Sign in with Facebook
Delee's Reviews > Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis
Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis
by
by
Three month non-ranty political review time is ovvvvvvvvvvvvvvver. Woo Hoo!!! Loooooook out Beeoooootcheeees!
“I know you real Americans hate being called stupid, but you gotta meet me half way and stop being stupid.”
Bill Maher
My empathy level for stupid Americans has diminished this last year. I have un-friended a few people I once thought to be good, intelligent, and sane. This year has opened my eyes to an ugliness and a selfishness in people that I never imagined existed in so many. And that doesn't mean I AM LESS tolerant. It means I have less empathy and sympathy for people who lack empathy and are devoid of tolerance. I am a proud Libretard-I own it. Because Libretards care about the environment, wildlife, and future generations. They care about people who have fallen through the cracks. People who need a boost up...other races...other religions...people who may not always fit the white Christian mold. I am not a hypocrite who says I believe in one thing yet lives and breathes another. I am law-abiding agnostic- with good values...and if I whole-heartedly ever decide to believe in Jesus and God- I know they would be absolutely ashamed at what is playing out in the USA at the moment. I am sorry folks...but Jesus and God would be Libretards- Trump put out there as a test by SATAN!! Oh, and by the way...YOU ALL FAILED miserably.
If I could choose one word to express my feelings about HILLBILLY ELEGY it would be conflicted. Because I usually have all the feeeeelz for people who have had hard knock lives....but the hillbillies that voted for Trump obviously failed to think about anyone but themselves- they refused to see a bigger picture for the world as a whole with their "America first" bull#%@t. They also voted against themselves in their absolute ignorance of the facts laid out before them. Why?...This is where this book came in- but even after reading (listening to) it-I still don't completely get it.
As half Canadian I understand what it is like to be stereotyped and ignored. Some see us this way...
Your right-wing "Fair and Balanced" Fox "News" has been especially kind over the years...and sees us this way...
Anne Coulter talking about invading us...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5Eq9...
Tucker Carleson calling us stalkers and retarded...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02_nC...
Or Fox making fun of our military just days before 4 dead soldiers were about to shipped home. "Oh, I didn't even know Canada was fighting with us in Afghanistan Hahahahaha...really?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVRx0...
So yeah- this part I get...
....but I do not get why women and the poor voted against their best interest. I do not get how you ignored and still ignore the facts today. I don't get why you blame your government, immigrants, minorities, proven science and a changing world for everything that is wrong with your life. I don't get why you chose a lying millionaire, conman, who doesn't care about anything but himself as your savior- and why you are still the holdouts who have faith in this idiot even though he has proven himself to be beyond incompetent, corrupt, and dangerous- over and over again for the last 90+ days.
J.D Vance did little to convince me to empathize with the hillbilly plight. I found him a tad obnoxious (not everyone is lucky enough to have people who love and support them in their endeavors. It makes a BIG difference J.D)...and if I never hear the words Mamaw and Papaw again that would be wonderful. Maybe I would have found it less cringe-worthy if I had been reading it instead of listening to them repeated over and over again in his voice...I do not know. I am not going to read it next time to find out. Once is enough thank you very much.
“I know you real Americans hate being called stupid, but you gotta meet me half way and stop being stupid.”
Bill Maher
My empathy level for stupid Americans has diminished this last year. I have un-friended a few people I once thought to be good, intelligent, and sane. This year has opened my eyes to an ugliness and a selfishness in people that I never imagined existed in so many. And that doesn't mean I AM LESS tolerant. It means I have less empathy and sympathy for people who lack empathy and are devoid of tolerance. I am a proud Libretard-I own it. Because Libretards care about the environment, wildlife, and future generations. They care about people who have fallen through the cracks. People who need a boost up...other races...other religions...people who may not always fit the white Christian mold. I am not a hypocrite who says I believe in one thing yet lives and breathes another. I am law-abiding agnostic- with good values...and if I whole-heartedly ever decide to believe in Jesus and God- I know they would be absolutely ashamed at what is playing out in the USA at the moment. I am sorry folks...but Jesus and God would be Libretards- Trump put out there as a test by SATAN!! Oh, and by the way...YOU ALL FAILED miserably.
If I could choose one word to express my feelings about HILLBILLY ELEGY it would be conflicted. Because I usually have all the feeeeelz for people who have had hard knock lives....but the hillbillies that voted for Trump obviously failed to think about anyone but themselves- they refused to see a bigger picture for the world as a whole with their "America first" bull#%@t. They also voted against themselves in their absolute ignorance of the facts laid out before them. Why?...This is where this book came in- but even after reading (listening to) it-I still don't completely get it.
As half Canadian I understand what it is like to be stereotyped and ignored. Some see us this way...
Your right-wing "Fair and Balanced" Fox "News" has been especially kind over the years...and sees us this way...
Anne Coulter talking about invading us...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5Eq9...
Tucker Carleson calling us stalkers and retarded...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=02_nC...
Or Fox making fun of our military just days before 4 dead soldiers were about to shipped home. "Oh, I didn't even know Canada was fighting with us in Afghanistan Hahahahaha...really?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVRx0...
So yeah- this part I get...
....but I do not get why women and the poor voted against their best interest. I do not get how you ignored and still ignore the facts today. I don't get why you blame your government, immigrants, minorities, proven science and a changing world for everything that is wrong with your life. I don't get why you chose a lying millionaire, conman, who doesn't care about anything but himself as your savior- and why you are still the holdouts who have faith in this idiot even though he has proven himself to be beyond incompetent, corrupt, and dangerous- over and over again for the last 90+ days.
J.D Vance did little to convince me to empathize with the hillbilly plight. I found him a tad obnoxious (not everyone is lucky enough to have people who love and support them in their endeavors. It makes a BIG difference J.D)...and if I never hear the words Mamaw and Papaw again that would be wonderful. Maybe I would have found it less cringe-worthy if I had been reading it instead of listening to them repeated over and over again in his voice...I do not know. I am not going to read it next time to find out. Once is enough thank you very much.
Sign into Goodreads to see if any of your friends have read
Hillbilly Elegy.
Sign In »
Reading Progress
Comments Showing 1-50 of 51 (51 new)
message 1:
by
Mari
(new)
Apr 10, 2017 11:16AM
I'm excited to read your review
reply
|
flag
Excellent review. Thanks for ending the moratorium on non political reviews in an out-loud, own-it kind of way--it was fun. Sadly true, but fun.
Delee wrote: "I am sorry folks...but Jesus and God would be Libretards- Trump put out there as a test by SATAN!!"Great review, Delee. It's plain talk. I may have to steal the Trump/Satan line, apologies in advance!
Fun review, Delee. And you are the picture queen. All thought out and super cool!
Thanks for your review. Not all of us think like Anne Coulter and Tucker Carlson, fortunately, or I really would have to move up there.
Well done. I live in exactly this sort of area. People run around using cell phones & GPS, but think their bible is right & the world is only 6,000 years old or something silly. Worse, they think I should respect their beliefs. SMH This article describes that intentional ignorance well. The dark rigidity of fundamentalist rural America: a view from the inside
This article discusses WHY FACTS DON’T CHANGE OUR MINDS
But people can easily be manipulated into believing what others want them to believe if their biases are played on properly. Trump used big data very well. This is even scarier than ignorance & silly beliefs. It works on all sides of the political spectrum.
Wonderful review Delee!! LOVED, LOVED the Bill Maher quote! There is no getting around it-"stupid" is the issue!!!!
I have been waiting for your review of this one and the waiting paid off. Brilliant review! If I was to be asked my views on the plight of the Trump voter I'd simply direct them to your review as I couldn't have said it better. Again, just simply BRILLIANT.
Oh, and by the way. I had to share your review on Twitter. Too good not to. 😀
Thank you Delee. Your review says it all. It's as if you heard me talking to my family.
Carol. wrote: "Excellent review. Thanks for ending the moratorium on non political reviews in an out-loud, own-it kind of way--it was fun. Sadly true, but fun."Thanks, Carol!! I had really mixed feelings after this one- I didn't mind J.D Vance in some of his interviews...but for some reason he really got on my nerves listening to him- drive the point home that with hard work- he got out and made something of himself- like anyone who works hard should be able to too.
I have no idea what his fellow hillbillies think of him- but if it was me- I would want to kind of punch him in the trachea...not hard...just a love tap to keep him quiet for a few days. ;)
Jonathan wrote: "Delee wrote: "I am sorry folks...but Jesus and God would be Libretards- Trump put out there as a test by SATAN!!"Great review, Delee. It's plain talk. I may have to steal the Trump/Satan line, ap..."
Steal away!! I am sure I am not the first person to think of it...lol
Debbie wrote: "Fun review, Delee. And you are the picture queen. All thought out and super cool!"I am glad you approve!! I had about 15 pictures I downloaded for this review and I had to cut it down. I didn't want to get too carried away. I thought I would ease people back into my anger in baby steps. :D
☮Karen wrote: "Thanks for your review. Not all of us think like Anne Coulter and Tucker Carlson, fortunately, or I really would have to move up there."Yeah, with the bad- came seeing the good in people- fighting against this sham of a Presidency. The Women's March...watching people flock to the airports to help people stranded after the Muslim Ban. There are so many examples of the good out weighing the bad.
Jim wrote: "Well done. I live in exactly this sort of area. People run around using cell phones & GPS, but think their bible is right & the world is only 6,000 years old or something silly. Worse, they think I..."We definitely don't have the numbers that throw their religion around as much as you do there. For the most part people here keep their religions to themselves.
There are some of course. We just had that right-wing nut bar shooting and killing Muslims in Quebec...but most of his acquaintances say he was a quiet loner who only started going crazy after watching Trump spew his hate and loathing for a year and a half...so who knows if he would have eventually snapped if Trump wasn't in the picture. I tend to think he wouldn't have...but some disagree.
I will read the articles you posted- Thanks Jim!!
debra wrote: "Wonderful review Delee!! LOVED, LOVED the Bill Maher quote! There is no getting around it-"stupid" is the issue!!!!"Thank you Debra!! I love Maher too!!! :)
Laura wrote: "Oh, and by the way. I had to share your review on Twitter. Too good not to. 😀"Thanks Laura!! I am not on Twitter...which is probably a good thing..I won't have to argue with people who trash my review on there. I have heard it can get kind of naaaaaasty. lol
Rita wrote: "Thank you Delee. Your review says it all. It's as if you heard me talking to my family."Thank YOU Rita!! I was listening to you through your microwave. I hope you don't mind. ;)
Excellent review! Thanks for it. Funny about Canada - my old hubbie just found out he AND our teen daughter are eligible for Canadian citizenship since he was born in Toronto, and both have just applied for passports.
Christy wrote: "Excellent review! Thanks for it. Funny about Canada - my old hubbie just found out he AND our teen daughter are eligible for Canadian citizenship since he was born in Toronto, and both have just ap..."Thanks Christy!! I lived very near/and in Toronto for 8 years- I am sure you will love it- if you decide at some point to head there. :D
Of course it is allowed. Laugh at my pain...go ahead *sniff sniff*. lolYou are very welcome- Elyse!! And thanks for the recommendation- I will add The Locals to my veeeeeeeeeeery long list. :D
"And if I never hear the words Mamaw and Papaw again that would be wonderful", this made me laugh! I haven't read this yet but to be honest, I am so frustrated by everything happening right now that I know it's probably not the right time!
I like the way you speak your mind Delee. Thumbs up :)
Best review! I could not have spoke better, truer words myself. Though I have tried in many a political rant. Fantastic
Forgot to say- I share Carol's feeling of gratitude for the moratorium on non-political reviews being ended. Delee, you give great rant! :-))
While I may disagree with some items said above, I loved reading your perspective and point of view. Enjoyed reading this.
Barbara wrote: "I like the way you speak your mind Delee. Thumbs up :)"Thanks so much Barbara!! :D
debra wrote: "Forgot to say- I share Carol's feeling of gratitude for the moratorium on non-political reviews being ended. Delee, you give great rant! :-))"Thanks again Debra- I am going to try to split the rants up a bit- but I do enjoy a good rant now and again. ;)
Deanna wrote: "Well done!! :D"Thanks Deanna!!
Lori wrote: "While I may disagree with some items said above, I loved reading your perspective and point of view. Enjoyed reading this."I looooooooooooove when people can disagree with me in a polite way!!! It's my favorite! Thanks for your comment Lori! :D
Loved your Review With Benefits Delee. Read it with my coffee waiting for Meet The Press (my version of what I like to call The Truth) to come on the air. Happy Sunday to you.
So funny! Even naughy. To want to get Canadians in the slipstream of hillbilly chic as back pay for being equally stereotyped and ignored. ;-)I read this recently too. But I've been having trouble getting clear why it wasn't very satisfying for me either. You solved some of that nicely for me. But I am too much like him in my trajectory from rural Ozark background to urban academic to get too vicious. I don't get nostalgic for wjere I came from like he does, but I managed to stay gone while getting back to rural in another place (which turned out a co-epicenter of the Oxycontin scourge along with Vance's Kentucky).
I want to marry this review.
Alan wrote: "Loved your Review With Benefits Delee. Read it with my coffee waiting for Meet The Press (my version of what I like to call The Truth) to come on the air. Happy Sunday to you."Happy to oblige Alan!! I do try to be entertaining from time to time. ;)
Michael wrote: "So funny! Even naughy. To want to get Canadians in the slipstream of hillbilly chic as back pay for being equally stereotyped and ignored. ;-)I read this recently too. But I've been having troubl..."
I know....it was a little naughty- I tried to kill three birds with one stone. My anger with Trump voting hillbillies and J.D Vance, and my anger with Fox news. I wanted so much to fit everything in one review. Hopefully I didn't fail in editing out the useless stuff too much.
Karen wrote: "I want to marry this review."Thanks so much Karen- I am so glad it spoke to you. :D
Janice wrote: "Bravo! Well said."Thanks Janice!!!
Opening with Bill Maher and following with a strong review, well done.
Thanks for the review! I think Vance tries to be honest; however, his admiration of non-admirable qualities is part of the problem.
It happened because Bill Maher is right about this, but it also happened because they are racist. I dropped friends this year too. Rather unsettling during an unsettling moment in history. Your review was right up my alley, and I loved it.
Thanks for the feedback J.L. :)
Thank you for your opinion as always Jessaka! :D
I still love your review. I heard about a book that is a rebuttal of this one. it is by Elizabeth Catte, What you are getting wrong about Appalachia. I am having a hard time understanding it, but I wish someone would read it and explain it more than what I have found in reviews so far.
I’m getting ready to read this for a book club. We have a lot in common as I’m also a proud libretard ;) So I’ll go into this book cautiously, knowing it may piss me off. Maybe I’ll read it with a glass of wine. :D
You may want two glasses. ;)
You’ve got better instincts than I do. I was fooled by him. I just updated my review and tour him to shreds. I sincerely hope that this creature is not elected. The people of Ohio deserve better.
Sorry. I meant tore.
