I think Vance is too sympathetic at times, but his account is honest and unblinking. I grew up in east Texas in a similar way, sans booze or drugs in my own family, but devastating in the families of just about every kid in my neighborhood. Kevin @ Mac Donnell Rare Books 9307 Glenlake Drive Austin TX 78730 512-345-4139 Member: ABAA, ILAB ************************* You may browse our books at: www.macdonnellrarebooks.com -----Original Message----- From: Hal Bush Sent: Monday, October 17, 2016 7:28 AM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Hillbilly Elegy folks, I'm mentioning this new book, Hillbilly Elegy, which someone highly recommended and I've been reading. It occurred to me that some of you on here might like to order it for your own libraries and take a look: It's about Appalachia and the present day, but really reminded me so much of themes from Huck Finn and elsewhere. And, of course, the writer ends up graduating from Yale Law, so there is the poor white boy making good in Connecticut angle as well . . . . If anyone else has read it, I'd love your thoughts. --hb -- Prof. Harold K. Bush Professor of English 3800 Lindell Saint Louis University St. Louis, MO 63108 314-977-3616 (w); 314-771-6795 (h) <www.slu.edu/x23809.xml>