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stephbrittoleal's review against another edition
3.0
Hmmm, I guess that's okay. In the most Rocky Horror Picture Show's way of saying "he's okay".
It has a different point of view from what I did, but then again, I'm not USAmerican, things can be wildly different when you aren't born and raised somewhere. There are things very familiar to me, as a Latina, as Vance's relationship to his grandparents. There are things very ???? for me. And things I understood, but just didn't agree with.
So I guess it's a valid thing to read. It's not my usual type of reading, so it was a nice shift. Not watching the film anytime soon, also not rereading it ever. I'm relieved it's over, because it was some exhausting book.
It has a different point of view from what I did, but then again, I'm not USAmerican, things can be wildly different when you aren't born and raised somewhere. There are things very familiar to me, as a Latina, as Vance's relationship to his grandparents. There are things very ???? for me. And things I understood, but just didn't agree with.
So I guess it's a valid thing to read. It's not my usual type of reading, so it was a nice shift. Not watching the film anytime soon, also not rereading it ever. I'm relieved it's over, because it was some exhausting book.
littleangry11's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
nicole_nicole's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
0.25
Grew up with a boot on his neck, got lucky and got out, turned around and said yes daddy, choke me harder
irfan3's review against another edition
5.0
This is a very touching read of someone coming from an unlikely family & background who "made it". I found it very related with my experience, even though we are coming from different sides of the world.
See my highlights here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/29890212-hillbilly-elegy/user/6899026-tri-ahmad-irfan/notes_highlights
See my highlights here: https://www.goodreads.com/book/29890212-hillbilly-elegy/user/6899026-tri-ahmad-irfan/notes_highlights
cdjdhj's review against another edition
5.0
In this interesting and compelling book, J.D. Vance recounts growing up in a large and dysfunctional "Hillbilly" family in the Rustbelt of Southwestern Ohio and Eastern Kentucky. While Vance is now a former Marine and a graduate of Yale Law School, he tells of an upbringing where he lived in poverty with a drug addicted mother and a confusing and ever-changing array of legal and biological fathers and father figures. His grandparents, who were dysfunctional in their own right, ultimately put aside their own problems to provide enough stability to "save" Vance and his sister from becoming another generation of addicted, poverty-stricken hillbillies.
Vance details how the economic poverty of the Rustbelt affected his family and community and offers insight into the lives of the long-forgetten and often maligned white working class, a part of our society now facing decreased economic opportunities and a seemingly steady decline into joblessness, addiction and hopelessness. Vances' straight-forward and tell-it-like-it-was narrative is highly readable and I finished the entire book in less than a week. Vance does not believe that government programs or intervention can solve the problems of families like his, but he does say that government could perhaps "put a thumb on the scales" to tip them just a bit more in favor of struggling working-class families. Ultimately, Vance credits his success with individuals (within and without his family) who cared enough to help him escape the chaos of his family and an economically impoverished white middle-class existence.
The book makes compelling and page-turning read. It is well-written in a very personal way, yet also informative about our culture and society at large. More Americans need to understand this forgotten segment of our society, especially in light of the recent presidential election. I give this book five stars. ***** It is excellent. Highly recommended!
Vance details how the economic poverty of the Rustbelt affected his family and community and offers insight into the lives of the long-forgetten and often maligned white working class, a part of our society now facing decreased economic opportunities and a seemingly steady decline into joblessness, addiction and hopelessness. Vances' straight-forward and tell-it-like-it-was narrative is highly readable and I finished the entire book in less than a week. Vance does not believe that government programs or intervention can solve the problems of families like his, but he does say that government could perhaps "put a thumb on the scales" to tip them just a bit more in favor of struggling working-class families. Ultimately, Vance credits his success with individuals (within and without his family) who cared enough to help him escape the chaos of his family and an economically impoverished white middle-class existence.
The book makes compelling and page-turning read. It is well-written in a very personal way, yet also informative about our culture and society at large. More Americans need to understand this forgotten segment of our society, especially in light of the recent presidential election. I give this book five stars. ***** It is excellent. Highly recommended!
reading_is_my_hobby's review against another edition
3.0
Counting Hillbilly Elegy as my first book of 52 I plan to read in 2018. Interesting take on Appalachian culture, and I liked the idea of cultural emigration. Didn’t love the writing or organization, but think it will help me better understand the culture of rural families I see as part of my job.
jmayse's review against another edition
1.0
I disliked the book and didn't finish it. I struggled to understand what point or direction the author was taking the book. Never felt like he was was constructing a story with a clear message.
jennrocca's review against another edition
5.0
The perspective was very interesting. I'm not sure I would agree with everything this author has to say, generally speaking, but he did a great job of providing a possible explanation for why a large culture in America is the way it is. I can see this as a valuable book, a valuable perspective, for upper high schoolers and beyond.