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. 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. Are they in any way justified thinking of themselves that way. 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. Decembers monthly book discussion will be hillbilly elegy by j. There are many book clubs that keep hillybilly elegy in their discussion and continuously host sessions for the same. 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. The book is about what goes on in the lives of real people when the industrial economy goes. Please join the new haven collective at prime 16 in new haven to discuss our december book. Hillbilly a memoir of family and a culture in crisis traditionally, an elegy is a poem or song of lamentation. Hillbilly elegy, a memoir of his poor, white appalachian childhood and subsequent upward mobility through military service and. Vance begins his memoir by confessing that he still finds it absurd that anybody would want to buy his book. Want to see these questions in action, and join a fun monthly online book club no awkward silences, promise. Hillbilly elegy is being referenced during the recent election cycle as it addresses the left behind feelings expressed by many ruralmiddle.
The decline of this group, a demographic of our country that has. Vance features heavily in republican discussions in ohio. 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. A short time later, when one of my book clubs announced it as their june pick, i knew i wouldnt be skipping that meeting. 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. Discussion questions for hillbilly elegy are listed. Waterstones nonfiction book of the month june a time magazine top 10 nonfiction book of 2016. 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. After reading hillbilly elegy, you can easily understand why. I do agree that the first 50 pages are preachy, but she didnt push past it to get to his story. 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.
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. Do you agree with the authors description of the books premise. 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. In what way is the appalachian culture described in hillbilly elegy a culture in trouble. An active book discussion forum for both fiction and nonfiction books including forums for religion, philosophy, science, politics, current events and more. Vance published by harper on june 28, 2016 genreslists. When we first started book club, kate and i went a little crazy theming drinksapps to the reading. 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. Welcome to book club babble, the site for busy people who love books. The book is about what goes on in the lives of real people when the industrial economy goes south. 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.
Although neither a poem nor a song, hillbilly elegy is certainly a lament. Hillbilly elegy discussion guide upper east side diy. If you read hillbilly elegy, you should read this paper, too. I may be biased, but moms book nook is the best online moms book club youll find. But as the family saga of hillbilly elegy plays out, we learn that this is only the short, superficial version. If you are also planning for the same, there are some hillbilly elegy book club questions which will help you spark an interesting discussion with other fellow readers. 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. The paseo book club meets in the pub the second monday of every month at 4.
Now that we have a year of book clubs under our belt, we keep it simple. Hillbilly elegy is a passionate and personal analysis of a culture in crisisthat of white workingclass americans. How do vance and his sister think of themselves as burdens. This is a historically peculiar election cycle, boisterously disrupted by outsiders, one of whom found the perfect host body in.
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. He writes that hes thirtyone and hasnt accomplished anything truly fantastic or extraordinary in. Vance grew up poor with a mother who battled addiction and watched as countless men came in and out of their lives. Vance is enlightening but one should express caution before applying his lessons to an entire culture. September book discussion hosted by nancy hillbilly elegy. Paseo book club paseo fort myers awardwinning community. Vances hillbilly elegy, probably one of the most talked about books in 2016. Hillbilly elegy is a passionate and personal analysis of a culture in crisisthat of poor, white americans.
Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in hillbilly elegy, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Thoughts on books, family, and life in one impressive package. 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. 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. Vance grew up in a rust belt town in ohio, in a family from the hills of eastern kentucky. A memoir of a family and culture in crisis 3 about the book j. The decline of this group, a demographic of our country that has been slowly. 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. Parkland book discussion toolkit coming soon below, you will find teaching and discussion resources for our go big read 20202021 book selection, parkland. I was fascinated by his hillbillytosiliconvalleyinvestor cinderella story. The book is about what goes on in the lives of real people when the industrial. Book club questions for hillbilly elegy durham county.
Some schools are considering this work their summer reading for precollege. It was promised to be a gritty read, revealing the reality of poverty in the appalachian region that is often overlooked. 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. We announce the book selection on the first monday of the month and discuss on the last monday of the month at. Suggested book and reading club discussion questions for title. But as the family saga of hillbilly elegy plays out, we learn that j. 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. A few months ago, i stumbled across hillbilly elegy and put it on my toread list. Hillbilly elegy recalls a childhood where poverty was the family tradition j. Eleanor oliphant is completely fine book club questions by gail honeyman. 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. My sister janette couldnt even read it after reading through the first 50 pages or so. Laurie cortright spoken like someone who has never had to settle for less than perfect.
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