Hillbilly Elegy
Written by J. D. Vance
This is a memoir written by J. D. Vance. Through his words the reader can hear the heartache of his childhood and the many ups and downs of family relationships. Through the prospective of this Appalachian family, one can experience their relation to the social problems of his hometown of Middletown, Ohio.
Between no money and poor paying jobs, his mother’s drug problems, the many men she brings into his life including many step brothers and sisters, to his gun carrying (and not afraid to use it) Grandmother, you are unable to put this book down (although I listened to it on audio).
I strongly recommend reading this book if you want some insight into the deep-rooted values of an authentic Appalachian family. These traits include love, loyalty, violence, verbal and alcoholic abuse, drug addictions, and many failed relationships. Vance also dives into the responsibility of his family and other Appalachian families for their own cultural misfortunes and how he overcame to reach his goals.
Lisa B.