Don Fagin's Pulitzer prize winning work on Toms River is eye-opening for the reader. This book caught my eye recently when a new order of non-fiction was delivered to the library. The reason it was so alluring? First, the name of the town (and title) stand out on the cover and spine in a prominent white font. Secondly, my parents lived in Toms River during the 1970s and 1980s, where one of my older brothers was born. An award-winning book with a personal connection made Toms River a must read for me.
The modern day story begins in the 1950s, when a chemical plant is constructed in Toms River, New Jersey. The journey continues through to the present, where there is no clear conclusion, as the story continues in other locations (mainly China). Interspersed with the current happenings of Toms River is a detailed history of chemical manufacturing, environmental regulation, and the development of epidemiology. The chemical plant is not the only cause for concern, as other illegal dumps and shady deals happen in this normally sleepy coastal town.
Toms River was an excellently crafted story clearly deserving of the Pulitzer Prize. Fagin was masterful at weaving the history and modern events together to create one unified story. The cast of characters was dizzying, and the details throughout the years were numerous, yet Fagin's writing spurred me to keep reading. A bit technical at times, this was not a quick read. I would recommend Toms River to readers interested in non-fiction, especially history or science.
If you want a second opinion on the book, Abigail Zuger, M.D., of the New York Times wrote a review of Toms River entitled "On the Trail of Cancer".
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