'Hillbilly Elegy': An incredibly haunting yet hopeful tale

After reading this J.D. Vance novel several years ago, two main thoughts came to mind: first, that the book was two to three times longer than it should have been, or needed to be, to convey the message it did, and secondly, and far more importantly, in spite of that mistake the core message was one of the most forthcoming and realistic portrayals of a deeply embedded life-style and culture that not only persists in America, but one that is thoroughly entrenched – far beyond what many other citizens here may think or are even aware.

With the great Ron Howard at the directorial helm of this ada...