Book Review: 'Nomadland' by Jessica Bruder

✰✰✰✰½ Imagine suddenly finding yourself unemployed and houseless. Many Americans have found themselves in just this predicament and have turned to living the nomadic vanlife. Chasing seasonal jobs and warmer weather, this resilient group of people fly under the radar to eke out a living.

Being itinerant is not easy. One must constantly keep moving and figuring out how to get by with very little. What makes this story even more fascinating is the fact that many of these people are older adults. Instead of living out their retirement years in comfort, they are trying to stretch out their meager finances while living on the road. This is truly an interesting read that gets one thinking about their own future.

The Bottom Line: This book was both easy to read and fascinating. I quickly became invested in learning about the main characters' lives and wondering how they were doing. What struck me is that these are regular people just like me. Many have worked hard their entire lives. Yet, one stroke of bad luck can quickly change your future plans. I was surprised that this book was so engaging, and I appreciated how the author immersed herself in the nomadic community. Highly recommended reading for everyone. This would be great reading for college students as well.

Book Club Notes: So far, this title has been one of the group’s most favorite books since we began meeting in 2017. We respected that the author actually “lived the life” without being judgmental. This was a world outside our own experience filled with lots of obstacles and prejudice. It’s a solitary existence. Bruder obviously had done deep research on the topic. Additionally, she was able to get first-hand experiences from many of the people she met along the way. The personal experiences that were related were eye opening.

It was interesting to see how social media started playing a role in people’s lives during that time as well. How social media contributed to people communicating and helping each other out.

On a scale of 1 - 5, with 5 being the highest, the book garnered an average rating of 4.6 stars. Ratings ranged from 4 - 5. Sadly, several of the group did not have a chance to watch the movie. Those that did rated it much lower than the book; the movie came in with an average rating of 3.25. Ratings ranged from 3 - 3.5.

What’s really interesting about the movie is that several of the people from the book played themselves. It was really cool “meeting” those people on the big screen. For further reading, check out these articles from Fodor's Travel and Time Magazine.

Book discussion questions can be found at Norton and PBS. Also, check out the insights & questions from Blanche's Book Club.

Details: Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-first Century by Jessica Bruder. Paperback published by W. W. Norton & Company in 2017. 288 p. ISBN: 978-0-393-35631-1 

Book Review: 'Great Joy' by Kate DiCamillo

✰✰✰✰✰ As a little girl prepares for the Christmas pageant at church, she looks out the window and notices an organ grinder and his monkey. She wonders where they go at night when it’s cold and snowy, but no one else seems to care. On the eve of the pageant she invites the duo to church. When it’s time to say her single line, she just can’t; it just doesn’t seem right. All the little girl can think about is how cold it is and how sad the organ grinder looks. As everyone in church waits, the doors open, and the little girl knew it was time.

The Bottom Line: This gentle tale exemplifies the true spirit of Christmas. Ibatoulline’s luminous illustrations in acrylic gouache are stunning. Highly recommended for children in grades K - 2.

Details: Great Joy written by Kate DiCamillo & illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline. Picture book published by Candlewick Press in 2007. 32 p. ISBN: 978-0-7636-2920-5 

Book Review: 'A Street Cat Named Bob' by James Bowen

✰✰✰✰½ James Bowen was one of many buskers in London. Originally from Australia, Bowen had struggled to make his way. As a recovering addict, he had recently secured a flat. One day he noticed an injured cat in the hallway. He was immediately inspired to help this creature even though he could barely take care of himself. With little to spare, James sought medical help for the cat, now named Bob. After nursing Bob back to good health, Bowen released him. Given the choice, Bob had other ideas and decided to follow Bowen on his busking jobs. The man and cat quickly became an inseparable duo. And this is their story…one of friendship, adventure, survival, and love.

The Bottom Line: This heartwarming tale is perfect to read anytime…on a lunch break, while traveling, or even at the beach. It’s an easy read that will inspire you to look at people differently. Sadly, Bob passed away in 2020, but this story will live on and continue to inspire. Highly recommended for everyone interested in human-animal relationships, friendship, homelessness, and addiction.

Book Club Notes: In a nutshell, we loved this book! On a scale from 1 – 5 with 5 being the highest, the average rating for this book was 4.5. The movie was entertaining and captured the essence of the book. We enjoyed the unique perspective of seeing things from Bob’s point of view; how cute was that?

All in all, the book/movie taught us to see things from a different perspective, to stop stereotyping, and to give people (and animals) a chance. Most of us have interacted with a special animal sometime in our lives, so it was easy to connect with Bob’s story. Discussion questions are plentiful online, but the resource that stood out is available from the Okanagan Regional Library.

This book club pick is very highly recommended for book clubs interested in a feel good title that still has lots of deep topics to discuss. Check it out for your book club today!

Details: A Street Cat Named Bob: And How He Saved My Life by James Bowen. Paperback published by Thomas Dunne Books in 2012. 320 p. ISBN: 978-1-250-04867-7 

Book Review: 'Same Kind of Different As Me' by Ron Hall & Denver Moore

✰✰✰½ If there were ever two men who were complete opposites, it would be Ron Hall and Denver Moore. Ron was white, wealthy, and married. Denver was black, poor, and had spent time in jail. Ron was an educated art dealer who despised the homeless. Denver was a modern-day slave who was as tough as they come.

Yet, somehow their paths crossed. They would have completely ignored each other if it weren’t for one thing…Ron Hall’s wife. Deborah Hall was full of unconditional love,  and she didn’t hesitate to reach out to people in need. She dedicated herself to serving others, and in the wake of discovering her husband’s infidelity, Deborah felt called to serve the homeless. Ron, feeling the call to be a better husband, agreed to help out.

Deborah recognized Denver as the poor, wise man from her dream, a man who would change the city. In order for the dream to come true, Deborah asked Ron to befriend Denver. The two get off to a rocky start, but God works in mysterious ways. With a little persistence, faith, and trust, a bond began to develop, but who will really be helped by the friendship? The answer may surprise you.

The Bottom Line: The book is written in the perspective of both men. The chapters alternate between Ron and Denver, with each man giving his version of the events. Each has a very distinct voice, and it's fascinating to read. Recommended for people who are interested in social issues including homelessness and volunteering. Also, recommended for readers who enjoy inspirational books about friendship and faith.

Book Club Notes: Overall, this was an enjoyable book to read. It was fascinating reading about the same events from the point of view of two very different people. General comments from the group included that this was a story that needed to be told. We learned about modern-day slavery and the issues the homeless face on a daily basis. Our favorite story from the book was when Denver talked about the fishing technique called "catch and release" and how some people apply that technique to friendship. Denver was indeed a wise man.

This was a good story worth reading about or watching the movie; however, the movie left a lot of our favorite scenes from the book out. Nonetheless, those who watched only the movie really liked it and were able to grasp all the major themes. As a group we liked the book just a little bit better than the movie though. On a scale from 1 – 5 with 5 being the highest, the book received an average of 4, while the movie received a 3.5.

To supplement this discussion we watched the following video featuring both Ron Hall and Denver Moore.  It illustrates their friendship and is definitely worth watching.

Details: Same Kind of Different As Me by Ron Hall & Denver Moore with Lynn Vincent. Paperback published by W. Publishing Group in 2006. 272 p. ISBN: 978-0-8499-1910-7

Book Review: 'Breaking Night' by Liz Murray

✰✰✰✰ Growing up in poverty as the daughter of drug addicted parents, Liz Murray was destined to fail. Her family history included mental illness and homelessness; the odds were stacked against her. With little support and few resources as a child, she began bagging groceries for tips, pumping gas, and shoplifting just to get food. What she could not steal, she had to rely on the generosity of friends and neighbors for basic necessities like food and a place to sleep. Amazingly, even though she rarely attended school, Murray managed to squeak by until her truancy caught up with her.

Child welfare took her into custody at the age of thirteen. Vowing to never to be part of the system again, at the age of fifteen Murray took to the streets as her mother lay dying in the hospital from AIDS.  Dropping out of school completely, Murray focused on building her own family, her tribe. With friends from the neighborhood, school, and the streets including her sidekick, Sam, and drug dealing boyfriend, Carlos, Murray struggled to survive. Throughout it all, Murray did not pity herself, nor did she blame others for her situation.

After making many wrong choices and a few good ones, Liz’s determination to move forward finally began to pay off. She enrolled in an alternative high school, and completed four years of coursework in only two. Her struggles became hurdles to jump over one by one, again and again. Her next goal was to pursue a college degree, and not just anywhere but at Harvard University no less.

The Bottom Line: Author Liz Murray holds nothing back in this gritty memoir about the first nineteen years of her life. Her remarkable journey from the streets of the Bronx to the Ivy League will inspire readers to pursue their own dreams. By realizing that education was her way out, Murray overcame countless hurdles. Her story is one of desperation and survival; yet, it is also a story of determination, hope, and resiliency. She bravely and unabashedly shares her challenge to overcome the barriers of poverty and the stereotype of being homeless.

Highly recommended reading for everyone. This heartbreaking memoir inspires readers to take a second look at how we view both the homeless and ourselves. Once you have finished reading this deeply moving memoir, you’ll think about this book days, weeks, and even months later.

Note: While some readers may shy away from intense topics like sexual molestation and the graphic scenes where her parents shoot up, this book is appropriate for both college students and mature high school students in 11^th or 12^th grade. Nevertheless, it may be too graphic for sensitive readers.

Book Club Notes: Overall, Liz Murray's memoir was an engaging, inspirational book that was a very quick read for most. There are many turning points in this book that make it a great pick for book clubs. Incidents like pumping gas with Kevin, her decision to leave Carlos, and going to the interview at Prep instead of having pizza provided ample discussion opportunities. Also interesting were her relationships with her parents, sister, and friends. Although some of the scenes were too graphic for a few members, most approached this book with sincerity and an appreciation for what this young woman has both survived and achieved. We agreed that Murray's beautiful writing style was honest and authentic.

 

The average rating in the group was 4.5 stars. Some felt the book could have ended sooner while others longed for more information about the author's present life. Perhaps there will be another book in the future; there is certainly plenty of interest. Highly recommended for book clubs and college classrooms. Check out the following resources for your book club meeting: Hyperion Book Group Extra, About.com Discussion Questions, and Liz Murray's FaceBook Page.

Details: Breaking Night: A Memoir of Forgiveness, Survival, and My Journey from Homeless to Harvard by Liz Murray. Paperback published by Hyperion in 2010. 352 p. ISBN: 978-1-4013-1059-2