Nonfiction Annotation
Hillbilly Elegy by J.D.
Vance
Synopsis
J.D. Vance shares simultaneously both a memoir of
his life and a sociological and cultural study of the white working
class, specifically the hillbillies, or those in, or from, the
Appalachian region. He begins with his grandparents and moves through
the years, giving a detailed account of the culture that he was born
and raised in. Although not all of the characteristics of his family
can be attributed to hillbillies in general, Vance does do a good job of
sharing his observations of the culture as a whole. A culture that he
says has been slowly disintegrating, so much so that poverty is the
norm. It is also a culture, that is so ingrained that even when
upward mobility is achieved, the struggles of the culture follow. His
grandparents moved from Kentucky to Ohio but the culture followed and so did the struggle. For example, at one point in the story he says his
mom and her husband make a combined six figures but the struggle and
conflict are still there.
One of Vance's conclusions is that
hillbillies have acquired a learned helplessness; a sense of despair.
This and the overall account is a valuable insider perspective,
one that everyone should read to understand how this huge portion of
our society feels, and to understand that while the culture has many
negatives, it also has many positives.
This is an often funny, often sad, but
always moving look at a family and the larger culture they are a part
of.
Non-fiction Characteristics
Narrative: Non-fiction books have different levels of the narrative aspect. Hillbilly Elegy is highly narrative and reads almost like a novel at times. So patrons who like highly narrative non-fiction may like a suggestion of Hillbilly Elegy.
Type: This is mostly a memoir but also a commentary on a culture and social class. It is not a task-based non-fiction book.
Subject: Working Class Whites from the Appalachian Region plus J.D. Vance's family story.
Appeal: Candid, Insightful, Engaging, Thought-Provoking
Read-Alikes
All Over But the Shoutin' by Rick Bragg
Belonging: A Culture of Place by Bel Hooks
Coming Apart: The State of White America, 1960-2010 by Charles Murray
Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in Boom-Time America by Barbara Ehrenreich
I really enjoyed this book. I paired it with White Trash: The 400-Year Untold History of Class in America by Nancy Isenberg and Strangers in Their Own Land by Arlie Russle. I have seen all three on reading lists for understanding the 2016 election, and we can't keep them on the shelves.
ReplyDeleteI have seen this book many times and I have been tempted to pick it up. Your summary reminded me of the T.V. show hosted by Billy Ray Cyrus called Hillbilly: The Real Story about the history and culture of the people of the Appalachia region. I was also reminded of a book I read several years ago American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America by Colin Woodard which includes the culture and history of the people in the Greater Appalachia region and how they came by their regional identities.
ReplyDeleteFantastic annotation! You did a great job with the summary and appeals and your personal thoughts were heartfelt and really added to the annotation. Full points!
ReplyDelete