Book #2: Without a Net

Oh, what a privileged life I lead. This is how I felt after finishing Without a Net: The Female Experience of Growing Up Working Class, a book of essays my friend Adelle lent to me.

The editor decided to put the book together after reading books like Nickled and Dimed, and watching movies like Supersize Me. Why is it that we only accept narratives about the poor and working class when they are authored by the middle and upper class? An interesting premise, and one that highlights the lack of literature from poor and working class people. This is not, of course, because these people (and particularly women) have nothing to say; rather, it’s because access to publishing is limited, and it’s virtually impossible to spend time pecking away at the old keyboard, when you haven’t eaten all day since you can’t afford food.

Anyway, this group of essays was sad, inspiring, thought-provoking, and most importantly, exposed me to a voice that I’d never heard from before — that of poor and working class women. At times, the essays were difficult to read, and at times I found myself losing sympathy for the authors (everyone has a tough time figuring out what they want to do when they graduate from a liberal arts school, working class or upper class). But mostly, I felt appreciative that I’d been exposed to a new voice in literature, a voice I hope to hear more from in the future.

Up next: The Making of a Chef