If you are looking for a light, easy read, I would not recommend my book choice for this week; Rich Boy by Sharon Pomerantz, which tells the story of the obsessively ambitious Robert Vishniak, spans several decades and tackles some heavy topics. The progeny of a poor Philadelphia family in the 1950s, Robert is the first to attend college in his family and has a singular drive to rise above his working class family.
Pomerantz’s account of Robert’s early life – from a prestigious college in 1960s Boston to a big-name law firm in 1970s Manhattan – is captivatingly dramatic; there were many times when I didn’t want to put the book down. However, the book becomes increasingly more bleak towards the end. After 7 years of tireless work, Robert does not make partner at his law firm. After 10 years of marriage, Robert cheats on his wife, who subsequently ends the relationship. The most tragic twist in the plot, however, is the death of Robert’s penny-pinching mother, Stacia; since her death occurs a week after an abysmal stock market crash, Robert and his brother are, ironically, unable to afford a proper coffin for her.
On the whole, I really enjoyed Rich Boy; the study of the self-made man, particularly the war between Robert’s guilt and pride, is fascinating. And while some might find the ending somewhat abrupt, I thought it was the perfect way to terminate Robert’s preoccupation with wealth and status.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at BU chapter.