Far From Home: Life and Loss in Two American Towns

Far From Home follows parallel narratives in two small American towns during the 1980s: Kent, Connecticut and Winooski, Vermont. Through extensive on-the-ground reporting, Powers documents how these communities grapple with economic and social pressures that threaten their traditional ways of life. The story centers on key individuals in each location, including a beloved local figure in Kent and a determined mayor in Winooski. Powers traces their efforts to preserve their communities' character while navigating forces of change that extend far beyond their control. Both towns face painful transitions as outside influences and broader cultural shifts impact their residents. The narrative captures daily life, local politics, and pivotal moments that reshape these small but distinct places. The book stands as an examination of American small-town identity and the tensions between preservation and progress. Through these specific stories, Powers explores universal questions about community, belonging, and the cost of change.

Readers commend Powers' detailed reporting and storytelling about how economic changes affected Kent, Connecticut and Whitehall, Illinois in the 1980s. Multiple reviews note his ability to capture the personalities of residents and provide historical context for each town's challenges. What readers liked: - In-depth character portraits - Clear connections between national trends and local impacts - Even-handed treatment of both communities - Strong research and historical background What readers disliked: - Sometimes meanders from main narrative - Ending feels inconclusive to some - Focus occasionally splits between too many subjects Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (19 ratings) Amazon: 4.0/5 (6 reviews) Notable reader quotes: "Powers shows how larger forces reshape small town life without resorting to stereotypes" - Amazon reviewer "The personal stories make abstract economic changes feel real" - Goodreads review "Good reporting but needs tighter editing" - Library Journal review

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🌟 Author Ron Powers won the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism in 1973, becoming the first television critic to receive this prestigious award. 📚 The book follows two small American towns—Kent, Connecticut and Gillette, Wyoming—examining how economic and social changes in the 1970s impacted their communities. 🏘️ Kent, CT was transformed from a quiet farming community into a destination for wealthy New Yorkers seeking second homes, while Gillette became a boom town due to coal mining. 🔍 Powers spent three years researching and writing the book, living in both communities to gain firsthand experience of their transformations. 💫 The book's themes of rural American change and community dissolution were particularly prescient, as similar patterns would continue to reshape small towns across America in the following decades.