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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
I have not read her earlier book, or seen the TV series, "Maid".
Since "Angela's Ashes" so many memoirs (especialy American) have a, "Oh my life was SO hard" feel to them. There is a bit of that in here as well. But over all what I get, and enjoy, is the feeling of perserverance. And choice. And especially in the last third of the book, joy and kindness.
What I also like is that some of her previous studies as a student of Sociology comes to play here. What abusers are, poverty and what others expect you should or should not be capable of doing if you are poor (boy, does that come out in the 1 and 2 star reviews on Goodreads!), and that word that Americans hate to admit to - Class. Yep, this book is not just about classes at the U of Montana, but also about social class in the US of A.
I got a bit of a kick reading about feeling out of place as a 35 year old student at a university. Having gone to college in a large city, older students, especially at public universities, are almost more the norm than the exception.
May I suggest books from a previous generation, a different approach to single motherhood and academia - Mary Clearman Blew. She grew up in *rural* MT, and spent time as a student in Missoula, and also a faculty member at some of the smaller (and often 2 yr schools) in the U of MT and MT State U systems. She spent decades over-riding the "No" so many told her.
I look forward to reading the continuing story of Land's life and career.
My thanks to my local PL for adding this to their collection - and nice to see there is a Wait List to read it!
Since "Angela's Ashes" so many memoirs (especialy American) have a, "Oh my life was SO hard" feel to them. There is a bit of that in here as well. But over all what I get, and enjoy, is the feeling of perserverance. And choice. And especially in the last third of the book, joy and kindness.
What I also like is that some of her previous studies as a student of Sociology comes to play here. What abusers are, poverty and what others expect you should or should not be capable of doing if you are poor (boy, does that come out in the 1 and 2 star reviews on Goodreads!), and that word that Americans hate to admit to - Class. Yep, this book is not just about classes at the U of Montana, but also about social class in the US of A.
I got a bit of a kick reading about feeling out of place as a 35 year old student at a university. Having gone to college in a large city, older students, especially at public universities, are almost more the norm than the exception.
May I suggest books from a previous generation, a different approach to single motherhood and academia - Mary Clearman Blew. She grew up in *rural* MT, and spent time as a student in Missoula, and also a faculty member at some of the smaller (and often 2 yr schools) in the U of MT and MT State U systems. She spent decades over-riding the "No" so many told her.
I look forward to reading the continuing story of Land's life and career.
My thanks to my local PL for adding this to their collection - and nice to see there is a Wait List to read it!
Prompt #38: Memoir by a Person You Admire
This was a struggle for me. Like everyone else, I loved Maid and found it eye-opening, thought-provoking, and very well-written. I was excited to continue the journey with Land. But somehow, this memoir felt weighted down with recriminations. I get the anger, but by targeting it at people she feels have wronged her, you start to wonder where her responsibility lies in any of this. It's not the system, it's her mean ex, her crazy one-time boyfriend who doesn't want another baby, her judgmental friend, her irresponsible roommate, her harsh college professor. I didn't really like Stephanie by the end of the book. I felt it was hard to root for someone who continually made choices that made her life harder. There's no denying her hard work and determination, but I felt more exhausted than inspired by the end.
This was a struggle for me. Like everyone else, I loved Maid and found it eye-opening, thought-provoking, and very well-written. I was excited to continue the journey with Land. But somehow, this memoir felt weighted down with recriminations. I get the anger, but by targeting it at people she feels have wronged her, you start to wonder where her responsibility lies in any of this. It's not the system, it's her mean ex, her crazy one-time boyfriend who doesn't want another baby, her judgmental friend, her irresponsible roommate, her harsh college professor. I didn't really like Stephanie by the end of the book. I felt it was hard to root for someone who continually made choices that made her life harder. There's no denying her hard work and determination, but I felt more exhausted than inspired by the end.
emotional
informative
reflective
fast-paced
challenging
emotional
inspiring
Hey JD Vance… this is how you write a book about poverty in America. This is the real story about hunger, falling between the cracks and never quite having enough. But it’s also an interesting look at what society feels people at different socioeconomic levels “deserve”. Pregnancy is applauded for those who can afford it; but looked down on for those living on the cusp of homelessness. I couldn’t put this book down- Stephanie Land spins a beautiful; and heartbreaking story about single motherhood and just getting by.
I did not enjoy this book, this single mom of the past 17 years was angry throughout most of it. I would give it a 4 star for writing, and a 2 star for enjoyment. It described the loneliness of single parenthood well, I will say it had that going for it. I agree with the author that much of our system or society is not fair when it comes to the treatment of single mothers, but she just seemed so immature to me. She decides to have another child when she cannot afford the first one, and then becomes angry at her friends when they are not as supportive or as generous donating their time as she would like. She whines about not having time to herself, and for not having enough opportunities to go out with friends, to date, to have a life. She was 35 and wanting to hang out in bars with the 21 year old kids she went to college with. Guess what, you are a single mom, suck it up, it stinks. I did not go anywhere for about a decade, no joke. Her book Maid was a step in the right direction for the average person to understand the grind and injustices of poverty, but I think this book is going to have most people thinking that her poverty is the result of her own dumb choices.
Loved the memoir as social commentary. She lived and struggled and points to the injustices in the systems she had to navigate while pointing out the privilege she did benefit from. Really compelling.
This book is a powerful follow-up to Maid, where Stephanie Land takes her personal narrative even further into the challenges of social inequality, particularly in the realm of higher education. What I love about this book is how it remains so deeply grounded in Land’s authentic voice—it’s raw, honest, and pulls no punches about the systemic barriers she faced. She lays bare the exhausting, often soul-crushing reality of juggling motherhood, education, and work, all while trying to rise above a system that seems designed to hold her down. It felt like an important continuation of her story, not just about survival but about the pursuit of something better.
What really hit home for me is how Class explores the realities of returning to school later in life, the weight of student debt, and the hope that education can change your circumstances—while recognizing how broken that dream can feel. Land’s resilience and persistence stand out even more this time around, making this a compelling read that sits perfectly next to Maid. If you liked her first memoir, this one is a must-read.
What really hit home for me is how Class explores the realities of returning to school later in life, the weight of student debt, and the hope that education can change your circumstances—while recognizing how broken that dream can feel. Land’s resilience and persistence stand out even more this time around, making this a compelling read that sits perfectly next to Maid. If you liked her first memoir, this one is a must-read.
