Deborah Underwood answers “Was anyone else as horrified as I at those...”

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

Was anyone else as horrified as I at those aspects of the Hillbilly culture the author praises? Mamaw was mean; she cussed, threatened and used physical violence and he admires her- why?

Deborah Underwood I thought his Mamaw was wonderful. Yes, she cursed, threatened and was violent, at times, but overall she not only adored her grandson but encouraged …moreI thought his Mamaw was wonderful. Yes, she cursed, threatened and was violent, at times, but overall she not only adored her grandson but encouraged him, supported him in every conceivable way, gave him stability and love on a consistent basis, provided a peaceful home, believed in him, helped him to aspire to greatness, encouraged him to be disciplined in his schoolwork and more. She was a saint compared to the chaos and debilitating instability and drama that his mother subjected him to.
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