Truly enjoyed this memoir by J.D. Vance, a portrayal of his hillbilly upbringing in Appalachian Kentucky and in Middletown, OH, and how he climbed out of that cycle to land at Yale Law School after service in the Marines. This book is a riveting read on the brokenness of the white working class, while also establishing the strengths of determination and desire to "break out".
J. D. was mostly raised by his grandma, who was pretty scary! The dysfunction and character weaknesses in most of the adults in the author's life made me wonder out loud how this young man saw his way to reach for his dreams. But, as he openly admits, those demons from his past still rear their ugly heads in his "new" upper class life.
Interesting pieces: 1...how Mamaw knew her Bible, but her actions and speech didn't reflect it (same issue most of us have in different ways); yet JD refers to her as his best example of Christianity, and love. She fiercely loved her family, but could express great hate for others. 2..that kids in JD's type of situation have a better chance of getting into Ivy League schools than upper middle class, but just do not know how to tap into it, and take advantage of the financial aid opportunities. 3...how much the hillbillies hated Barak Obama, as they could not relate--he was a good father, they were not; he looked professional in his suits, they wore overalls; his wife decried bad nutrition- which was the staple of the hillbillies. "Obama strikes at the heart of our deepest insecurities." 4...the final piece which made huge sense: all of the people in JD's life that "made it out" of the mentality and abuse of this class were those who married OUT; his aunt, his sister and himself all found love and marriage with spouses who could assist with their fears and life cycles. They knew how life could be different because they had lived it.
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