American Rust

Set against a backdrop of contemporary American ruin, author Philipp Meyer's "American Rust" shows readers the depth of despair and the power of loyal friendship to redeem us. This highly original novel chronicles Isaac English's attempt to escape his dead-end life in a Pennsylvania steel town where he has been left to take care of his dying father, while shaking the personal pain caused by his mother's recent suicide. As we follow English's decision to leave with high-school friend Billy Poe, the tables soon turn for the worse as a violent incident leaves them both in dire need of comfort. The impact of this novel can not easily be measured, save through the sheer and unrelenting power it delivers.