Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J. D. Vance

"It would be years before I learned that no single book, or expert, or field could fully explain the problems of hillbillies in modern America. Our elegy is a sociological one, yes, but it is also about psychology and community and culture and faith."
                     -J.D. Vance, Hillbilly Elegy

I had wanted to read Hillbilly Elegy for some time, since it was on the NYT best-seller list. The title intrigued me since I have often considered myself a hillbilly, having been born in East Tennessee. When I found I could check out 10 copies from our library, called a Book Bundle, I selected it for Page Turners.

I found Vance's memoir compelling. He describes his life among the working class in the Rust Belt town of Middletown, Ohio, but with family roots in Appalachia. A self-proclaimed hillbilly, Vance was able to survive a dysfunctional family, become a U.S. Marine, graduate from Ohio State and Yale School of Law. He gives his grandparents, Mamaw and Papaw, and his older sister, Lindsay, a great deal of credit for his eventual success in life.

Mamaw is a fascinating character, a force-to-be-reckoned-with, especially if someone crossed a family member. She added much humor to the story.

I thought Hillbilly Elegy might be comparable to Educated, also a memoir but that's probably where the likeness ends. Tara Westover had to become educated in spite of her upbringing while, at least, Vance was encouraged in his education by several family members.

Hillbilly Elegy is somewhat political and has been met with controversy as Vance discusses the problems of this [hillbilly] culture in crisis and what he sees as causes and suggested solutions.

I rate the book a 4. I thought it was well-written and educational. For one thing I learned I must not be a hillbilly; my life was surely nothing like he described!

I look forward to discussing the book at our meeting later this month. More after that....

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Nineteen members attended our February meeting---a larger group than in the past few months. The book's rating by the group was 3.5 with no 5's and no 1's. I believe everyone learned some things by reading Hillbilly Elegy and some had very personal reactions to the book's content. Our discussion was lively, and as I hinted, somewhat emotional. Some found the author a bit self-serving but most agreed it was likely the encouragement of family members that helped him rise above his hillbilly roots.