Thursday Tea: American Rust by Philipp Meyer

I'm reading American Rust by Philipp Meyer, a novel of two young men who want something more than their dying eastern Pennsylvania town can give them but who don't quite have the means or wherewithal to move along. How can they leave when Isaac is responsible for his aging father; Poe, for his depressed mother? Stay or go, neither can envision his future.

Here's a snippet from p. 6:

From a distance, from the size of them, they might have been father and son. Poe with his big jaw and his small eyes and even now, two years out of school, a nylon football jacket, his name and player number on the front and BUELL EAGLES on the back. Isaac short and skinny, his eyes too large for his face, his clothes too large for him as well, his old backpack stuffed with his sleeping bag, a change of clothes, his notebooks. They went down the narrow dirt road toward the river, mostly it was woods and meadows, green and beautiful in the first weeks of spring.

Look for a guest post from Philipp Meyer on Beth Fish Reads tomorrow.

The Tea. I'm drinking Adagio's Cranberry Tea. This is a very subtle fruity black tea that tastes pretty good on a snowy winter afternoon. The cranberry flavor is not overwhelming, but the aroma is enticing. Here's the description: "Premium black tea from Sri Lanka flavored with sweet, tangy cranberries. This delicious autumn delight is a great complement to your next turkey feast, which your guests are sure to gobble down."

The Assessment. Isaac and Poe may drink tea, but neither of them has the money or desire to buy fancy teas off the Internet. If they drink tea at all they are way more likely to buy a grocery store brand of nondescript black tea. If Isaac ever makes it to California, enrolls in college, and changes his life, he may find himself sipping cranberry tea at some student-faculty function.

If the snow doesn't go away soon, I think I'm going to be pouring something a whole lot stronger in my mug! What about you? Oh, and don't forget to tell me what you're reading or listening to this week.

American Rust at an Indie

American Rust at Powell's
American Rust at Amazon
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Thursday Tea is hosted by Anastasia at Birdbrain(ed) Book Blog. Here's how it works: Tell us what tea you are drinking (and if you like it). And then tell us what book are you reading (and if you like it). Finally, tell us if they go together.

Source: Review copy (see review policy).
FTC: I buy all teas myself, I am not a tea reviewer.