Memoirs Are Funny Things
J.D. Vance wrote Hillbilly Elegy and I just finished reading it. The reviews for the book have been positive and it is #3 on Amazon's List of Best Sellers. Mr. Vance's writing is interesting and timely for those trying to explain aspects of American life. I lived for about one year in Morgantown, WV and that experience was enough to make me cough up cash to buy the book.
A memoir at age 31 is probably a little bit early in the game for anybody but I have to admit the guy's story is interesting. His family story is confused(probably an understatement by me) as most single parent families are and he was fortunate to have grandparents to pick up the pieces as necessary.
Four years as a marine were another form of institutional support that happened at the right time The proverbial fork in the road and he seems to have made the most of it.
A bright ambitious kid can finish college in less than four years. The jump from The Ohio State University to Yale Law School and the use of his law degree are sketchy. He describes mentoring that was a success and he did have interesting jobs during his college time. Being a little bit older than his classmates was also a benefit he took advantage of.
As books go the author seems comfortable moving back and forth from personal experience to social sciences. As a reader I started wondering about how unique this writer's experience was and whether it had any application for those that did not match his profile.
Thumbs up if you are interested and I'm wondering if the success of the book will spawn a new genre of success stories.
A memoir at age 31 is probably a little bit early in the game for anybody but I have to admit the guy's story is interesting. His family story is confused(probably an understatement by me) as most single parent families are and he was fortunate to have grandparents to pick up the pieces as necessary.
Four years as a marine were another form of institutional support that happened at the right time The proverbial fork in the road and he seems to have made the most of it.
A bright ambitious kid can finish college in less than four years. The jump from The Ohio State University to Yale Law School and the use of his law degree are sketchy. He describes mentoring that was a success and he did have interesting jobs during his college time. Being a little bit older than his classmates was also a benefit he took advantage of.
As books go the author seems comfortable moving back and forth from personal experience to social sciences. As a reader I started wondering about how unique this writer's experience was and whether it had any application for those that did not match his profile.
Thumbs up if you are interested and I'm wondering if the success of the book will spawn a new genre of success stories.
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