The Locale: Jessica's
The Book: In this compelling hybrid of memoir and sociological analysis, Vance digs deep into his upbringing in the hills of Jackson, Ky., and the suburban enclave of Middletown, Ohio. He chronicles with affection and raw candor the foibles, shortcomings, and virtues of his family and their own attempts to live their lives as working-class people in a middle-class world. Readers get to know his tough-as-nails grandmother, Mawmaw, who almost killed a man when she was 12 in Jackson, but who has to live among the sewing circles of Middletown. Her love for children, and for her grandson in particular, fuels her dream to become a children's attorney. When Vance finishes high school, he's not ready to head off to Ohio State, so Vance joins the Marines, completes a tour of duty in Iraq, and returns home with a surer sense of what he wants out of life and how to get it. He eventually enrolls in Yale Law School and becomes a successful lawyer, doggedly reflecting on the keys to his own success family and community and the ways they might help him understand the issues at stake in social policies today. Vance observes that hillbillies like himself are helped not by government policy but by community that empowers them and extended family who encourages them to take control of their own destinies. Vance's dynamic memoir takes a serious look at class.
© Publishers Weekly
http://www.jdvance.com/hillbilly-elegy.html
Sarah's Summary: Thank you Jessica for an amazing southern spread of barbeque, green beans and macaroni and cheese. I can't decide of the chicken or beef was tastier. What a feast!! YUM.
Hillbilly Elegy brought some lively discussion, and I think it turned out to be a perfect selection for a book club. I have recommended it to several friends to read, even though I wasn't personally a fan of the author. While no solutions were offered, a different perspective was gained into the white hillbilly of the Rust Belt and Appalachia.
We are next meeting to discuss The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by Dalai Lama XIV, Desmond Tutu & Douglas Carlton Abrams. Kristine is our hostess, and we'll be meeting on April 9th.
We voted on Laura's choices, and our next selection will be a collection of short stories, Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger. We'll pick a date when we meet at Kristine's- probably mid-May.
Tassy, you're on deck to present at Kristine's. We'll look for those selections about a week out. If not, you'll be hearing from me or Susan S. ;)
Jolynda is after Tassy. Finally. Sorry, Jolynda for making you wait a year!
Safe travels for all of you taking advantage of Spring Break!
The Vote: Kristine presented...
- Will you be Quiet, Please by Raymond Carver
- The Bus Drive Who Wanted to be God and Other Stories by Etgar Keret
- Nine Stories by J.D. Salinger WINS!!!
Next to Present: Tassy
Then:
- Jolynda
- Brenda
- Susan S
- Lori
- Gina
- Sarah
- Susan H
- Jessica
- Kristine
- Laura
- Tassy
