Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
could not finish. i really liked it at the beginning, but she quickly began losing me. and then later she includes multiple very extremely detailed sex scenes, which felt very out of place in the work. i am by no means a prude, but it was uncomfortable to listen to and jarring overall. I only got halfway through.
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
medium-paced
This was an intriguing book, it gave a thoughtful look into the relentless pursuit of higher education while facing many challenges and harships. Land was able to balance being vulnerable and open with her experiences as a single-mother in poverty and completing her degree with a level of detail that created a picture of her situation but still left much to be curious about.
Land's follow-up to her bestselling memoir, Maid, is thought-provoking and provides readers with an intimate look at American poverty. The pace seemed to move slowly for me, but I appreciated learning about someone's direct experiences with the American safety net programs. It's first-hand evidence that the programs are failing to do what they should be. I did grapple with understanding Land's choice to have another child while struggling to feed herself and her first child but acknowledge that it was not my decision to make. Her monumental efforts to complete a degree under the constraints of poverty are laudable.
Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for winning a Goodreads giveaway.
Note: I received a copy of this book from the publisher for winning a Goodreads giveaway.
emotional
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
This book is a winner. Honest clear writing that brings to light issues that single moms face daily.
This follows Land’s struggles after escaping her abusive ex, moving with her young daughter to Missoula, Montana for a fresh start. I can’t imagine sharing parenting duties in this situation. So much empathy. Still, I have mixed feelings on this follow up to Maid which itself was quite poignant and eye-opening. It’s hard not to judge Land’s personal life decisions, but no one’s perfect, and I appreciate her honesty. Truly cringy at times.
it's weird to review memoirs but here we are. i much preferred maid, as this one felt a bit rushed and disjointed at times
**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review.
I honestly think people are missing the point of this book. People living at the poverty line are still allowed to have hopes and dreams, as Stephanie Land did with her MFA, but a lot of the other reviews criticize her for taking too many risks or being selfish. Being able to live a life free of risk (or taking calculated risk) is a privilege afforded to people with money. Security is a privilege when it should be a right, and Land was working hard to make that happen for herself.
The story is emotional and really kept me turning the pages. As a higher education professional, this is a must read. Anyone who claims to cultivate inclusive university environments needs to take notes on how to keep doing better.
I really enjoyed this book and it was a quick read for me. I’m rating it a 5 to offset the negative reviews.
I honestly think people are missing the point of this book. People living at the poverty line are still allowed to have hopes and dreams, as Stephanie Land did with her MFA, but a lot of the other reviews criticize her for taking too many risks or being selfish. Being able to live a life free of risk (or taking calculated risk) is a privilege afforded to people with money. Security is a privilege when it should be a right, and Land was working hard to make that happen for herself.
The story is emotional and really kept me turning the pages. As a higher education professional, this is a must read. Anyone who claims to cultivate inclusive university environments needs to take notes on how to keep doing better.
I really enjoyed this book and it was a quick read for me. I’m rating it a 5 to offset the negative reviews.
3.5. I really hope most Higher Ed programs are requiring this book. I think all who plan to be in the world of academia should have this book as a required reading - when we think about training those new faculty - are we thinking about non-traditional students? Especially those who are at or below the poverty line?
While the writing was good and overall story of her struggle was interesting, I felt the detailed sex scenes were unnecessary. The main premise of this book(and the previous book) is how much the author struggles to make ends meet. I thought it was very irresponsible of her to add a dog to the family. Pets are not cheap and there aren't many, if any, assistance programs for pets. I was even more disappointed when she decided to have a second kid. Yes, it is her right as she states, but why put another child through the struggle and add to the problem.