aramink t1_j694t6x wrote on January 28, 2023 at 5:14 PM

This book left me feeling the tragedy. The author's gentle treatment of her abusers and those stuck in that cycle was kind, if very sad.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou and Educated by Tara Westover are memoirs in which an abused child finds her way out while being sad for the people who abused them and they way they lead their lives.

Then there's Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance, who blames the abusers and those stuck in a cycle of desperation for their own problems. That one left me with a very bad taste in my mouth.

MelaphantMorada t1_j6bddpa wrote on January 29, 2023 at 2:57 AM

I actually really appreciated Hillbilly Elegy, I think it was definitely different from the Glass Castle, but I thought it had a healthy balance of holding parents accountable while also showing the importance of family. Just because your parents are fucked up doesn’t mean they should drag you down into their mess, also doesn’t mean you should abandon family in their times of need