek shelter in a disused machine hall. There they receive after a short time the company of three men: “This is our place!” There is a scuffle, in which one of the men Billy grabs, pushes a knife to his neck and him “to the eggs go.
” Isaac wants to free his friend, takes a ball, she throws the guy’s head, injuring him fatally …
flee The two boys, but let Billy Poe Football jacket with name and player number next to the corpse lying , Billy is clear: According to him, will not be searched for Isaac English …
Chief Bud Harris brings Billy Poe from.
He had used once before for Billy when he was charged with assault. At that time he had acted in self-defense and was acquitted on probation. But now the situation is hopeless: A new prosecutor wants to present himself with this case; the prison is outside of Harris’ sphere of influence, and then also a witness has reported.
The fate takes its course. While Billy Poe goes to jail and the hierarchies and intrigue is exposed there in lawless space, Isaac has taken off again.
The author makes us a bleak picture of a land that is characterized by its dead industry , The heyday is long gone. Today gigantic ruin fields of the partially demolished steel mills and blast furnaces spoil the area.
The people who have remained have no perspective. The depressed mood, the tragic, hopeless situation of the protagonists involved is transferred to the reader. Each chapter is devoted to a person, and in the action proceeds to or with the person slowly, sometimes tough, forward – even rust takes time. In monologues that person reflects its location and and philosophizes about his life. All main characters share more than friendship. Billy Poe had a relationship with Isaac’s sister Lee. Chief Bud Harris pulls it again and again to Grace, Billy Poe loving mother. Impressive strength of character of the prejudged by the public Billy Poe (whose father was already criminal). He proves Isaac towards true friendship, which is “thicker than blood.”
Philip Meyer did with his novel “rust” a socially critical statement. A time of industrial prosperity following the economic decline. What remains are oppressed, despairing of their fate people. Unemployment, social decline and broken families are not a good breeding ground. Using the example of two friends leads us started the problem of social decay and its consequences for the individual in mind: Isaac, a clever student has, namely to study the opportunity but did not take. Billy Poe, the outstanding football star, suggests the offer of a scholarship from.
A deeply moving novel that could hardly be more topical in view of the global economic crisis.
Rust by Philipp Meyer Review. (2019, Nov 18). Retrieved from https://paperap.com/rust-by-philipp-meyer-my-review/