I just finished reading Hillbilly Eligy by JD Vance. I have been hearing about this book, probably since it came out in 2018. I saw it at Goodwill the other day and bought it. In Indiana I have a stack of books waiting to be read, but that's not the case (yet) here. Ha.
He describes his life growing up with a drug- and unhealthy relationship-addicted mother. In spite of his grandparents' problems, they are his life-line, along with his older sister. I heartily recommend this book, despite its abundance of bad language. I think everyone who grew up outside of Rust belt/Appalachia poverty should read it to help understand the forces that shape the people living within it.
I am a person that likes to step in and help people, but even in his ending chapters Mr. Vance doesn't give much hope of outsiders helping people trapped in this culture, aside from participating in things like Toys for Tots.
