But as the family saga of hillbilly elegy plays out, we learn that j. Hillbilly elegy is a passionate and personal analysis of a culture in crisisthat of poor, white americans. Hillbilly elegy discussion guide upper east side diy. Hillbilly elegy is being referenced during the recent election cycle as it addresses the left behind feelings expressed by many ruralmiddle. Want to see these questions in action, and join a fun monthly online book club no awkward silences, promise. Now in our book club we talked quite a bit about how this story is not the epitome of hillbilly life there is a bigger picture of white low ses people. Hillbilly elegy recalls a childhood where poverty was the family tradition j. Now that we have a year of book clubs under our belt, we keep it simple. Vance grew up in appalachian ohio and kentucky, in poor white communities where family strife was a constant, work was not, and even many pawnshops had closed their doors. Paseo book club paseo fort myers awardwinning community. The paseo book club meets in the pub the second monday of every month at 4. Vance features heavily in republican discussions in ohio.
From a former marine and yale law school graduate, a powerful account of growing up in a poor rust belt town that offers a broader, probing look at the struggles. Vance mourns for the ordinary family he never had as well as for the poor scotsirish culture of appalachia and diaspora northwards that has been selfdestructing for the past half century. Hillbilly elegy is a passionate and personal analysis of a culture in crisisthat of white workingclass americans. Are they in any way justified thinking of themselves that way. If you read hillbilly elegy, you should read this paper, too. Vance is enlightening but one should express caution before applying his lessons to an entire culture. Many people can become accustomed to the comfort of reading in a favorite genre and may not realize how much they might actually enjoy an altogether different type of book, until they are persuaded to try by other members of the reading group. Check in here if you plan to join the discussion of hillbilly elegy everybody benefits by knowing who else is planning to read and discuss the book so please make a brief post here checking in and letting us know of your intention to join this book discussion. The decline of this group, a demographic of our country that has been slowly disintegrating over forty years, has been reported on with growing frequency and alarm, but has never before been written about as searingly from the. Vance grew up poor with a mother who battled addiction and watched as countless men came in and out of their lives. Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in hillbilly elegy, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Do you agree with the authors description of the books premise.
I may be biased, but moms book nook is the best online moms book club youll find. Book club questions for hillbilly elegy durham county. Vance talks about his and his sister lindsays shared fear of imposing on other people. We meet in a private facebook group and chat about a new book every month. Waterstones nonfiction book of the month june a time magazine top 10 nonfiction book of 2016. The book is about what goes on in the lives of real people when the industrial economy goes.
Vances grandparents, aunt, uncle, sister, and, most of all, his mother, struggled profoundly with the demands of their new middleclass life, and were never able. Vance i basically made bart have our own little book club for this one, since i read it on a long car trip and then proceeded to read huge sections aloud to him and discuss each chapter, while he probably wondered how many more miles until we got home. He admires her because she was the best he had, the most steady, the most dependable, and the one who would be there for him. The book is about what goes on in the lives of real people when the industrial. From a former marine and yale law school graduate, a powerful account of growing up in a poor rust belt town that offers a broader, probing look at the struggles of americas white working class hillbilly elegy is a passionate and personal analysis of a culture in crisisthat of white workingclass americans. Vance is a former marine and a graduate of yale law school. He admires her because she was the best he had, the most steady, the mostmore spoken like someone who has never had to settle for less than perfect. Vance describes in his terrific, heartbreaking book hillbilly elegy is one that i know only vicariously. This detailed literature summary also contains topics for discussion on hillbilly elegy by j. Decembers monthly book discussion will be hillbilly elegy by j. After reading hillbilly elegy, you can easily understand why.
Vance published by harper on june 28, 2016 genreslists. Laurie cortright spoken like someone who has never had to settle for less than perfect. This new york times bestseller is an eyeopening read about vances personal journey growing up in rough rural kentucky and ohio, joining the marines, tour of iraq, then ohio state and yale law school. Soon to be a major motion picture the political book of the year sunday times you will not read a more important book about america this year economist hillbilly elegy is a passionate and personal analysis of a culture in crisisthat of white workingclass. When we first started book club, kate and i went a little crazy theming drinksapps to the reading.
But as the family saga of hillbilly elegy plays out, we learn that this is only the short, superficial version. Hillbilly elegy, a memoir of his poor, white appalachian childhood and subsequent upward mobility through military service and. Vances hillbilly elegy, part memoir, part social analysis, is a fascinating examination of culture, class, and the american dream of working class white americans in appalachia. Vance grew up in a rust belt town in ohio, in a family from the hills of eastern kentucky. David brooks, new york timesfrom a former marine and yale law school graduate, a powerful account of growing up in a poor rust belt town that offers a broader, probing look at the struggles of americas white working classhillbilly elegy is a passionate and personal analysis of a culture in crisis.
Although neither a poem nor a song, hillbilly elegy is certainly a lament. Vance begins his memoir by confessing that he still finds it absurd that anybody would want to buy his book. How do vance and his sister think of themselves as burdens. The decline of this group, a demographic of our country that has. September book discussion hosted by nancy hillbilly elegy. Vances hillbilly elegy, probably one of the most talked about books in 2016. My sister janette couldnt even read it after reading through the first 50 pages or so. The decline of this group, a demographic of our country that has been slowly.
Some schools are considering this work their summer reading for precollege. The book is about what goes on in the lives of real people when the industrial economy goes south. A short time later, when one of my book clubs announced it as their june pick, i knew i wouldnt be skipping that meeting. Suggested book and reading club discussion questions for title. An active book discussion forum for both fiction and nonfiction books including forums for religion, philosophy, science, politics, current events and more. We announce the book selection on the first monday of the month and discuss on the last monday of the month at. Hillbilly a memoir of family and a culture in crisis traditionally, an elegy is a poem or song of lamentation. This study guide consists of approximately 35 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of hillbilly elegy. Thoughts on books, family, and life in one impressive package. A memoir of a family and culture in crisis 3 about the book j.
Welcome to book club babble, the site for busy people who love books. In what way is the appalachian culture described in hillbilly elegy a culture in trouble. From a former marine and yale law school graduate, a powerful account of growing up in a poor rust belt town that offers a broader, probing look at the struggles of america. The disintegration of this group, a process that has been slowly occurring now for more than forty years, has been reported with growing frequency and alarm, but has never before been written about as searingly from the inside. This is a historically peculiar election cycle, boisterously disrupted by outsiders, one of whom found the perfect host body in.
748 591 621 953 1240 882 1062 1336 616 1503 1009 1144 1019 438 942 965 1538 69 494 1409 682 415 105 120 285 1081 396 1443 181 969 1356 550 526 1158 1419 238 1219 285 289