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Hill Women: Finding Family and a Way Forward in the Appalachian Mountains by Cassie Chambers
abarkmeier's review
3.0
Let me start by saying this book is heads and shoulders above the racist apologist brother text Hillbilly Elegy, if for no other reason than that it isn’t a racial diatribe disguised as a think piece on rural America and dressed up as unproblematic tribalism.
That said, I really don’t know what happened here. I’m astonished at the lack of critical thought and self-awareness in some of the book, and frankly am surprised it’s not more well-written. The author spends significant page space dedicated to her academic pedigree and the high marks she earned at these elite institutions, but demonstrates little understanding of nuance or literary sophistication. I find it very hard to believe that she has friends from the Ivy Leagues who say things like “[t]hank goodness coal and tobacco collapsed. All they did was hurt people anyway,” with no additional thought. I’m no Ivy League grad, but I’ve never spoken to anyone in the east coast educated bubble too dumb or thoughtless to not consider the economic intricacies those industries bring to the discussion.
This book is victim to its oversimplification and lack of willingness to engage in gray areas. The story suffers most with the milestones of the author herself, who attended a highly selective boarding school that helped pay for her college, went to the London School of Economics, and spent her early twenties globetrotting. She then reflects on how she can’t indulge in nice things because of her hill roots, unlike her fiancé who went to private schools and on international vacations. She associates herself firmly with the poverty of Owsley County without REALLY noting that being the only child in a two-parent family where both adults had college degrees (one had a PhD) was the game-changer in her life. She doesn’t dig into the privilege conferred onto her by this, and it shows when she does things like pearl clutch that she wasn’t TRULY part of the privileged elite when she was at Wellesley; she had to transfer to Yale for that.
The most interesting and meaningful parts of the book are when she begins her legal aid career in Kentucky. Here is where there is harder-hitting self-reflection, alongside stories that boil down to more than gently reinterpreted stereotypes. Similarly, the author reflects on some of the uncomfortable spots in her family story, such as her grandfather, in his 30s, marrying her grandmother when she was only 15. She considers how she sees their relationship is healthy and understands the economic pressures, but it’s difficult to reconcile this against her own value system. These are the thought-provoking moments, and they are ones that frame women in the story as the complex heroines the book sets out to make them.
Unfortunately, I worry that this book ultimately becomes its own worst enemy politically by centering a white woman who is unaware of her privilege and seems to “fail up” with limited self-reflection. I’d hoped for something more thought-provoking, but am grateful for the intimate and tender portrait of rural, mostly white America that does not simply tell us all quietly to never vote for a democrat again.
That said, I really don’t know what happened here. I’m astonished at the lack of critical thought and self-awareness in some of the book, and frankly am surprised it’s not more well-written. The author spends significant page space dedicated to her academic pedigree and the high marks she earned at these elite institutions, but demonstrates little understanding of nuance or literary sophistication. I find it very hard to believe that she has friends from the Ivy Leagues who say things like “[t]hank goodness coal and tobacco collapsed. All they did was hurt people anyway,” with no additional thought. I’m no Ivy League grad, but I’ve never spoken to anyone in the east coast educated bubble too dumb or thoughtless to not consider the economic intricacies those industries bring to the discussion.
This book is victim to its oversimplification and lack of willingness to engage in gray areas. The story suffers most with the milestones of the author herself, who attended a highly selective boarding school that helped pay for her college, went to the London School of Economics, and spent her early twenties globetrotting. She then reflects on how she can’t indulge in nice things because of her hill roots, unlike her fiancé who went to private schools and on international vacations. She associates herself firmly with the poverty of Owsley County without REALLY noting that being the only child in a two-parent family where both adults had college degrees (one had a PhD) was the game-changer in her life. She doesn’t dig into the privilege conferred onto her by this, and it shows when she does things like pearl clutch that she wasn’t TRULY part of the privileged elite when she was at Wellesley; she had to transfer to Yale for that.
The most interesting and meaningful parts of the book are when she begins her legal aid career in Kentucky. Here is where there is harder-hitting self-reflection, alongside stories that boil down to more than gently reinterpreted stereotypes. Similarly, the author reflects on some of the uncomfortable spots in her family story, such as her grandfather, in his 30s, marrying her grandmother when she was only 15. She considers how she sees their relationship is healthy and understands the economic pressures, but it’s difficult to reconcile this against her own value system. These are the thought-provoking moments, and they are ones that frame women in the story as the complex heroines the book sets out to make them.
Unfortunately, I worry that this book ultimately becomes its own worst enemy politically by centering a white woman who is unaware of her privilege and seems to “fail up” with limited self-reflection. I’d hoped for something more thought-provoking, but am grateful for the intimate and tender portrait of rural, mostly white America that does not simply tell us all quietly to never vote for a democrat again.
amyv's review
4.0
3.5 to 4 stars. Chambers is an engaging writer, and I made my way through this pretty quickly until the final quarter. Then I don't know if I got distracted by other books or just lost interest, but it took me quite a bit of time and effort to finish it up. I enjoyed this portrait of life (especially the life of women) in Appalachia, and given that the negative reviews seem mostly to focus on cliches about bootstraps and annoying feminists, it's apparently a needed portrait. I think perhaps my difficulty finishing the book came from feeling some disconnect between the memoir/portrait focusing on Appalachia versus the somewhat rushed description of Chambers' legal work for underserved clients there. I think the book would have been slightly stronger if it had focused only on one or the other. Still, a worthwhile read.
emjays24's review against another edition
adventurous
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
heidisreads's review
3.0
I listened to the audiobook - the author narrated it herself and that was great!
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Cassie Chambers' stories of her own childhood as well as her mother, aunt and grandmother's. This would be a great read for someone who liked Hilbilly Elegy and/or Educated - except you won't find (very many if any) horrible, rotten family members.
I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Cassie Chambers' stories of her own childhood as well as her mother, aunt and grandmother's. This would be a great read for someone who liked Hilbilly Elegy and/or Educated - except you won't find (very many if any) horrible, rotten family members.
silverrose187's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
3.0
readingwithmycats's review
2.0
Listened as an audiobook with the author herself as the narrator. Started off interesting enough but after the second half began, I felt like it dragged on and on. She also changes her accent frequently to an overly exaggerated southern twang when speaking as someone within her family and I *think* that was meant to be endearing but to me, came off as patronizing. I’m southern as well but it made me cringe. It seemed like she was sort of making fun of them with all her intelligence and Ivy League degrees. Which you will NOT forget about as it’s mentioned over and over. I get the point of the book and I’m happy for her success I guess but it was just very blah to me. I was expecting more in Appalachian women and their lifestyle and less let me brag about getting out of the holler and then coming back better than everyone.
gayle_carr's review
4.0
Torn between a 3 and 5 star rating. 5 stars for a deep dive into the lives of Appalachian life. 3 stars because it doesn’t ring totally authentic to what the author is portraying. While the book is supposed to be about her Appalachian hill life, her parents were both college educated and she has degrees from both Harvard and Yale Law. So this seems to be at odds with what she is portraying. Not a bad thing, just seems a little disconnected.
caitfoges's review
4.0
~ 4.0 ~
I really loved that this book was part memoir, following the path of a young woman tied to the hills of Appalachia, part biography, telling the stories of the hill women who raised her, and part current events/social commentary, explaining the political and economic forces that have influenced Appalachian communities in recent decades. Sure, there are criticisms that can be made of the author, but I think she is honest about her potential shortcomings as the storyteller and about her privilege. She knows that her experience is rare, having had access to academic support that led her to the nation's most prestigious institutions. Though during parts of her journey Chambers seemed to have strayed far away from her roots, she eventually found herself drawn back to the hills that felt like home (at least in part - I believe home is the combination of people and places that shape us). I admire how she committed to giving back in a meaningful way with her skills as a lawyer, empowering women to make better lives for themselves and their children. Finally, the dedication to her mother in the epilogue was both beautiful and heartbreaking.
I really loved that this book was part memoir, following the path of a young woman tied to the hills of Appalachia, part biography, telling the stories of the hill women who raised her, and part current events/social commentary, explaining the political and economic forces that have influenced Appalachian communities in recent decades. Sure, there are criticisms that can be made of the author, but I think she is honest about her potential shortcomings as the storyteller and about her privilege. She knows that her experience is rare, having had access to academic support that led her to the nation's most prestigious institutions. Though during parts of her journey Chambers seemed to have strayed far away from her roots, she eventually found herself drawn back to the hills that felt like home (at least in part - I believe home is the combination of people and places that shape us). I admire how she committed to giving back in a meaningful way with her skills as a lawyer, empowering women to make better lives for themselves and their children. Finally, the dedication to her mother in the epilogue was both beautiful and heartbreaking.
krism's review
3.0
Reminiscent of Educated and Hillbilly Elegy. There are also some aspects of Just Mercy in the discussions of the legal system and domestic violence. The author earned her undergrad degree from Yale and a law degree from Harvard. I was most engaged with the story of her mother, Aunt Ruth, and grandmother. The author herself is not a first generation college student and I didn't think she acknowledged that fact enough in the "how I got here from there" angle of the book. Still, she grew up poor, her culture told her not to expect too much from herself, and she had to work hard to overcome imposter syndrome. A worthwhile read.