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Reviews tagging 'Death'
Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance
26 reviews
Graphic: Death, Drug abuse
There were enough things that surprised me in this book that I began bookmarking them with a different color tab so I could come back to them. Some examples: I'm surprised he wasn't always the religious zealot he has turned into. I'm surprised that he acknowledges numerous times that not everyone can just bootstrap their way to success. I'm surprised that he acknowledges privilege. I'm surprised there's acknowledgement of racism and classism. I'm surprised he doesn't seem to have a strong bent toward conservative right-wing philosophies. Some things he says in this book stand in stark contrast to the values and policies he now upholds as our VP. It seems that in recent years JD has lost touch with the empathy and humility he shows in this book and has begun to hold more rigid attitudes about the 'right' way to be an American. It was interesting to have a peek into his past and compare that to what we see from Vance today.
Graphic: Addiction, Child abuse, Abandonment
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Classism
Minor: Cursing
Graphic: Addiction, Death
A lot of the conclusions Vance draws about family and culture are true in my experience. I personally know a lot of people here in East Tennessee who have dealt with the drug users and alcoholics for parents, the lack of a stable home, foster care, abuse, nonexistent support systems, financial problems, etc. that Vance lists as problems limiting our youths' abilities to succeed in life. These things affect a child's outlook on life. As a community, we need to work together to figure out how to help these people so we can stop calling our kids disadvantaged. We need to find ways to change the culture that breeds these issues and ultimately I think that is what Vance is getting at. He didn't move up classes just because he is hardworking. He says through this book that he was able to achieve upward mobility because, despite all the hardship and poor role models, he ended up surrounded by people who supported him, made him believe in himself, made him want a better life for himself, and gave him the tools to succeed.
Minor: Addiction, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse
Some moments after first half of book were relatable. Especially how unwritten rules are known by upper class/wealthy where middle and poor people don’t even understand the “game” being played. And unease over losing self identity with social mobility .
Hillbilly “great migration” for better lives TN/KY->Ohio/Indiana has interesting parallels with Hispanics in TX/NM/AZ -> Mexico (only it’s across country lines instead of just states so becomes an immigration issue rather than just traveling to cultural home place, visiting relatives, and sending money home)
Minor: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Classism
Graphic: Toxic relationship
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Classism
Minor: Child abuse, Child death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Infertility, Miscarriage, Violence, Grief, Pregnancy, Abandonment, War
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Physical abuse, Racism, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Gaslighting
There are also some funny quips in here too so its not all melancholy and depressing.
Awesome that J.D. Vance was able to break the cycle that many are unable to.
Well worth the read, even if you don't agree politically with Vance.
5/5 stars
Moderate: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Miscarriage, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Car accident, Suicide attempt, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Alcohol, War
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Death, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Grief, Abandonment, Alcohol
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, Classism
Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Death of parent
Minor: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Fatphobia, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Religious bigotry, Suicide attempt, Murder, Pregnancy, War