NIckel and Dimned
Nickel and Dimed Barbara Ehrenreich’s tantalizing novel Nickel and Dime, delves deep into the world and psyche of the minimum wage working class. Reading this book has for the most part, reinforced the way I felt about blue-collar workers, as well as added to my understanding of their hard life. Ehrenreich’s style of writing does an amazing job of portraying this, with a very raw, below the skin view of her life, and of those around her. Ehrenreich effectively portrays the problems associated with minimum wage jobs, yet the one thing she doesn’t address directly is how to fix it. Although, if one looks deep enough in the novel they can find the answer. Right from the beginning Ehrenreich seems very respectful towards her peers, and the working class in general. She is always making sure not to step on anyone’s toes, and even begins to categorize herself as one of them. Slowly her attitude begins to change, you begin to notice that Ehrenreich takes on her role to the fullest.