Small-town life: is it for you?

Somewhere in the fog of our first few weeks with CRjr I read a nifty little book titled Habits of the Heartland: Smalltown Life in Modern America by Lyn C. Macgregor. I really enjoyed it, but as I read it in bits and pieces, primarily around 3 and 6 a.m., and with only the amount of attention left over after worrying about the baby (Is he eating right? Is he gaining weight? Who is the genius who gave me a tiny little frail thing to care for?), you'll forgive me if I can't remember much of it.

It's more of a sociological treatise* than it is a recreational read, and it's published by the Cornell University Press, so it may not be for everyone who likes their nonfiction more drenched in narrative. But it was fascinating, and very accessible to read. Macgregor spent a fair amount of time living and working in the small-town community of Viroqua, Wisconsin** (population 4000 and change), and reports back on the very different social groups she found interacting there--from the "Alternatives" who consciously chose Viroqua for its small-town values and its Waldorf school, to the "Regulars," long-time Viroqua families and residents who live there because they have always lived there.

Anyone with an interest in community life and how groups of people REALLY interact might find a lot to consider here. It was also interesting enough to take my mind off pressing issues like baby poo colors and the efficacy of varying swaddling techniques, which I must say I appreciated.

*You know you're a total nerd for sociological treatises when you find yourself reading books like this and recognizing text references by author names alone--"Hm, Putnam, I wonder if she means his book Bowling Alone." Yes, she did. I LOVE sociological treatises.

**Another reason for my interest. You don't find a whole lot of book-length sociological nonfiction about Wisconsin.

Comments

[Melanie]

I'm going to have to buy this book. My husband and I were both raised in small rural towns and after city living we chose a small rural town to call home. This book might explain a lot.

[Citizen Reader]

Melanie,
That's so interesting--I do think you would like this book. I have the luxury of living in a small city near the rural/small-town area in which I grew up, which is handy, because I really want nothing to do with small towns. Don't know why, really, because I believe in small. But I also like blending in with the crowd, which is harder in towns with populations from 1000 to 5000 or so.

[Emily]

This book sounds very interesting, I too love a sociological treatise. I've always meant to read Bowling Alone and you've rekindled that with this post. Thanks!

[Rachael]

You had me at sociological treatise.

Also, I have to buy this book for no other reason than I almost bought 5 acres near Viroqua when I was going through a post-9/11 small-town, back to the land, rah rah phase. It's past, but I still appreciate small towns, and WI in general.

[Savvy Working Gal]

I have to read this book. My husband wants to move to Viroqua; he loves the driftless area. I grew up on a farm in southwestern Wisconsin and couldn't wait to leave; so I don't think I'd be happy going back. If we were to move, I think Viroqua would be more acceptable than other towns in the area. I’ve heard they have a strong artistic community and a bookstore, but I'm like you CR, I prefer not to socialize with my neighbors. Thanks for the review and congrats on CRjr.

[joel hanes]

Not sociological one bit,
but small-town and mordant and beautiful
(and seasonal for Hallowe'en) :

Spoon River Anthology
by Edgar Lee Masters
http://www.bartleby.com/84/index1.html

I commend especially to your attention

Elsa Wertman
Lucinda Matlock
Hamilton Green
Carl Hamblin

[Resident]

Since I have a google alert set up I got to read this: Sadly it was mostly based on her experiences of people she met while working as a part-time bar tender at the American Legions. Not a very good or accurate random sample of Viroqua; I think she had too many beers while trying to write this.

[Citizen Reader]

Rachael,
Ha! I'm a sucker for sociological treatises myself.
Now that you're past your rah, rah stage, do you think you really could live in a small town, in WI or anywhere?

SWG,
Thanks for the congrats! If your husband achieves his dream and you can move someplace like Viroqua, I do wish you the best of luck. I'm with you. I enjoyed my farm upbringing but man, can't say any part of me wants to live on a farm or in a small town now. (I do live in a smallish town, but it's connected to a bigger city, which I like). Personally, if I have a dream, it's to blow a wad of cash someday living for 6 months or a year in someplace like NYC or London. So I can't say the Viroqua dream does much for me either.

Joel,
Thanks for the suggestions! Maybe this is the autumn I get around to "Spoon River Anthology"; I've always wanted to read it.

Resident,
Well, the author was fair about stating how and where she got her information, including as a bartender. Perhaps I am being too generous, but I thought she did rather a good job of reporting on different community groups without really favoring one group over another. It also seemed that she did go to community events and talk to various residents outside the bar, so I've got to give her credit for at least trying. Perhaps I'm biased because I've always lived near small towns but have never felt part of them, but I thought she captured some of the dynamics of the newcomer vs. old-timer vibes that always seem to be a part of such places.

[Citizen Reader]

Resident,
I should have asked, how do you think she could have bettered the book? Were there groups or people in the community you feel she could have talked to but didn't? Or stories she should have told? I get the feeling you've got some very specific thoughts on the subject, and I wouldn't mind hearing them. Thanks!

[Sarah]

Ooh! Ooh! I'm going to rent an apartment when I go to Paris next spring with another libn - I can take notes so if you want to go for six months sometime . . . !

[Savvy Working Gal]

6 months in NYC or London; now you’re talking. I too would like to hear more from Resident.