I love reading Juvenile Fiction and just finished a series by Kelly Yang - Three Keys, Front Desk, Room to Dream, Too Story. She covers subjects like cultural identity, economic disparities, stereotyping, discrimination, gentrification thru stories of teenager Mia Tang, her family & diverse circle of friends. I've laughed out loud, teared up & could empathize & relate in ways that surprised me. Not sure if a non-fiction autobiography could have done that. I even wondered because her stories challenge white -centeredness, racial injustices & corporate greed, if her books might be banned in some schools.
I loved Demon Copperhead and before I read the line where you said it tells a truer story, that’s exactly what I was thinking. I did read hillbilly elegy quite a long time ago, and at the time thought it gave me insight into a world that I didn’t know anything about and it may have. And to be fair, JD Vance is telling his own story. For me, I think what is problematic is everything that’s come from him since the writing of that book. And I simply trust Barbara Kingsolver’s opinion (more) of the telling of the story of a people.
So good! And so interesting how the way we see different books changes over time, as we evolve. Yeah there is something about book + author that changes things, especially when the author is now a political figure. And something about telling one's own story vs falsely generalizing to a whole diverse region's story?
I've been waiting my turn with the library's Demon Copperhead for SO long. After this, though, I might just pull the trigger and buy it.
It's not quite the same, but I just read the novel "Rednecks" by Taylor Brown and it tells that story you mentioned. The Battle of Blair Mountain is mind-boggling. Over one million rounds were fired and bombs dropped on American citizens in 1920-21. Even coming from a West Virginia mining family, I had no idea any of this had happened.
Oh yeah it's in high demand! Would love to hear your thoughts once you either buy or eventually get it from the library!
Totally mind-boggling. Also mind-boggling that it's so little known even among West Virginia-descended people, not just West Coast-ers like me. Thank you for sharing those details and keeping them in memory.
Thanks for posting about the book, Demon Copperhead. I hadn’t heard about the book, but I just placed a hold on it at the library.
Regarding fiction books that provide some insight into a different culture, I’ve been “reading” (listening to) mysteries by Tony Hillerman that use the Navajo Nation as the backdrop for the stories. From my understanding, Hillerman does a good job of accurately describing Navajo ceremonies and traditions in his books.
I liked October Sky. AKA Rocket Boys (OG title). Did you read it?
Oh cool! I think I saw the movie, but it was long enough ago that I'm sure I've forgotten everything and would enjoy the book...Thank you!
I love reading Juvenile Fiction and just finished a series by Kelly Yang - Three Keys, Front Desk, Room to Dream, Too Story. She covers subjects like cultural identity, economic disparities, stereotyping, discrimination, gentrification thru stories of teenager Mia Tang, her family & diverse circle of friends. I've laughed out loud, teared up & could empathize & relate in ways that surprised me. Not sure if a non-fiction autobiography could have done that. I even wondered because her stories challenge white -centeredness, racial injustices & corporate greed, if her books might be banned in some schools.
Oh that sounds really good, I love that. Amazing what good fiction can do - both in us and as a way of challenging harmful systems!
I loved Demon Copperhead and before I read the line where you said it tells a truer story, that’s exactly what I was thinking. I did read hillbilly elegy quite a long time ago, and at the time thought it gave me insight into a world that I didn’t know anything about and it may have. And to be fair, JD Vance is telling his own story. For me, I think what is problematic is everything that’s come from him since the writing of that book. And I simply trust Barbara Kingsolver’s opinion (more) of the telling of the story of a people.
So good! And so interesting how the way we see different books changes over time, as we evolve. Yeah there is something about book + author that changes things, especially when the author is now a political figure. And something about telling one's own story vs falsely generalizing to a whole diverse region's story?
I've been waiting my turn with the library's Demon Copperhead for SO long. After this, though, I might just pull the trigger and buy it.
It's not quite the same, but I just read the novel "Rednecks" by Taylor Brown and it tells that story you mentioned. The Battle of Blair Mountain is mind-boggling. Over one million rounds were fired and bombs dropped on American citizens in 1920-21. Even coming from a West Virginia mining family, I had no idea any of this had happened.
Oh yeah it's in high demand! Would love to hear your thoughts once you either buy or eventually get it from the library!
Totally mind-boggling. Also mind-boggling that it's so little known even among West Virginia-descended people, not just West Coast-ers like me. Thank you for sharing those details and keeping them in memory.
Thanks for posting about the book, Demon Copperhead. I hadn’t heard about the book, but I just placed a hold on it at the library.
Regarding fiction books that provide some insight into a different culture, I’ve been “reading” (listening to) mysteries by Tony Hillerman that use the Navajo Nation as the backdrop for the stories. From my understanding, Hillerman does a good job of accurately describing Navajo ceremonies and traditions in his books.
Oh that's very cool! Thanks for the rec!