Sample Saturday is when I wade through the eleventy billion samples I have downloaded on my Kindle. I’m slowly chipping away and deciding whether it’s buy or bye.
Hillbilly Elegy by J. D. Vance
Why I have it: Have seen so many glowing reviews but Catherine’s won me.
Summary: Growing up poor in America – part memoir, part historical and social analysis – and why the American dream is losing its appeal.
I’m thinking: Yes – instantly engaging.
The Reading Cure by Laura Freeman
Why I have it: Spotted on Bookish Beck.
Summary: Freeman was diagnosed with anorexia at age 14. She didn’t love food but she loved reading. A throwaway line in a book changed everything – ‘A good supper and strong tea restored their strength.’ Freeman discusses how literature restored her appetite.
I’m thinking: Yes. It’s about books. And food. And mental health. And it’s a memoir.
Painfully Rich by John Pearson
Why I have it: Inspired the Oscar nominated movie, All the Money in the World.
Summary: The story of the 20th century’s richest miser and what happened when his sixteen-year-old grandson was kidnapped (spoiler: Getty refused to pay the ransom).
I’m thinking: No – fairly sure the moral of the story is that money can’t buy you happiness or love.
Hillbilly Elegy helps explain why America is the way it is in a very accessible way. The Reading Cure looks great!
I read an extract from the Reading Cure somewhere and she was talking about Milly Molly Mandy – it won me (because: https://booksaremyfavouriteandbest.wordpress.com/2012/07/31/what-book-made-you-a-reader/ )
That’s a lovely post.
I can highly recommend Hillbilly Elegy (as well as The Reading Cure, of course). Both are very enjoyable memoirs that wear their serious themes lightly.
The first two sound brilliant. The last one less so because I don’t want to spend time focussing on a despicable rich person 🙁
The Reading Cure sounds incredibly interesting; plus that cover is gorgeous. Hope you enjoy these!
I thought Hillbilly Elegy spread the idea that Americans need only to pick themselves up by their bootstraps. He doesn’t even explain how he got into Harvard or why he wanted to be a lawyer. There’s a weird gap in the timeline.
Thank you so much for the shout-out! I hope you like the book. It will definitely give you perspective on how America got where it is right now.
Adding The Reading Cure to my TBR!
HIllbilly Elegy was great. I read it right after Trump was elected and it helped me better grasp middle America. I’d love to hear your perspective as a person from another country on it!
I’d kind of like to hear about the story in Painfully Rich.