Annmarie answers “This is a hard read. I am 53 years old...”

Atheena asked this question about Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis:

This is a hard read. I am 53 years old and just finished this book yesterday. I have cried all day yesterday, all night woke with nightmares and am crying now. I know this is for questions. The only question I have is... does it ever get ok?

Annmarie It was a hard read for me, too. I have two friends who read it first. It was similarly hard for one, who (like me) grew up in a somewhat similar area.…moreIt was a hard read for me, too. I have two friends who read it first. It was similarly hard for one, who (like me) grew up in a somewhat similar area. It was much more abstract for the other. It rung very true for me. I kept thinking that I could have written a similar book about things I saw growing up.

It's great that you finished the book, despite that it troubled you. That's how we learn and grow.

Change comes slowly, but I do believe you'll see some. The problem is, we often repeat mistakes. As I said, change comes slowly. (less)

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