Waiting for Nothing

Kromer's sparse prose evokes the twin horrors of poverty and hunger. The text is sharp and clear and reads at a very fast clip. Throughout, Kromer feels a sense of burning injustice. He is deeply upset by class inequality--at wealth in the face of poverty, at gluttony in the face of starvation. His character is tormented by unfairness to the point that he would consider robbing a bank. Through his prism of hunger, the world is divided into haves and have-nots, and the haves are divided into those who are decent enough to help and those who are cold and mean. Description is Kromer's main bag here and he does it well. Cold winds, ratty clothes, women prostituting themselves for a meal--it feels immediate and real. These are the words of someone who has been there. I would recommend the book strongly, particularly to young and remedial readers. The prose is so honest and basic that this book could be easily mastered by kids in junior high school. Struggling readers in community college, prison, and 4 year universities would also enjoy this gripping portrayal of poverty in America. For more mature readers, the book is still rewarding, although lacking some sort of direction or greater authorship.