Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century

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Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century
Nomadland (Jessica Bruder).png
First edition cover
Author Jessica Bruder
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Subject Great Recession, poverty, social issues
GenreNonfiction
Publisher W. W. Norton & Company
Publication date
September 2017
Media typePrint, e-book
Pages273
ISBN 978-0-393-24931-6 (First edition hardcover)
OCLC 971352344
331.3/980973
LC Class HD6280 .B77 2017

Nomadland: Surviving America in the Twenty-First Century is a 2017 nonfiction book by American journalist Jessica Bruder about the phenomenon of older Americans who, following the Great Recession from 2007 to 2009, adopted transient lifestyles traveling around the United States in search of seasonal work (vandwelling). [1] [2]

Contents

The book was adapted into the 2020 film of the same name, which was awarded the Academy Award for Best Picture.

Awards

The book was named a "Notable Book" by The New York Times , was a finalist for the J. Anthony Lukas Prize and the Helen Bernstein Book Award, and won the Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Award for Nonfiction [3] [4] [5] and the international Ryszard Kapuściński Award. [6]

Critical reception

Kirkus review stated: "Journalist Bruder... expands her remarkable cover story for Harper’s into a book about low-income Americans eking out a living while driving from locale to locale for seasonal employment... Engaging, highly relevant immersion journalism." [7] Timothy R. Smith of The Denver Post wrote, "Bruder, who teaches at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, writes in an evenhanded, impartial tone, avoiding polemicism. She does, however, insert herself into the narrative, sometimes intrusively... Her instinct to get out of the way is wise. The people she meets and the stories they tell are powerful in their own right." [8] Joe Martin of Real Change commented, "Bruder’s narrative provides an entrée into the lives of resilient Americans meeting challenges with courage and humor. In the nomad world, Bruder encounters an array of appealing characters. They are portrayed with respect and admiration. Some have become friends for whom she has a deep affection." [9]

Film adaptations

The book was adapted into a short documentary film, CamperForce (2017), in which Bruder served as a producer alongside director Brett Story and executive producer Laura Poitras. [10] [11]

In February 2019, Fox Searchlight Pictures announced that the book had been optioned by Frances McDormand and Peter Spears. Adapted and directed by Chloé Zhao, the 2020 film starred McDormand and David Strathairn, alongside Linda May, Charlene Swankie, and Bob Wells, three vandwellers featured in the book. [12] The film received critical acclaim, receiving four nominations at the 78th Golden Globe Awards, winning two: Best Motion Picture – Drama and Best Director – Motion Picture for Zhao. [13] Nominated for seven prizes at the 74th BAFTA Awards, the film won four in April 2021, including Best Picture and Best Director. [14] [15] The film earned six nominations at the 93rd Academy Awards, winning Best Picture, Best Director for Zhao, and Best Actress for McDormand. [16]

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References

  1. ↑ Hochschild, Arlie Russell (2017-11-17). "In 'Nomadland,' the Golden Years Are the Wander Years". The New York Times . ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2019-02-24. Retrieved 2019-02-23.
  2. ↑ "Jessica Bruder | School of Journalism". journalism.columbia.edu. Archived from the original on 2016-12-21. Retrieved 2019-02-23.
  3. ↑ "The Bernstein Awards 2018: Meet the Finalists". New York Public Library. Archived from the original on 2018-05-07. Retrieved 2019-02-22.
  4. ↑ "100 Notable Books of 2017". The New York Times. 2017-11-22. ISSN   0362-4331. Archived from the original on 2019-02-19. Retrieved 2019-02-23.
  5. ↑ "Barnes & Noble Announces the Winners of the 27th Annual Discover Awards". Barnes & Noble Inc. 2018-03-07. Archived from the original on 2018-03-19. Retrieved 2019-02-23.
  6. ↑ Kruszyńska, Anna (2021-09-12). "Jessica Bruder laureatką Nagrody im. Ryszarda Kapuścińskiego". Polska Agencja Prasowa. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
  7. ↑ "Nomadland | Kirkus Reviews". Kirkus Reviews. 2017. Archived from the original on 18 June 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  8. ↑ Smith, Timothy R. (18 October 2017). "Book Review: On the road with a new kind of workforce". The Denver Post . Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  9. ↑ Martin, Joe (6 June 2018). "Book Review: 'Nomadland: Surviving in the Twenty-First Century'". Real Change . Archived from the original on 29 April 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
  10. ↑ Dorn, Lori (2017-12-21). "CamperForce, A Sobering Film About Amazon's Recruiting of Retired RV'ers for Seasonal Positions". Laughing Squid . Retrieved 2019-02-23.
  11. ↑ Field of Vision - CamperForce YouTube
  12. ↑ N'Duka, Amanda (2019-02-12). "Chloé Zhao's 'Nomadland' Starring Frances McDormand Lands At Fox Searchlight". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on 2019-08-26. Retrieved 2019-02-23.
  13. ↑ Lisa Respers France. "Golden Globes 2021: See the full list of nominees". CNN . Archived from the original on 2021-02-04. Retrieved 2021-02-20.
  14. ↑ "Bafta Film Awards 2021: The winners and nominees in full". April 10, 2021. Archived from the original on March 9, 2021. Retrieved April 24, 2024– via www.bbc.co.uk.
  15. ↑ "'Nomadland' wins 4 BAFTAs including best picture, director". AP NEWS. April 20, 2021. Archived from the original on May 8, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
  16. ↑ "2021". Oscars.org . Archived from the original on March 15, 2021. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
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