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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
I love Stephanie Land. She writes in a clear, charismatic way about what poverty is like, and the obstacles in the way of access to higher education.
A memoir, it is for sure. There is so much more she could have done with the topic of poverty and higher education. I kept reading, hoping that she would become more reflective, but instead, I felt like I was reading her diary. And what the point of overly graphic sex scene. Who cares? How does it relate at all to the story?
After reading Ms. Land’s debut novel “Maid”, I was really looking forward to this next book. To be honest, I was expecting more of the same: how socio-economics comes into play and makes life difficult for those who are on the bottom wrung trying to get through life each day on limited dollars.
Did I get that? Sort of. What I did get was a lot of whining early in the book about Ms. Land’s life after her divorce from her first husband. While as a reader I’m only getting one side of the story, it’s clear that there is no love lost between the two and that this guy is a loser. This plays out throughout the course of this book.
After that, I assumed I would eventually get the details about how life works against those who are hurting and not making a living wage. Instead, I got very detailed sexual exploits from a woman who goes onto blame everyone about her misfortunes. Let’s be fair, there are times in the book when Ms. Land makes some compelling arguments, mainly about food stamps and how the system doesn’t seem to work for those who are looking to go to college to make their life better. Having to show that you have a full-time job (when clearly she doesn’t) doesn’t seem to help her situation. This was the part of the book I wanted, which was: how is the system broken? How can it be fixed to provide services more adequately for people that desperately need them? But I barely got that in this book. There was barely anything in this book that highlights how the “system” works against her. She whines about it, sure; but she doesn’t go into detail too often.
Instead, I got more personal setbacks which were mainly caused by Ms. Land herself, which she doesn’t take responsibility for. At the end of the day, this book was about Land trying to get her college degree as quickly as possible in order to make her life better. While I respect that she wanted to do better for herself, everyone else pays a price along the way and “the others” are painted in a negative light for not assisting her as much as they should. To be honest, I’m kind of shocked she got as much assistance as she did based on her behavior.
The book is well written, but if you’re looking for books that highlight the injustices of the poor, I would point to Ms. Land’s first book “Maid” as a better example , or Barbara Ehrenreich’s “Nickel and Dimed”. Both are much better. This one? Not so much.
Did I get that? Sort of. What I did get was a lot of whining early in the book about Ms. Land’s life after her divorce from her first husband. While as a reader I’m only getting one side of the story, it’s clear that there is no love lost between the two and that this guy is a loser. This plays out throughout the course of this book.
After that, I assumed I would eventually get the details about how life works against those who are hurting and not making a living wage. Instead, I got very detailed sexual exploits from a woman who goes onto blame everyone about her misfortunes. Let’s be fair, there are times in the book when Ms. Land makes some compelling arguments, mainly about food stamps and how the system doesn’t seem to work for those who are looking to go to college to make their life better. Having to show that you have a full-time job (when clearly she doesn’t) doesn’t seem to help her situation. This was the part of the book I wanted, which was: how is the system broken? How can it be fixed to provide services more adequately for people that desperately need them? But I barely got that in this book. There was barely anything in this book that highlights how the “system” works against her. She whines about it, sure; but she doesn’t go into detail too often.
Instead, I got more personal setbacks which were mainly caused by Ms. Land herself, which she doesn’t take responsibility for. At the end of the day, this book was about Land trying to get her college degree as quickly as possible in order to make her life better. While I respect that she wanted to do better for herself, everyone else pays a price along the way and “the others” are painted in a negative light for not assisting her as much as they should. To be honest, I’m kind of shocked she got as much assistance as she did based on her behavior.
The book is well written, but if you’re looking for books that highlight the injustices of the poor, I would point to Ms. Land’s first book “Maid” as a better example , or Barbara Ehrenreich’s “Nickel and Dimed”. Both are much better. This one? Not so much.
Land's story of navigating through parenthood and poverty to obtain a higher education is a continuation of her book Maid. The compelling memoir, which includes her complaints about her plight, her stress about her shaky circumstances, and her anxiety about the future for herself and her daughter plows through her decision making process. Sometimes her decision making is just an attempt to figure out how to deal with a situation that she herself has created. Her descriptions of her life and her thought processes are well described. I particularly like the story about how she and her daughter decided to name the new baby in the family. The acknowledgement section is also worthwhile because she has a different tone and expresses gratitude toward those who have helped her to become a writer and gain greater stability in her life.
I would give this book 4 1/2 stars. It is not quite on the level of her prior memoir, "Maid." Still, it has many poignant and powerful moments, especially the sections about her connection to her young daughter and her plight when plunged into deep poverty. I recommend this book.
I find the writer's story and writing style to be compelling. I spent a lot more time in this book (compared to Maid) being frustrated with her choices. I'm sure that if I were one of her friends, I would have been one of the many she cast off over the course of the story. Which means I have some work to do with my own biases about class and college education. I'm looking forward to discussing with others to help further challenge my beliefs. Tough topic and well done!
This book takes you into a story that I understood even if my life looked differently. The hard parts of being a parent and going to school, while fighting the system. She made choices that I wouldn’t have, but yet I could relate. The writing is lovely and I admire her drive.
A true masterpiece. A work of art. A memoir that speaks so much truth to what so many in the US and around the world, contend with to simply survive amidst an immense wealth divide, and inherently patriarchal society. A spotlight on the failings of the many so called “systems”-gov support; judicial; higher ed; the list goes on. A story about love and loss and resilience, and a must read.
Audio. I’m reviewing this with the knowledge that I have never lived in poverty and/or single motherhood. So take my thoughts however you’d like.
Rounding up from 2.5 because I finished. In the past couple years, I have read many nonfiction books and memoirs about social justice and social issues. This was the first one I had a negative reaction to. The first one where it felt like self-pity and martyrdom.
I applaud the author for believing in education and pursuing it amongst such tough circumstances. But there were many things said in this memoir that frustrated me. Cutting off her single mom of 5 kids bestie because she couldn’t be the go-to for an emergency situation seems very immature.
I often had to remind myself of the author’s age during this book. 35 was not what it felt like I was reading.
I guess after loving the series “Maid” on Netflix, I found this book disappointing in character and decision making.
Also - most importantly - there was no real education or facts given that helped a privileged reader gain compassion for this situation. It was written in such a way and voice that it felt gave “poor me” vibes. None of the other books I’ve read with similar themes have felt this way to me.
Rounding up from 2.5 because I finished. In the past couple years, I have read many nonfiction books and memoirs about social justice and social issues. This was the first one I had a negative reaction to. The first one where it felt like self-pity and martyrdom.
I applaud the author for believing in education and pursuing it amongst such tough circumstances. But there were many things said in this memoir that frustrated me. Cutting off her single mom of 5 kids bestie because she couldn’t be the go-to for an emergency situation seems very immature.
I often had to remind myself of the author’s age during this book. 35 was not what it felt like I was reading.
I guess after loving the series “Maid” on Netflix, I found this book disappointing in character and decision making.
Also - most importantly - there was no real education or facts given that helped a privileged reader gain compassion for this situation. It was written in such a way and voice that it felt gave “poor me” vibes. None of the other books I’ve read with similar themes have felt this way to me.