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redheadorganist's review against another edition
challenging
informative
medium-paced
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Classism
savannnah_reads's review against another edition
Something about the way this author words their prose makes my brain fuzzy
thecurseofchris's review against another edition
3.0
Being from West Virginia and knowing of all the misinterpretations about the state/region and its people, I was very excited to read this book. I was hoping that there would be some investigative journalism or writing where we hear from the people of Appalachia themselves to help explain what so many "get wrong" about the region (especially in relation to the 2016 election). While the author is very knowledgeable and intelligent on this subject, the writing was so flat and uninteresting for too much of the book. Half the time, it felt like I was reading a long, detailed response to Hillbilly Elegy. I feel like the author's intentions were lost in the overly academic writing, which therefore will cause the people who truly should be reading this book to skip over it. I can see this being a decent resource for university-level courses, but not for the casual reader.
kirajohnson6's review against another edition
3.5
Good info. It is a rebuttal to the attention given to J.D. Vance’s book “Hillbilly Elegy” with strong criticism against the way he portrayed Appalachian people.
gracehodges's review against another edition
3.5
The author covers a lot of topics which is nice in theory. But I would've preferred if they focused on a few key elements and really explained them in more detail. Great information is presented but the lack of depth and explanation causes a lot of it to be lost if you have no knowledge about the topic before diving into the book.
notmack_'s review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
i do quite like the style of ms catte’s writing, it is well researched without feeling overtly academic in nature (which can feel boring at times! i was not bored reading this book). there was so much i did not know about appalachia, and this book provides some great starting points for further research; i’ll be taking several looks at the recommended readings in the back of the book
whatcandicereads's review against another edition
4.0
In an absolutely necessary alternative to the stereotype-filled, Hillbilly Elegy, Catte provides a more comprehensive approach to Appalachia, being sure to center the racialized experiences of Black, Latinx, and other people of color residing in the expansive region. She recounts an in-depth history, rebutting many of the points put forth by Ohio’s J.D. Vance and in my opinion, gives readers a more wholistic understanding of ‘Appalachia’ beyond West Virginia coal mines and midwestern conservative voters. Through her storytelling, she highlights the history of unions, abolitionist movements, and the collective activity that has allowed communities to grow — something considerably absent from much of the media coverage and (some) prior writings about the people — real people — of Appalachia. As a student of sociology, I particularly appreciate chapter three and the discussion of radical activists throughout Appalachia, filled with examples of anti-capitalist organizing, prison abolitionists, and others performing essential movement work. Though some chapters read more like a history book, I’ll take this over it’s Elegy counterpart any day.
sara_shocks's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent, accessible history of Appalachia and its diverse people, with a particular focus on activist movements and countering popular misconceptions. A wonderful counter to Hillbilly Elegy's message, I highly recommend this for anyone who has spent time in Appalachia and/or has an interest in grassroots activism and labor movements.