Group Read: Evicted by Matthew Desmond

Hi! A few of us are planning on reading Evicted in January. Anyone is welcome to join!

I'm in. Posted this on the new group wiki in the General Group Reads area.

I started it today, actually.

I'm in!

Got my copy ready to go!

I read this back in May, but I'll at least follow along. I'll get my copy back this weekend and be able to refresh my memory of the specifics. This was one of the best books I read this year.

I'm in for this one!

I'm planning to read it this year, but maybe not in January. I'll star this thread so I can follow along and find it later when I do, eventually, start the book.

>8 katiekrug: Katie, me too. I'll have to see how my reading, and reading time, shake out in January, as against my volunteering schedule and inevitable shakeout as well. Sigh. Who knew retirement could be so tiring?

Woot - book came in through ILL today. I'll be ready!

Evicted is available on Kindle and Nook (Barnes & Noble) for $3.99.

>11 GerrysBookshelf: Score! I just bought it!

I'm already halfway through this book. I find myself trying to slow down so I can make it to January 1st.

>13 luvamystery65: I haven't started this one yet, but I've already finished one of my January books as well! I guess sometimes we just can't wait.

I listened to an audio version earlier this year. I will follow the discussion.

Halfway through, too. It's bringing up a lot of things all too familiar from my extremely poor childhood.

Good to see this thread! It was my Book of the Year for '16. It's remarkable.

I just finished this book, but I have to think about this before I comment.

I read this book last year...really found it insightful and a great help in understanding the urban housing crisis. Do I need to join the 75 Book Challenge to be part of this discussion?

>19 beebeereads: all are welcome!

I'm #51 in line at the library so, even with 20 copies, I probably won't get it in time to read it this month.

I read it is 2016 so I will follow along with interest too. I did a bit of reseach on the MacArthur Foundation as Desmond was awarded being a "fellow" after writing this book. That was interesting research to do! There is access to some videos with this link.
https://www.macfound.org/fellows/933/

>22 mdoris: Thanks for sharing. I read this last year too, but really welcome the chance to add the photos in the video to my visual of his work. His photos add depth to the problem he describes and reality to the stories he tells. I look forward to this discussion.

I plan to start reading on Saturday!

>21 ronincats: That's ok, I'll probably dribble off into February.

I was really impressed with his research and how he thoroughly supported his narrative and the points he makes.

>25 jnwelch: Me too, I agree. It was my favourite book of the year.
I could see so many people (mostly women and children) "trapped" in a perpetual situation/cycle and that the children being sentenced too for the future to repeat the cycle. Really disheartening, but such critical research to have exposed. Again it reinforces the "luck/unluckiness of birth" for a very uneven start in life. I guess that's why my 2nd. favourite book of the year was The Nordic Theory of Everything because the Nordic countries have an even "starting gate" from their policies of support.

>26 mdoris:

My daughter and I were just discussing the "luck/unluckiness of birth' a few days ago! Off to check out The Nordic Theory of Everything.

Read this article in today's Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Talks about how reading Evicted influenced a Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright.

http://www.jsonline.com/story/entertainment/arts/2017/01/06/ayad-akhtars-disgrac...

>21 ronincats: Ro (luvamystery) sent me her copy so I've started reading the book, about 20 pages a day at this point.

I just finished Evicted, and I especially enjoying the description of how Desmond did the research at the end of the book. I was impressed with the way that he told the stories. I felt he was respectful of both tenants and landlords, and he didn't resort to easy explanations for complex situations. I think that his approach of living in the trailer court and in a rooming house on the North Side greatly contributed to his ability to tell this story as he did. I'm really glad that I read this one!

I agree whole-heartedly with Amy in >30 porch_reader:. This was powerful and his description of his methodology was excellent. Such a difficult subject area, and you know nothing will be done to address it by the current administration.