Reviews tagging 'Toxic relationship'

Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance

12 reviews

dstone6298's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.75

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Drug abuse, Alcoholism, Death, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Addiction, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Bullying

pezfilledcookies's review against another edition

hopeful reflective fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Addiction and Death

Minor: Drug abuse and Toxic relationship

demartinodoc's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense slow-paced

2.25

I had high hopes for this book, but was really disappointed overall. It comes across as narrow and perhaps incorrect at times- A redeeming factor is acknowledging that it is relatively dated and the author makes repeated references to the fact he is telling it as he remembers. This read may be more enjoyable as a text read and not an audiobook, as overly repetitive sentences about the same exact subject can get a little bit tough to listen to at times. Was very close to not finishing, but it did make me think quite a bit about our current economic systems so I decided to power through (plus, I was in a car and already listening). The author’s lines of thinking can at times literally imply he is smarter or better than going through the trouble of learning more about trauma and other major fields of study from the professionals and instead relies on his own “research”. Interesting read, but probably won’t reread or recommend.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Addiction, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Abandonment and Alcoholism

Minor: Bullying and Violence

jdromsky's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative reflective tense fast-paced

4.0

I agree with the praise on the front cover of my copy that this book “is essential reading for this moment in American history.” Hillbilly Elegy was incredibly informative but lovingly so: author JD Vance just wants to tell his story and explain how his life has led him to draw certain conclusions about the world. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Classism, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Death, and Toxic relationship

baytamax's review against another edition

informative reflective medium-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Drug use, and Addiction

Minor: War

dcm7918's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Ableism and Suicidal thoughts

iamahmedkhalifa's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative sad medium-paced

4.75

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Content Warnings

Minor: Emotional abuse, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Mental illness, Child abuse, Drug use, and Drug abuse

isleoflinds's review against another edition

1.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Alcohol, Alcoholism, Bullying, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Classism, Emotional abuse, Death of parent, Drug use, Drug abuse, Gaslighting, Sexism, Physical abuse, Ableism, Addiction, Gun violence, Hate crime, Mental illness, and Misogyny

angelasosh's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

2.0

I didn’t know who J.D. Vance was before I started this book and had I known, I would’ve been more hesitant to listen to it. I listened to this as an audiobook and don’t think I would’ve been able to read a physical copy of it as I don’t believe the writing was all that fantastic. As a memoir of his childhood, the book is fine. But I personally felt his analysis of a culture in crisis was lacking; it felt kind of vague to me and i don’t feel he addressed the core of why some Appalachian families struggle the way they do. He analyzed his specific family but missed the mark on the culture as a whole. I won’t argue that his childhood wasn’t difficult, but I do feel he failed to acknowledge some of the privileges that did work to his advantage. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Drug use, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Alcohol, and Bullying

lpswims's review

reflective slow-paced

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Child abuse and Physical abuse