Happy Friday! Are you enjoying the cooler, fall-like temperatures? We have another book and more staff to introduce to you today. This week’s Summer Staff Read is Hillbilly Elegy by J. D. Vance. Read the summary below to get a brief idea of what this book is about and then enjoy hearing some insights from our amazing and talented staff. (Be sure to read to the end of the post to discover their extra-special talents.)
Vance, a Yale Law School graduate, wrote a memoir about his hillbilly childhood and the plight of America’s angry white working class. He was born into a poor Scots-Irish family – with a pill-addicted mother and “revolving door of father figures” – Vance was raised in Ohio by his beloved grandparents who never shook the trappings (abuse, addiction, and constant fighting and screaming) of their native Kentucky’s hillbilly culture. Mamaw, his grandmother, once set his grandfather on fire when he came home drunk; Papaw, a violent grouch, tossed a Christmas tree out the back door. In scenes at once harrowing and hilarious, we come to know these loud, rowdy gun-toters as the loyal and loving family whose encouragement helped the author endure “decades of chaos and heartbreak.”
Vance describes the complex malaise – involving sociology, psychology, community, culture, and faith – that has left so many bereft of connections and social support and unable to find high-quality work. Through Vance’s eyes we have a deeply affecting view of a social class riddled with health and economic problems.
Why should someone add this book to their reading list?
- Jenny: It’s a fascinating and eye-opening story about a slice of American culture that I knew very little about, and I’m guessing I’m not the only one. It’s well-written, engaging, and it’s the kind of book you keep thinking about even when you’re not reading it. At various times while reading “Hillbilly Elegy” I’ve been shocked, saddened, amazed, or ready to cheer. The author’s childhood could not have been more different from my own, and though my heart broke at many points in his story, his resilience and tenacity are inspiring! If you like memoirs and are interested in education, I think you would enjoy this book.
- Lisa: There are many hidden cultures within our country, many that we never see much less experience on a personal level. I feel this book gives us an honest inside look at the entrapping and far-reaching effects of substance abuse, yet it also gives us hope knowing that the author was able to escape the cycle and begin a new life for his young family.
- Shannon: To learn about working-class issues Americans are facing.
- Sarah: This is a really eye-opening autobiography about the academic and personal challenges that are present among those growing up in difficult socio-economic circumstances. It’s a powerful look at the resiliency of the human spirit that is both heartbreaking and awe-inspiring.
- Mollie: I would say if you are looking for a gritty, very personal story about poor, white America, this book will not disappoint you.
- Josh: This book is a worthwhile read for many reasons, but I’ll name only a couple. It’s unique perspective on poverty and personal choices is, at times, discouraging, but ultimately encouraging as the author shares his very real life and successful journey out of poverty. Secondly, I would recommend this book to anyone who likes a good family story, as the author shares many of those. These stories will make you wince, cringe, laugh, and more, but they will always entertain as you ask yourself how things like these could have ever occurred.
There’s something powerful about realizing that you’ve undersold yourself – that somehow your mind confused lack of effort for inability. This is why, whenever people ask me what I’d most like to change about the white working class, I say, ‘The feeling that our choices don’t matter.’— J. D. Vance, Hillbilly Elegy
How did this book impact you?
- Jenny: Ever since I learned that I have ancestors who were from this part of the country, I’ve been a bit curious about “hillbilly” history and culture. The only exposure I’ve really had is when I read Catherine Marshall’s novel Christy in college, which is set in the Appalachia region (although about a hundred years ago). For me, this book drove home the immense importance of a safe and stable home life for kids – even if it’s just one stable person in a child’s life – and supportive and encouraging parents and teachers. It inspires empathy in a big way for kids who were not raised with that. It has made me think about my role in the lives of my own kids and students on our campus. It has made me think a lot about the power of our choices. And it has made me even more grateful for the family, community, and opportunities I’ve had, and that my kids have. We should not take it for granted and after reading this book it’s so clear that I often do.
- Lisa: Reading through the personal story of one’s man’s life experience, Hillbilly Elegy opened my eyes to the opportunities we all are given that can greatly impact the lives of others. Our guidance or words of encouragement, especially to a child, can be life-altering.
- Shannon: It opened my eyes to other people’s perspectives. I hadn’t thought a lot about the rural south before and this sheds light on what those people may be experiencing.
- Sarah: I came away with a resolve to look for more opportunities to serve those around me in tough circumstances. Reading about the author’s experiences broke my heart and made me want to do better at making sure everyone, no matter their circumstances, knows they have potential and that there are opportunities out there.
- Mollie: I definitely gained insight into the very real struggles of the working class in Appalachia. While I was aware of the poverty in this region, the author’s personal story and perspective really opened my eyes.
- Josh: Personal choices and motivation matter. This is an idea that was affirmed by this book. Interestingly, there were moments when the noon questioned that idea, admitting that some success is accidental; sometimes you look back at where you came from and you don’t know how you got to where you are. I think the author’s response to this idea, and subsequently my own, is to be grateful for the place one’s at, realizing that sometimes you can’t always point to yourself for your success.
What is your go-to reading spot?
- Jenny: My couch is really comfy! There’s where I most often read. But sometimes I’ll go out back to our hammock, which is far away from the house and distractions.
- Lisa: We have a cloth sling-chair hanging from a huge oak tree in our backyard, far enough from the house that I can’t run in to stir the soup. I am able to lose myself in a good book, with the only sounds being that of birds flittering through the trees and the playful chatter of neighborhood children playing together.
- Shannon: My porch! It’s so peaceful!
- Sarah: Anywhere that’s quiet – that’s hard to come by with 3 boys, but I try! I am a night owl by nature so it’s not so much where I read, but when. My favorite time is once everyone is asleep and it’s completely quiet in the house.
- Mollie: Oooh – good question! Really, anywhere I can find some time and space to read!
- Josh: My “reading” spot was mostly in the car on solo drives to and from here and there (audible had the book as read by the author). Otherwise, the brown reclining chair in the corner of my living room was always a good, comfortable option.
What obscure thing are you talented at?
- Jenny: Making homemade salad dressing. Or so I’m told.
- Lisa: I can ride a unicycle, though I have not done so in about 10 years. So I’ll go with the fact that I can touch my nose with my tongue. Age can’t take that one away from me!
- Shannon: I’m really good at untying tiny knots, like in fishing lines for example.
- Sarah: Weekly meal planning and my husband says my superpower is sleeping because once I fall asleep at night I can sleep through absolutely anything!
- Mollie: This is hard! I can identify voices pretty well without having to see who’s talking.
- Josh: Though I feel that this is becoming less and less obscure, I can unicycle and have been able to do so since I was 5.
We hope you enjoyed this week’s Friday Faces: Book Club. Thank you to our fabulous staff for participating.
Join in the conversation — share your thoughts on this book or maybe share your obscure talent. Can you ride a unicycle too? Comment below.
