What do you think?
Rate this book
Weedmonkey: Mama, Mother, Whore
Growing up during the Depression and forced to live in coal mining camps throughout Appalachia, Virgie Hopkins is subjected to child molestation, the KKK, murder, homelessness, starvation, and ridicule for being the daughter of the town whore. Virgie grows up hating her mother who was taken away when she was nine years old and while she was gone, she and her brother were put into foster care, starved, and abused. When her mother returned, she did not know her husband or her children and Virgie could not understand why she had changed. At 16, Virgie made the decision to leave Kentucky and the only life she had ever known after discovering her prostitute mother was having an affair with the young boy Virgie loved. Filled with hatred, resentment, and shame for the woman she called Mom, it was not until her mother’s funeral, did she learn the horrible truth, the reason for her change, and the reason why she became the town whore, a weedmonkey. A haunting true story… From the My mother began writing Weedmonkey when I was a little girl. In 2006, she was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given three months to live, passing on April 30. I was heartbroken not only because my mother was dying, but because her dream of writing this book was dying with her. On her deathbed, she asked me to finish writing it for her. I hope I've made her proud. ♥ Reader's Choice Golden Book Award 2018 Second Place Winner in Golden Book Award 2018 WINNER of Honorable Mention in Reader's Favorite 2017 and featured at the Miami Book Fair 2017!!! Review by Sarah Rollins for Readers' "Weedmonkey by Lisa V. Proulx is a moving memoir which tells the story of how a little girl called Virgie was brought into the world amidst the remnants of what was the old south, amongst wealth, judgement, poverty, and injustice. Virgie’s mother is considered a town whore, her father works in the mines, and the story continues with Virgie herself left to look after her brothers and sisters, moved from foster home to flop houses, and exposed to situations that you would never dream a young girl (or anyone) should ever be forced to face. Lisa V. Proulx writes with heart and soul as she tells Virgie’s story. Her writing style brings you into the story, and for some moments I almost forgot that this was a non-fiction book. Her words pulled you into Virgie’s plight and you felt the emotions of the young girl, her hatred for what life had dealt her, her disappointment for what she has missed in her youth, and yet her strength to go on, and become a different person from the mother she knew and grew up with. Weedmonkey is a true story which will make you smile and cry as you follow young Virgie, understand her background and her ability to rise above the life she was forced to live. A truly touching memoir, written with passion by the author who undertook this project after it was started by her own mother. A definite must-read for anyone who enjoys books of this era or non-fiction stories that demonstrate true strength."
255 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 15, 2013
606 people are currently reading
762 people want to read
About the author
Lisa V. Proulx
18 books83 followersLisa V. Proulx is an award-winning and international bestselling author, an award-winning speaker and storyteller, an award-winning artist, an editor, and a publishing consultant with Indie Author Consulting.
She writes gothic vampire fiction and horror.
Under her pen name, Veronica Moreau, she writes steamy erotic romance with a rock and roll edge.
She lives with her family in her childhood home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Maryland. ♥
She writes gothic vampire fiction and horror.
Under her pen name, Veronica Moreau, she writes steamy erotic romance with a rock and roll edge.
She lives with her family in her childhood home in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Maryland. ♥
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews
April 27, 2014
I will begin by saying that this is not a flawless book by any means, it seems to have been self-published and has many editorial mistakes. I will also note that this book strikes a personal chord with me because my family comes from Eastern Kentucky, very close to the Pikeville area in which this book is set. This is a biographical work, the best I can sort out, is that it was written by the main character known as Virgie, however she passed away before the book was finished and she urged her daughter to promise to finish it and publish it. I am very happy that Lisa carried out that agreement.
There is an honesty and purity to this book that made it very difficult to put down. First of all the book moves very quickly because it is so straight forward, no fluff, no flowery prose. Virgie's experiences are heartbreaking and harrowing, and she is a character who is easy to root for. If you are not familiar with this geographical area, especially during the time frame in which it is set (depression era + 50 or 60 years), it is quite fascinating and tells a tale of poverty, illiteracy, mental heath issues, abuse, but also of triumph and overcoming those challenges that we have no control over by taking control of every aspect of our lives which we have the ability to control. I also never felt at any time that the characters were seeking sympathy or pity, but instead it seemed to me in an unlikely manner to be a beautiful catharsis that is universally human when we tell "our story". I felt honored that the writer's mother (and ultimately her daughter) had the courage and were brave enough to tell this story. I was grateful to share it with them and when it was over, I felt a loss, and I wanted to know more (but in a good way).
Once again this story is rough in its style and it's construction, but it is well worth overlooking those flaws & I enjoyed it a great deal.
There is an honesty and purity to this book that made it very difficult to put down. First of all the book moves very quickly because it is so straight forward, no fluff, no flowery prose. Virgie's experiences are heartbreaking and harrowing, and she is a character who is easy to root for. If you are not familiar with this geographical area, especially during the time frame in which it is set (depression era + 50 or 60 years), it is quite fascinating and tells a tale of poverty, illiteracy, mental heath issues, abuse, but also of triumph and overcoming those challenges that we have no control over by taking control of every aspect of our lives which we have the ability to control. I also never felt at any time that the characters were seeking sympathy or pity, but instead it seemed to me in an unlikely manner to be a beautiful catharsis that is universally human when we tell "our story". I felt honored that the writer's mother (and ultimately her daughter) had the courage and were brave enough to tell this story. I was grateful to share it with them and when it was over, I felt a loss, and I wanted to know more (but in a good way).
Once again this story is rough in its style and it's construction, but it is well worth overlooking those flaws & I enjoyed it a great deal.
April 29, 2014
The first half of the book had me hooked, only because her life was so incredibly difficult and I wanted to see how things turned out. However, the second half of the book seemed to get redundant with the ramblings of a bitter, resentful daughter.
March 31, 2014
Self-excusing, Self-pitying, Poorly Constructed
I had to give it two stars, because I finished it, but the mother blaming/hating wore thin very early on. She did the best she could given her circumstances. She clearly wants absolution for her own poor choices and outcomes, yet cannot look at her mother and know that she, too, did the best she could given what she believed to be her choices.
If you, too, want to hate instead of understand your mother, if you want to give Daddy a pass, this is definitely the memoir for you. I know it was not one that helps me become more of the person I aspire to be, nor did it provide escapist entertainment.
I finished it only because I started it. It was a poor reason.
I had to give it two stars, because I finished it, but the mother blaming/hating wore thin very early on. She did the best she could given her circumstances. She clearly wants absolution for her own poor choices and outcomes, yet cannot look at her mother and know that she, too, did the best she could given what she believed to be her choices.
If you, too, want to hate instead of understand your mother, if you want to give Daddy a pass, this is definitely the memoir for you. I know it was not one that helps me become more of the person I aspire to be, nor did it provide escapist entertainment.
I finished it only because I started it. It was a poor reason.
January 31, 2016
My mediocre rating of three stars for this book is simply because I enjoy learning about the American sub-culture in Appalachia. The content of this book is dire, as I expected. The actual writing is ridiculous. I'm pretty sure that no professional editor was employed to check on simple things like the proper use of then and than. Within the first few pages the word compliment is used incorrectly. So, being that I caught that error immediately, my expectations were lowered.
Sometimes, with a Kindle version editing is lacking but it dies nevertheless irritate a reader.
This book was supposedly put together from various notes and scraps of paper left behind by someone's ( the author's) mother. These notes, if they existed, are not put together in a cohesive fashion. The writing does occasionally resemble that of a professional but mostly it's choppy and amateurish.
As I said, the story is interesting enough, I just would have liked to have a bit of style.
Sometimes, with a Kindle version editing is lacking but it dies nevertheless irritate a reader.
This book was supposedly put together from various notes and scraps of paper left behind by someone's ( the author's) mother. These notes, if they existed, are not put together in a cohesive fashion. The writing does occasionally resemble that of a professional but mostly it's choppy and amateurish.
As I said, the story is interesting enough, I just would have liked to have a bit of style.
September 10, 2017
review after this hurricane passes... hoping my fellow Fl readers are safe
January 28, 2021
Lisa V. Proulx has written a beautiful tribute to her mother, Virgie Hopkins. When you read this memoir keep in mind that it was pieced together by handwritten notes, heartbreakingly honest and raw conversations, years of secrets, shame, hours and hours of loving patience. It doesn't read like an ordinary memoir - because it isn't. It's so much more... If you let yourself go you'll forget your reading a book and feel like you are listening to Virgie tell you the incredible stories of her life. Lisa made a promise to finish the book that her mother started before she passed away. I'm glad she kept her promise.
May 29, 2015
Good book
Story was interesting but the writing seemed all over the place. It was written in the scattered way that a person thinks which made it confusing and hard to follow.
Story was interesting but the writing seemed all over the place. It was written in the scattered way that a person thinks which made it confusing and hard to follow.
January 19, 2019
I'm left puzzled
whether this is true or not. If true, how horrific. Yet, having lived in a "holler" myself, I understand much of it, and how these events can be factual. Not simply having lived in a holler, but the mentality. Well written. Lorie
whether this is true or not. If true, how horrific. Yet, having lived in a "holler" myself, I understand much of it, and how these events can be factual. Not simply having lived in a holler, but the mentality. Well written. Lorie
January 7, 2019
I clicked 2 stars, back up to 3. the story itself is interesting, but the story telling of it is poor. so many mistakes in the editing, that is always an irritating thing, i start to count them. and the writing lacked depth, it began to read like a list of sorts. in started out with more feeling, but grew to be points, like checking off, i mentioned this, i mentioned that.. i just grew bored, interesting life, but poorly written..
June 20, 2017
I had higher hopes for this one
I gave this book a one star rating because it didn't deserve better. I also felt like I was reading a child's diary. Lots of it didn't really make sense. The author would finish with one era start another than go back to the previous era without warning. It got confusing and some of the things that happened sounded "questionable",at the least. I also think that these stories that the child experienced could have been stories told down from generations and so it has become a stronger memory in her mind for it. Would have been much more engrossing if they went with the grown up voice rather than the child's cuz it came off kinda hokey.
I gave this book a one star rating because it didn't deserve better. I also felt like I was reading a child's diary. Lots of it didn't really make sense. The author would finish with one era start another than go back to the previous era without warning. It got confusing and some of the things that happened sounded "questionable",at the least. I also think that these stories that the child experienced could have been stories told down from generations and so it has become a stronger memory in her mind for it. Would have been much more engrossing if they went with the grown up voice rather than the child's cuz it came off kinda hokey.
September 23, 2017
Interesting tale
Wow! What a quick read!! I'm sorry that Virgie had to leave the life she did. I don't understand how parents treat kids the way they do but I guess everyone has their demons to fight. Luckily Virgie was able to pull herself away from her poverty ridden life and move forward. It wasn't easy but she did it.
Wow! What a quick read!! I'm sorry that Virgie had to leave the life she did. I don't understand how parents treat kids the way they do but I guess everyone has their demons to fight. Luckily Virgie was able to pull herself away from her poverty ridden life and move forward. It wasn't easy but she did it.
December 5, 2016
Heart Breaking True Story
Author and her siblings had a very sad childhood. Very interesting story about family living in southern coal mining regions with problems of mental illness,alcoholism,illiteracy and prostitution.
Author and her siblings had a very sad childhood. Very interesting story about family living in southern coal mining regions with problems of mental illness,alcoholism,illiteracy and prostitution.
December 1, 2017
Weedmonkey
Very good book, very sad childhood. Would like to know how these grown children are today.
Interesting, well written, would advise others to read this. Can relate to characters in this book.
Very good book, very sad childhood. Would like to know how these grown children are today.
Interesting, well written, would advise others to read this. Can relate to characters in this book.
October 2, 2013
Well written. At times, heartbreaking. Revealing memoir condensed and finished through journals written by her mother, and a woman who did rise above her childhood, but continued to be haunted by it.
June 12, 2017
Worst written memoir I have ever read.
Read
August 16, 2017Wow
Made me realise no matter how bad things get it can always be worse . A really intense read .
Made me realise no matter how bad things get it can always be worse . A really intense read .
March 4, 2019
Ecell
This is a story about how society viewed mental disabilities and other issues unfamiliar to them. Living in the poor South where most residents lacked education because most never went to school or dropped out to go to work in the coal mines. Virgin's mother suffered from a a mental disability. She came from a wealthy family lifestyle where she was disinherited by her father for marrying a poor Native American man. She was a wonderful mother to their 4 children and kept the house clean and orderly. She believed that the only way to get a man's love is by being promiscuous, therefore earned the name of Town Whore. Her husband left her and the children several times upon discovering her promiscuity generally without money. The kids went without food or clean clothes for several days. Virgie took on role of parent resulting in resentment and anger towards both parents. When her mother attempted suicide she was taken away to the hospital where she remained for more than a year. The children were never told where she was. Upon her return she did not know her family and was not the same person. The one foster home Virgie was placed was with drunks that used the money for her care to purchase alcohol. She was locked out of the house sometimes all night and day without food or a safe warm safe place to sleep. Virgie vowed to get out of the coal mine towns where hillbillies lived. The hillbillies were dirty, inbred and uneducated. Her father remarried and resided in hillbilly country. Virgie was teased and bullied by her peers. She learned to fight back. Weedmonkey tells the story about the life struggles and heart aches of a young girl growing up in the South during the times of the Viet Nam war, John Kennedy, the Civil Rights Movement, KKK, segregation and prostitution and her fight to leave that lifestyle behind. Excellently written . You can actually imagine yourself in her situation. Should me made into a movie.
This is a story about how society viewed mental disabilities and other issues unfamiliar to them. Living in the poor South where most residents lacked education because most never went to school or dropped out to go to work in the coal mines. Virgin's mother suffered from a a mental disability. She came from a wealthy family lifestyle where she was disinherited by her father for marrying a poor Native American man. She was a wonderful mother to their 4 children and kept the house clean and orderly. She believed that the only way to get a man's love is by being promiscuous, therefore earned the name of Town Whore. Her husband left her and the children several times upon discovering her promiscuity generally without money. The kids went without food or clean clothes for several days. Virgie took on role of parent resulting in resentment and anger towards both parents. When her mother attempted suicide she was taken away to the hospital where she remained for more than a year. The children were never told where she was. Upon her return she did not know her family and was not the same person. The one foster home Virgie was placed was with drunks that used the money for her care to purchase alcohol. She was locked out of the house sometimes all night and day without food or a safe warm safe place to sleep. Virgie vowed to get out of the coal mine towns where hillbillies lived. The hillbillies were dirty, inbred and uneducated. Her father remarried and resided in hillbilly country. Virgie was teased and bullied by her peers. She learned to fight back. Weedmonkey tells the story about the life struggles and heart aches of a young girl growing up in the South during the times of the Viet Nam war, John Kennedy, the Civil Rights Movement, KKK, segregation and prostitution and her fight to leave that lifestyle behind. Excellently written . You can actually imagine yourself in her situation. Should me made into a movie.
April 18, 2024
Having recently read ‘Demon Copperfield’, this one stings in comparison! At least the crappy life events and early childhood traumas were a work of fiction in that book….this though!
This poor kid (a girl named Virgie) bounced from place to place to place…..in and out of structure and anyone caring if she had a meal or a place to sleep throughout her entire childhood! Her mother’s constant drama and self centeredness was so traumatizing (even to just read about) that I can’t fathom having lived it. Her mother slept around so much that it seemed unbelievable at times and of course it changed the dynamics of the entire family. Her mother even sleeps with someone that Virgie was in love with when she’s older. She was no longer close to or even able to see her dad for long periods of time after her parent’s divorce and his re-marriages. This is a true story of survival: regarding the age old question if someone turns out the way they are BECAUSE of what happened to them, or DESPITE what happened to them, I feel like this is clearly a case of DESPITE!
As far as memoirs go, this one is intensely personal and emotional. If you enjoy this genre: it’s a good one to add to your reading list! It’s unforgettable!!
This poor kid (a girl named Virgie) bounced from place to place to place…..in and out of structure and anyone caring if she had a meal or a place to sleep throughout her entire childhood! Her mother’s constant drama and self centeredness was so traumatizing (even to just read about) that I can’t fathom having lived it. Her mother slept around so much that it seemed unbelievable at times and of course it changed the dynamics of the entire family. Her mother even sleeps with someone that Virgie was in love with when she’s older. She was no longer close to or even able to see her dad for long periods of time after her parent’s divorce and his re-marriages. This is a true story of survival: regarding the age old question if someone turns out the way they are BECAUSE of what happened to them, or DESPITE what happened to them, I feel like this is clearly a case of DESPITE!
As far as memoirs go, this one is intensely personal and emotional. If you enjoy this genre: it’s a good one to add to your reading list! It’s unforgettable!!
July 26, 2020
Weedmonkey is the story of Virgie, a person who grew up in the 1930s in rural Kentucky. Born to a Native American father and former-socialite mother who becomes known as the town whore (weedmonkey), her life is anything but easy. Determined to get away from the hardships and poverty and whore-house lifestyle of her mother, Virgie runs. She forges a better life for herself, but never fully shakes the past she came from.
Weedmonkey is put together from the notes of the author's mother. It is the mother's story, beginning with her own "stillborn" birth in a cabin and ending with the death of her weedmonkey mother. We don't really know much about what happened to Virgie after her mother died, so in a way, it's not a complete memoir. Fast-paced and interesting, it provides a good snapshot of what life was like in the holler during that time. Recommended for those who enjoy memoirs.
Weedmonkey is put together from the notes of the author's mother. It is the mother's story, beginning with her own "stillborn" birth in a cabin and ending with the death of her weedmonkey mother. We don't really know much about what happened to Virgie after her mother died, so in a way, it's not a complete memoir. Fast-paced and interesting, it provides a good snapshot of what life was like in the holler during that time. Recommended for those who enjoy memoirs.
August 28, 2020
This book reads like it was written for a young adult audience and as if it were written in the 1950s or earlier, rather than having been written in 2013 (and supposedly revised in 2017, though the revision left a lot of typos throughout.) There are many instances when the writer is using her own voice in the 21st century and shows obvious bias against Black Americans, i.e. that a "black nanny" and other black workers, descendants of slaves, who were working on a plantation in 1910 were happy to be there, loved the white family, and were treated well. I'm glad I got this for free on a Kindle Unlimited free trial.
September 3, 2017
I read this book after my mother and I meet the author. I usually don't read memoirs, but my mother liked it and thought I would also. It was interesting to see how people lived and what they thought in the time. I felt the author jumped around too much. I kept picturing her listening to her mother tell stories of her grandmother and she just throw them all together. I kept getting confused as to who the people were since she jumped around so much. I'm not sure I recommend this read, but I didn't hate it either.
October 21, 2019
I love memoirs when they aren't written by celebrities. This one was horrific, heart breaking, sometimes uplifting. But the writing style left a lot to be desired. The first 1/3 of the book felt very detailed and the rest felt rushed. There were a lot of grammatical errors and I couldn't figure out if it was intentional.
Vergie had a very rough life and even though her adult years were far better, there wasn't a legitimate happy ending. She ended up in a lovely marriage and no real friends or family.
Vergie had a very rough life and even though her adult years were far better, there wasn't a legitimate happy ending. She ended up in a lovely marriage and no real friends or family.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2020
Wildly inconsistent. I understand the author is working from her mother's notes, a mother who may have had a mental illness, but OhMyGoodness. There were so many inconsistencies, though, it made the book very difficult book to read.
If the book is, indeed, true I do feel bad for the author and her whole family as it seems like they were plagued for many generations with all sorts of issues but this book was far from my favorite.
If the book is, indeed, true I do feel bad for the author and her whole family as it seems like they were plagued for many generations with all sorts of issues but this book was far from my favorite.
March 17, 2018
Weedmonkey is another harrowing memoir of past life in America. I start to wonder if anyone had a 'normal' childhood. The author finished this for her mother, who lived it. The best thing to come out of a tale like this is the children who don't want to repeat their parents mistakes and become determined to do better.
September 5, 2018
I've seen this book often and was looking forward to reading it, but was a bit disappointed. There is nothing "wrong" with it, but it didn't have a strong story line besides she was born to horrible people in a horrible place that she vacillated between her whole life. There was no resolution.
Not a horrible read, but unsatisfying in the end.
Not a horrible read, but unsatisfying in the end.
October 28, 2018
Amazing!
I thought it was a great read, I read the whole thing in one night. It depicts perfectly what life was like back then for so many people. I connected even further with it because my family is from the Ohio/West Virginia area and my grandmother grew up the same time as Virgie. It was a hard time for sure. 100% recommend this book!
I thought it was a great read, I read the whole thing in one night. It depicts perfectly what life was like back then for so many people. I connected even further with it because my family is from the Ohio/West Virginia area and my grandmother grew up the same time as Virgie. It was a hard time for sure. 100% recommend this book!
July 17, 2019
An interesting read...
I wasn't for sure if I wanted to sympathize with "Virggie" or think her a touch selfish at times when it came to the way she treated other people. No one could really blame her if course it was just a shame all the way around. But it was nice that she was able to fight her way out of poverty like that and should be commended for her strength.
I wasn't for sure if I wanted to sympathize with "Virggie" or think her a touch selfish at times when it came to the way she treated other people. No one could really blame her if course it was just a shame all the way around. But it was nice that she was able to fight her way out of poverty like that and should be commended for her strength.
December 8, 2019
Memoir deals with tough mother/daughter relationship
This book tells the story of a young woman dealing with many childhood problems, the hardest being her relationship with her mother. Her mother was a brazen prostitute which brought great shame to the author. Interesting story that really held my attention.
This book tells the story of a young woman dealing with many childhood problems, the hardest being her relationship with her mother. Her mother was a brazen prostitute which brought great shame to the author. Interesting story that really held my attention.
April 2, 2020
A must read!!
Excellent book I really couldn't put it down. I was completely drawn in from the first page. Absolutely heartbreaking and brilliantly written. The author certainly did this story proud. It was like you were actually living Virgie's life with her. Definitely a 5 star rating.
Excellent book I really couldn't put it down. I was completely drawn in from the first page. Absolutely heartbreaking and brilliantly written. The author certainly did this story proud. It was like you were actually living Virgie's life with her. Definitely a 5 star rating.
April 29, 2020
I love this book!
This book got my attention. It was never boring. I like non-fiction stores about real people's lives. My emotions were up and down. I was even yelling at some parts of the book in anger and excitement at what I was reading lol! This was a perfect book for me right now. ❤
This book got my attention. It was never boring. I like non-fiction stores about real people's lives. My emotions were up and down. I was even yelling at some parts of the book in anger and excitement at what I was reading lol! This was a perfect book for me right now. ❤
Displaying 1 - 30 of 143 reviews