Synopsis (from Netgalley, the provider of the book for me to review.)
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From the New York Times bestselling author who inspired the hit Netflix series about a struggling mother barely making ends meet as a housecleaner—a gripping memoir about college, motherhood, poverty, and life after Maid.
When Stephanie Land set out to write her memoir "Maid", she never could have imagined what was to come. Handpicked by President Barack Obama as one of the best books of 2019, it was called “an eye-opening journey into the lives of the working poor” (People). Later it was adapted into the hit Netflix series Maid, which was viewed by 67 million households and was Netflix’s fourth most-watched show in 2021, garnering three Primetime Emmy Award nominations. Stephanie’s escape from poverty and abuse in search of a better life inspired millions.
Maid was a story about a housecleaner, but it was also a story about a woman with a dream. In Class, Land takes us with her as she finishes college and pursues her writing career. Facing barriers at every turn including a byzantine loan system, not having enough money for food, and navigating the judgments of professors and fellow students who didn’t understand the demands of attending college while under the poverty line—Land finds a way to survive once again, finally graduating in her mid-thirties.
Class paints an intimate and heartbreaking portrait of motherhood as it converges and often conflicts with personal desire and professional ambition. Who has the right to create art? Who has the right to go to college? And what kind of work is valued in our culture? In clear, candid, and moving prose, Class grapples with these questions, offering a searing indictment of America’s educational system and an inspiring testimony of a mother’s triumph against all odds.

I have not seen "Maid" on TV but I have read the book and having once worked in financial aid, I have seen this woman's plight many times as they try to better themselves via education. It is also a story of the haves and the have-nots, many who don't understand the life and demands of older students who are attending classes with them: people who are there to better themselves, not just party and get laid. Although I would question someone paying so much money for an arts degree in writing, it paid off for her, which is almost needless to say!
Like Maid, this is a searing book about what it is like to live below the poverty line: something I see every day in my clients who are also the haves and have-nots. I will recommend this book far and wide: it is excellently written and has an excellent comment on today's society, especially in the university/college town in which I live. (Ditto Montreal, the hometown of my heart!)
#shortbutsweetreviews

WARNING: THIS BOOK MIGHT BE TRIGGERING FOR YOU IF YOU ARE "RIGHT TO LIFE" - in fact, you might end up slut-shaming the author if that is the kind of person that you are.

Such great storytelling.I was so excited to be approved for an advanced read. I kept looking for this to be available on netgalley as soon as I heard she had finished the book. I read it in one weekend and it left me wanting more. I have such respect for the author and her story. I will recommend it to everyone, but feel bad they will have to wait until November to read it.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Kindle ARC in exchange for an honest review. I felt so fortunate to be approved for Class by Stephanie Land. Class is a follow-up to Ms. Land's memoir "Maid," which went on to be a top seller and made into a limited series on Netflix. Class is every bit as good as Maid was. Reading about Ms. Land's struggles as a single mother, rarely letting herself get down to the point where she is not able to care of her daughter or continue with her goal of graduating from college, while piece mealing together enough work and money to keep going, while battling in the court system over child support and visitation with her ex. Although my years as a single mother weren't nearly as dire as those described in Class, I could relate with her struggles, the feelings of being "less-than" and maybe not a good enough mom. Even though I know from her prior memoir that things turned out ok in the end, its nevertheless a powerful story of a woman who is determined not to give up.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I have previously read Land's earlier memoir "Maid", and have seen the Netflix series based off of it. I honestly wasn't aware she was writing another memoir, but was curious what she and her daughter have been experiencing since then (I don't follow her on social media).

As with all memoirs, I feel that Land's unique story is important, and we can all learn from others' experiences. I wanted to know more about the issues of food/housing insecurity in America, and what options there are for single mothers below the poverty line.

I was an English major myself (under very different circumstances), so I was interested in the specific challenges she faced as an single, older student with a young child (and hungry). It w2s also interesting for me to learn more about MFA programs.

I struggle with this review, because memoirs especially are difficult for me to critique. I deeply admire anyone who publishes their memoir. That being said, there were a few things that didn't work for me. First, I just never connected to the author--I empathized with her, and was rooting for her, but never really felt like I liked her. I questioned some of the choices she made while having a young daughter-- involving drugs, sex, partying, etc.

I also really don't care for chapter titles that are so specific that the reader knows what's going to happen in that chapter. For example, chapters with titles such as ""Late", "I'm Pregnant", and "Lil' Sister" give away a bit too much specificity--I'd rather see chapter titles be a little more ambiguous so there is some element of surprise while reading.

As many reviewers wrote about her earlier book, I would've been interested in a little backstory involving her younger years (high school graduation through young adulthood) to see how those choices impacted or didn't impact the experiences she faced in "Maid" and "Class". Not to judge her, but just out of interest--she doesn't owe the reader that, but there just seems to be a chunk of her story left out for whatever reason. For example, I'm curious what led her to start college classes in Alaska but not finish her degree then. Or, her cousin Jen shows up towards the end of "Class"--does she have other family members who are also supportive and could've helped her over the years? Where did Jen suddenly come from?

This was a quick read.and I appreciate Land sharing more of her story.

I will share my review on Goodreads close to publication date (11/7/23).

I already knew that Land was a talented writer because of Maid. That book left such an impression on me. I actually recall being able to feel what Land was describing, the suffering and challenging times she had. Well, she's back with Class and once again has crafted an amazing memoir about education, our broken system and her very brave role as a mother. Reading about Stephanie and Emilia is a treat.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Five stars!

Outstanding book. This is one of those books that lets you stand in the shoes of the author and get a perspective that nobody else can give. A good read.