My thoughts on Jessica Bruder’s book Nomadland - a Review

My sister came home with Nomadland, a loan from a coworker. I had not thought about reading it, but my visceral reaction was pure excitement, which is uncanny because I normally do not enjoy nonfiction.

After reading two Inspector Gamache books in a row (my Review on the Gamache series), I thought I would try it. I had already seen the movie and loved it, so why not try it. Oh my goodness! I have sped through the book breaking all of my nonfiction records - not hard to do.

I have read very little investigative journalism, so I am not an expert here. However, I give kudos to author Jessica Bruder. Years of research and immersion into the culture and work situations of van dwellers is immediately obvious and much appreciated. The friendships she has formed with her focus group are obviously genuine which makes me really uncomfortable for using the term “focus group”. Capturing the diversity of the van dwellers roaming our country, Nomadland is both entertaining and endearing; I found myself eager to go out and meet these people I consider friends already.

The book is vastly different from the movie although there are overlaps. I hate surprises, so I am not going to tell you; sorry, but not sorry.

The one warning I have for those of you planning on reading it is to be prepared for a possible attitude shift in regard to a certain American based company.

Should you read it? If you are interested in van life at all, or enjoy reading about how other’s live their lives, YES!


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