Trailer Trash: an '80s Memoir

by Angie Cavallari

Trailer Trash tells the story of Angie Cavallari, your typical girl growing up in the 1980s who finds herself cradled in an arm of a society that would be considered anything but your paradigmatic suburban neighborhood.

In 1980, Angie and her two siblings are dropped into a world of the poorest tenements during a decade where material wealth was worshipped. But these are not your usual run-of-the-mill Florida retirement occupants—these are tenants with issues that Angie soon realizes are the same that can happen anywhere—even under her own roof. 

Her place in society is further confused by the fact that she doesn’t live in a trailer but nonetheless, shares a postage-sized backyard with a less-desired community by societal standards and attends a prestigious private school more than 45 minutes from her cinderblock castle. 

After spending a decade living in a world of indiscernible differences, Angie’s family decides it’s time to pull up stakes, sell the trailer park and buy a double-wide trailer of their own in the Carnie Capital of World, Gibsonton, Florida. 

Funny at times, nostalgic throughout, Trailer Trash hits on some serious notes and undertones about societal differences and the trials of surviving childhood in any decade and any environment.

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir, Biography Memoir, Book Club

208 pages, Paperback

First published August 3, 2018

Reviews

[Sapna · Rating 4 out of 5]

'I could tell that Grandma felt bad, but, being Grandma, she repeated her favorite phrase, “Whoever told you life was fair?” Grandma’s blasé approach to Sniffles’ death stemmed from how she and her generation emotionally survived The Great Depression and World War II.'

Before this book, I had no idea what a Trailer home Park is. And according to me, real stories of struggle comes from such surroundings. It is a memoir of the author, about her life with her parents especially her conscious mother worried about her chubbiness, two siblings, grandparents, and interesting tenants while she spent a decade in Mobile Home Park in Florida.

This memoir was hilarious, full of dark humor, and fun to read. It captures the struggle without any biases. I believe the notion shared in this book about tenants is pretty universal across all classes and geographies.

I really enjoyed the book, except the TV episodes, and the Music part I could not find any relation to. The Baby bird chapter was really good.

Very Nicely Written, Easy language.
An easy 4.2

[James Aylott · Rating 5 out of 5]

The late great Cormac McCarthy said “books are made out of books.” While reading Angie Cavallari’s Trailer Trash: an '80s Memoir I have to admit I took a few notes. Ms. Cavallari’s memoir of growing up in a Floridian trailer park is an amazing insight into the dark under belly of American life. A zippy funny read that anyone who came of age in the 1980s will appreciate. And anyone who came of age in another era will appreciate not coming of age in the 1980s. I am sure there is a TV show to be made from this book! The soundtrack to it would be beyond awesome. Great read.

[Samantha · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another memoir where the parents thoroughly piss me off, but I hope it helped the author to tell their story & move on to better places.
Can get a little gross at times.
It's Florida so "interesting characters" are to be expected
Was a quick read.
Seems like there was supposed to be a sequel but I can't seem to find one.
Overall enjoyed reading it but left wanting to know what happens next.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am really surprised I haven't heard of this author before. This memoir was amazing, she tells the story of her life with humor and ease. Very touching! There will be times that you honestly feel for the author because her mother did not make things easy for her! At times she will have you on the brink of tears for her and other times she will have you smiling and laughing. Great story!

[Jo Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book SO much! Angie Cavallari was just nearing school age when her family bought and moved into the Pelican Mobile Home Park. This story of the 80s is completely humorous, yet it carries just the right amount of thought provoking truth that was her life.


Angie grew up in the 80s as a trailer park kid. She would be quick to say that “trailer” was a word that the owners of these parks would never use. It was “Mobile Home” Park. And she should know. In 1980, her parents packed up the family and headed to Florida, leaving the cold north in Chicago for a warmer climate. Her grandparents were in Florida and had convinced her parents that they should join them, AND that owning and operating a “Mobile Home Park” was the way to go. So, off they went.

We get to know the interesting tenants that lived in the Pelican Mobile Home Park... Folks like Florence, who drove a blue, rusted Cadillac and was never sober. There was Gary, who loved cockatiels and was diabetic. (He lost half a leg from wearing boots that rubbed an infected wound on his leg until it looked like raw hamburger.) Then, there was Bob and Alice. Alice did nothing but watch sit-coms. Bob was an ex-Green Beret and had a tracheotomy. This encouraged Angie and her siblings to call him “Drive Thru Bob,” due to his voice coming through his external microphone. These folks were all part of what became family as she grew up.

This memoir is so full of memories, not only the author’s, but many of mine as well. The pop culture references from that time are so much fun to read! They are little snippets of what it was like in the park. You can follow an unwritten timeline as you read this book. It’s a timeline of the author’s life, but also of history of that time in America. The bands, school supplies, fashion, TV shows, and the rise of MTV.. What a great time to be alive!

Hidden in this laugh out loud book is a deeper part of this author. She shares her personal struggles in a way that gives the reader pause, without having you in tears. This book is funny and wonderful! I give it a huge thumbs up!!

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Angie Cavallari tells the story of her upbringing of her parents owning and living in a mobile home park. She tells her story well with easy to read language, short chapters and lots of humour.

Each chapter focuses on different themes such as Disneyland and Halloween, amongst many others.
My favourite chapter included pets brought into the household including an “insane” hamster called Popcorn who would climb to the top of his cage just to fall to the bottom - repeatedly. Which Cavallari describes as “the equivalent of jumping out of your second-story window.”

Other people are introduced into the book including those living on the site and Angie’s family. All having a snapshot of their own lives told and Angie tells it respectfully and with no judgment.

I really enjoyed hearing Angie’s story and I still feel there’s more to this story - one I’d love to hear.

[Benny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so far the best book i have ever read!!!! i must say i really enjoyed this book. Unlike other writers, This writer tells the story of her life with such ease and humor.
i was so tuned to this beautiful story! It really touched my heart and i love every word of it. I didnt find a hard time reading this book. It was very easy to read. The amazing author of this book felt so bad about her weight when she was so young and i really felt for her because her mom didnt make things easy for her!

What more can i say?? I would recommend this book to anyone who wants some light reading and to have a laugh. Angie is a very talented author andbi know she will keep you smiling as you read how she took on life as a child. I cant wait to rear more from for you hopefully in the near future!

[Joyce · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

Growing up in the 80s myself, Strawberry Shortcake, jelly shoes, the board game of Risk, roller rinks and all those 80's pop songs from Michael Jackson to Debbie Gibson brings back so many mixed emotions. Combined with growing up in a trailer park like Angie did during a time when the sound of Velcro from a Trapper Keeper is a luxury makes this book one millennials and today's children should read to put things in perspective before entitlement issues became so prevalent.

[Cassie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fun memoir to read. I was a teen in the 80s and this book was a trip down memory lane for me and had many moments where long forgotten memories resurfaced. I forgot all about jelly shoes! And Tipper Gore and 2 Live Crew. Long buried memories! I found myself absorbed in the goings on of the park residents and was pleased she gave a little update at the end. The book was funny at times, nostalgic, and I recommend it especially if you are looking for a quick, light read.

[Lorelei · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a short, quick version of a nostalgic childhood within a mobile home park set in the 1980’s. The distinct descriptions of TV shows watched, department stores, and even clothing items popular during that decade provide strong visuals for anyone who grew up during that time. Each of the stories is extremely short, and I would have liked to have read longer versions of the stories, even if it did double the length of the book.

[Michael Scott Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious! I loved it!! Even more so since I both grew up in St. Pete, Florida AND worked at a (really nice) mobile home park doing lawn care and maintenance when I was a teen. I met Angie at a book fair in Atlanta, and since we are both newly published authors we really connected. So grab a copy of her book, support Angie as a writer and artist, and laugh yourself silly until the end.

[Julie Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

New Book Alert: Trailer Trash: An ‘80’s Memoir by Angie Cavallari; Totally Detailed and Radical Memoir Is Perfect For Children of The ‘80’s



By Julie Sara Porter



Bookworm Reviews









I have two reasons to identify with Angie Cavallari's book, Trailer Trash: An ‘80’s Memoir. 1) Like Cavallari, I was a child of the ‘80’s and spent some of that gnarly time growing up in Florida (Ft. Walton Beach to be precise) and 2) My Mom grew up in Tampa, Florida as Cavallari did. So we both understood and enjoyed many of the things Cavallari spoke of in her book.



Cavallari, her parents, sister, and brother moved to the Pelican Mobile Home Park in Tampa, Florida in 1980 where her parents managed the trailer park. Cavallari's childhood was forever linked with the park, its eccentric residents, and memories of MTV music videos, Rubik's Cubes, and E.T.



Trailer Trash doesn't have a large plot so much as it features several small moments organized into chapters with minimal dialogue. That works well for this book. Cavallari's reminisces are rich in detail and recall that bring these moments to life. When she describes the tedious task that she and her siblings had of cleaning the trailers, the Reader's nose wrinkles at the accounts of soiled sheets, drug paraphernalia, broken bottles and who really wants to know what else.



The highlight of any book set in the ‘80’s, especially for those of us who grew up in that time, is the constant parade of trends, fads, entertainment, and other signs of an ‘80’s upbringing. The book is peppered with various songs and music videos such as Genesis’ “Land of Confusion,” Debbie Gibson's “Lost in Your Eyes”, and The Bangles’ “Eternal Flame” that are probably meant to present earworms for the average Reader. Cavallari described various activities like playing on a Slip and Slide and going to a skating rink (called originally enough, the United Skates of America) as well as watching prime time shows like Thee A Team, Dukes of Hazard, and Knight Rider, and You Can't Do That on Television on Nickelodeon and Don Knott's movies on the Disney Channel. She also writes about fashion trends like extremely permed hair and large fist-sized hoop earrings. These memories will fill former ‘80’s kids with warm nostalgia or embarrassed derision (and will no doubt give children or younger relatives and friends more fuel with which to tease them.).



Cavallari also captures the Florida setting so well that my mother who is also a former resident of Tampa Bay recognized them. Cavallari frequently watched Dr. Paul Bearer, the local Creature Feature host who showed older cheesy horror movies (no doubt directed by the likes of William Castle). She also writes of visiting the Ben T. Davis Beach (AKA Tampa Bay Beach) which far from being a paradise, Cavallari considered it crowded, noisy, hot, and extremely polluted and dirty. Cavallari even states that the only thing she hated more than cleaning the mobile home units was “going to the beach with (my) Mom.”



Cavallari also captures the eccentric spirit of a state that thrives on tourism. She visited the usual theme parks such as Walt Disney World (which she described as the only place her “family behaved themselves.”) and Busch Gardens. She also acknowledges the stranger tourist sites that Central Florida had to offer like Gibsonton, a small town that was home to various carnival workers during the winter season. Cavallari described the homes with amusement park rides in their front yards and dives run by sideshow entertainers in a way that both teases them for their weirdness and respects them as people who live for standing out in the crowd and being themselves.



Cavallari also offers helpful lists including glossary terms and descriptions of the various tenants. The glossary terms offer the lingo that is used in the trailer park as well as nearby Gibsonton. The glossaries are hilarious and helpful with terms such as “Mobile Homes” (what the residents prefer to call trailers) or “TPD” (the Tampa Police Department who seemingly get called in at least once a day.) The Gibsonton section is rich in terms like such as “Mark” (people who attend carnivals so named because the employees could easily con them to take part in the rigged games) and brilliantly foreshadows the Cavallari's eventual move to Gibtown (Gibsonton to the locals).



The residents are also described in a list format which focuses on their oddities making them a bizarre memorable bunch. They range from Florence who wore halter tops and no brassieres and was often seen walking to and from the liquor store to “Drive-Thru Bob” who was the first person Cavallari met who had an emergency tracheotomy and Bob’s wife, Alice, who was an expert in all things sitcom and would often describe various episodes in great detail. The Pelican Mobile Home Park appeared to be an odd assortment of alcoholism, drug addiction, and peculiar traits that could be signs of mental illness. It's no wonder that many of the tenants would eventually die of heart disease, natural causes and other means. These deaths would eventually cause the Cavallari's family to move and apparently traumatized her so much that she would later recall them in great detail and abandon in her book.



Cavallari captures her youth brilliantly. The end appears to set up a sequel in which the family moved from the trailer park to Gibsonton. I look forward to another trip down Cavallari's memory lane.

[Divya Mahajan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Never use the word "Trailer" due to its negative connotations but Mobile Home says Angie Cavallari in her book . This is a memoir of her days in the trailer part in the 80's in her formative years where her parents were the owners of a trailer park or rather a mobile home park and the mark they left on her. This story is self deprecating, humourous, a little sarcastic, but never judging or insulting the tenants who lived there. In fact the descriptions and life of the tenants are with a tongue in cheek humour though sometimes evicting the tenants turned violent and many a times police were involved as most of them were low income people without families, social rejects, drunkards etc. But the memoir is never judgemental nor the author seeks sympathy but just states facts as they were or as she experienced with her untypical Grandparents, a little harsh mother and father who was temperamental.
It is a fun light read that one can enjoy not the life seeking answers kind of memoir.
Thank you author and @Booktasters for this book

[Michela Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nostalgic 80’s romp through Tampa trailer park living

“My Mother hated being cold.” This is the opening line of chapter two, that leads you down the rabbit hole of Cavallari’s youth living in the impoverished ghettos of the American trailer park.

The story weaves the tale of Angie’s life as her parents uproot her family from the frigid Chicago winters and into the steamy swamp of Tampa, Florida. After intense pressure from her Grandmother, Angie’s parents decide to purchase the Pelican Mobile Home Park, situated near the dilapidated remnants of the Godfather’s Lounge, a local watering hole for the downtrodden. The tale is told through chapter-length vignettes, each more captivating than the last. The cast of neighborly characters often feel so perfectly imperfect, they must be a figment of Cavallari’s imagination, rather than taken from her actual youth. Her storytelling and descriptions transport you right into the story.

Cavallari’s life was difficult, with a narcissistic, bully of a mother and a childhood that was filled more with taking care of the trailer park than playing with children her own age. She details her struggle with her weight when she was young and how it severely affected her psyche, all the while spinning it with a comedic undertone that leaves you shaking your head in wonder and fascination.

I enjoyed the liberal peppering of eighties pop culture nostalgia, as well as the musical references found throughout. It was fun remembering my own youth during that same time frame and connecting with much of Angie’s childhood, even though I grew up in suburban western New York.

Check out this tale featuring the underbelly of Americana that is often joked about, but rarely detailed with such an intense magnifying glass. Remember to put on your seatbelt, because it’s going to be a bumpy ride.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of all the memoirs I've read (and that's not a high number necessarily, but I've read a few), this was possibly the most relatable with several moments of saying "I know how that is" and several moments of being able to see things exactly through her eyes. My parents didn't own a trailer park, nor did I grow up in one. But our mothers are similar in their body-image judgments. However, her mother seemed to be much more savage in her criticism of her "slower metabolism" daughter, as she describes herself. And if she kept quite a bit out of the book, like I read in an interview where she said she withheld a lot to not have to explain it later, I can only imagine the hell her childhood may have been at times. Also, while I didn't grow up quite at the same time as she did, there were several parts of her childhood that were so nostalgic, it'd take me straight back to vivid memories that I haven't thought of in a long time. My favorite moment is when she's describing how she recorded songs from the radio after Casey Kasem said a favorite song of hers was coming up. Back in a time pre-Itunes, Cd's, Shazam, and Google (and PC's). Getting a favorite song you liked essentially came to you in a form of a purchased cassette tape or it was recorded on a mix tape. I remember those days so well. I digress though. I enjoyed this book and look forward to her future reads because of how candid she is about the sometimes-challenging and raw lifestyle she endured for ten years of her life. She isn't shy about how she felt about the tenants of the trailer park, and in fact, is quite hilarious in her descriptions. Like most coming-of-age tales, it is sometimes heart-wrenching, but is amalgamated with several other enjoyable moments that makes it well-worth the read.

[Mary June · Rating 5 out of 5]

My only problem with this book is that it's way too short. I enjoyed every minute bit of it. And I'm definitely hungry for more. Especially given the book ends on a promising note that "the story continues."
Trailer Trash: 80s memoir is about the author's childhood spent among the trailer trash Americans, the prepubescent problems with self-identity, weight loss, faith, unpredictability and unreliability of adults. Although, having been only slightly aware of American poverty and mobile home arrangements in the US before I picked up the book, I could almost instantaneously draw parallels to Russian poverty and what I myself have experienced as a child back in the 90s, during the Russian Perestroika. Even though the narrative is not supposed to be funny, I'm grateful for the author to inject humor and satire into the story because otherwise, it could have turned into Crime and Punishment by Dostoevsky or any other psychological realism narrative. What I really liked about the book is the music, the lyrics of which is never said, yet it's always there: each chapter corresponds to a band or a song from the 80s. I love American culture, so I greatly appreciated every mention of a band, so I went and checked it out and felt the mood of the chapter on my own skin. That -- gave me goosebumps. That -- what made a narrative so peculiar and so iridescent.

[Carole Parkes · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author gives us a tantalising peek into the lives of the residents in one particular mobile home park in America, but I was disappointed it didn't go further. While the individuals are well described and the narrative easy to read - apart from the many US colloquial expressions I found difficult to understand - I felt it was just a cursory, one-sided look into their character, rather like how your stay-at-home, gossipy neighbour would describe the inhabitants of your street. I wanted to know what life had dealt to these people to shape their lives.

Of course, this is a memoir. As such, it has no real plot. It consists of what the author remembers about these people, and as she was a child and forbidden to mix with them, she can be forgiven for not knowing their individual stories. As a collection of memories from the 80s, with the many references to the fashion and music of the time it is really enjoyable if you just want a light read. My need for more depth is a personal thing and no reflection on this book at aII. I did enjoy it and finished it in one day. I would recommend it.

[Lori Starling · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I didn't grow up in a trailer park, I lived in one as an adult for some time. I found that reading this book was literately close to home in a number of ways. I feel that Trailer Trash is a must-read for everyone. When reading, I could relate to knowing someone just like “the tenants.” Cavallari uses imagery to the portal the reader into the eyes of a child who grew up in a world that people think they know all about. In reality, they don’t know anything. The author’s writing is raw, honest, and will make readers laugh out loud at some points and have empathy at others. The characterization of the people that influenced Cavallari's life is done so well, I felt like I came out personally knowing some of the folks that have impacted her life.

Now, sit back with a glass of tea outside in a lawn chair and read this book. If you do, you'll have a front-row seat to what it's like growing up with Cavallari (hopefully without the gigantic bugs she describes).

[Marian Robinson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Full disclosure: Angie Cavillari lives in my neighborhood and belongs to my book club. As part of our book club, we read her new book eagerly after its publication. In it, Angie has served up an entertaining series of 80s vignettes -- as seen through her youthful eyes. Each chapter stands alone, almost like a stand-up routine, with colorful characters dropping in and unbelievable events told with personal flair. Throughout, the reader is treated to reminiscences of 80s pop culture -- the (little) good, the bad and the ugly. A relevant read in our time of modern-day nomads in trailers and campgrounds.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book and it made me feel like I was sat with the author back in the 80s going through all of this story with her. I could picture all the residents and loved her stories of a life very different to my own. The only thing that would have made this better is some pictures to go along side the text especially a photo of the Halloween outfit. Loved it.

[Ivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fascinating memoir and very interesting. The author's life is quite unique! Some parts brought me back memories of my own childhood. Living in a trailer park could be pretty interesting from what it seems like.

[Liana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m a little surprised at how the author made the ending seem like a cliff hanger. But I guess that makes sense since life continues on, more chapters can be written. Enjoyable read. Something quick and easy.

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was fortunate to meet Angie Cavallari at Decatur’s book festival. Her book is fantastic. I truly enjoyed being brought back to what I recall to be an amazing decade...the 80s!

[Leah M · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book through Booktasters in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. Angie Cavallari writes with a witty and ironic sense of humor that I truly appreciated. While she is at least a few years older than I am, and has had a vastly different type of childhood than I did, there were so many points in her story that resonated on a deep level with my own.

She makes numerous references to growing up chubby in the 80s, and it was such a trying experience to go through! I can recall the exact same things that she relays in her story, from being denied the same foods others were treated to, having well-meaning relatives or friends offering the newest diet plan or workout tapes, and every single person feeling the need to comment on it. Being a kid who is more comfortable around adults than kids your own age is a tough way to be. I've been there too.

Her writing brings back an exquisite sense of nostalgia for me. The musical references that occur in just about every single chapter literally played in my head. She mentioned some things that I haven't thought about in years (yeah, Jolt cola and Burger Time - I'm talking to you!), and some things that are more recent, like Jellies. They do say that all the old fashions come back in style again, and they must be right, because I bought my nieces matching pairs last summer. Although there are some 80s fashions I could do without, like the hair styles, which she also refers to in the book.

This book gave me some interesting insight into what life must have been like growing up in a mobile home park (or trailer park as some people call them), even if your parents own the place. Which according to this book, makes it even harder. Even through the difficulties, Angie Cavallari makes light of the situation, and acknowledges the good times she had throughout her unconventional upbringing. She talks about the cast of characters she met while living in the trailer park, and while her life certainly wasn't glamorous, it seems like it provided her with determination, imagination, creativity, and humor.

While I also grew up in the 80s, I never thought anything was amiss. Looking back on my own childhood after reading this book, I wonder how any of us made it out alive. Wearing seatbelts wasn't standard. I must have ridden in a car seat as an infant, and I remember riding in a booster seat, but I remember being three or four and riding in the middle of the front seat, or sitting on my parent's lap, often behind the wheel, unbelted. The author recounts riding sitting backwards on the console between the front seats without a seatbelt until the console heated up enough to give third degree burns. She mentions her parents keeping multiple loaded guns in the trailer, unsecured. She describes an unsecured industrial dishwasher that, when opened, would produce clouds of scalding steam that could melt your face off. And the familiar refrain that I'm sure all of us kids who lived through the 80s knew - we stayed away because "hey, we were warned and had it coming." Maybe that's why we made it out alive.

This book was a quick, enjoyable, and refreshingly funny read. It ran through a decade in short, witty chapters. Of course, I absolutely adore a book that ends with a sense of closure. Now, if only there was a book about what happens next, because I'd love to hear about her next decade.

[Debbie Viscosi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Angie Cavallari grew up in Florida in the trailer park owned by her parents. She starts her memoir off by teaching us the”trailer park” lingo followed by thorough descriptions of the inhabitants of the park. She does a great job describing people exactly as a young girl would. To say the people in the park are colorful is a understatement.

The trailers are rented by people with very limited income. Her parents did not rent to families. Their tenants struggled to pay rent at times and they would be evicted. Run-ins with tenants behind on their rent would occasionally turning violent. The children were sent to the bedroom to avoid the potential for harm. The author describes this environment as the “ shitty, impoverished, modern-age ghettos” of the 80’s.

The references to the ‘80’s lifestyle throughout the book are a trip down memory lane for those of us able to remember those times. Parachute pants, top ‘80’s hits, and fads like Big League chew bring back memories of the impact these trends held. Angie’s life is constrained by her parents unreliable income and unconventional views of life. She longs to fit in but with the environment it is impossible.

This book is funny, sad, and poignant without being maudlin or self serving. Angie relates her upbringing but isn’t seeking sympathy. She simply manages to point out how crazy adults can be.

As the book draws to a close we see the family selling the trailer park and moving. Her story goes on. I wonder what her next set of experiences will be.

[Erik McManus · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. The writer tells the story of her life with such ease and humor. It was very easy to read and cool to see how she grew up. I never knew what it was like to live in a trailer park but now I have some insight into it.

The author seemed to have a lot of guilt pushed on her about her weight as a child and that saddens me to know that her mother would make her feel like she had to look a certain way. We all have those relationships with our parents that regardless of how they unfold, tend to mold us into who we are today.

At one point she talks about wolf spiders and if I was in that trailer where they were, I would be sleeping in a sealed tent outside. No way in hell would I be anywhere near those things...

My favorite character would probably have to be her grandmother. She could be a hardass at times but she seemed like a very fun woman. I don't want to give too much away so I will stop there.

I would recommend this book to anyone who wants some light reading and to have a laugh. Angie will keep you smiling as you read how she took on life as a child and young adult in the world of trailer parks and all the fun/interesting people that come with them.

[Matt Hild · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trailer Trash is almost two books combined into one. On the one hand, it is a poignant memoir of the author’s childhood, one not without some difficulties and tensions but overall marked by fun, interesting experiences and colorful characters in a Florida trailer park near a carnival town. On the other hand, the book is sort of a time capsule of pop culture in the 1980s, the last full decade before the Internet revolution. Anyone who grew up during that era will appreciate the book’s frequent references to songs, movies, TV shows, and fads from a time when pop culture was much less fragmented than it is today. This book is non-fiction yet it almost reads like a novel, with a fast-paced and easily flowing narrative. Trailer Trash is an entertaining, nostalgic look back at growing up in a recent yet clearly bygone era.

[Christina F · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a lovely memoir- I’m so happy I came across this gem! The author writes with humor and ease and is relatable. I found myself frequently laughing throughout the book and reminiscing about 80s music and culture that I too experienced growing up during that time period. There is also a lot about her struggles with her weight and how her mother did not make it easy for her. She was very descriptive about each character and I especially enjoyed reading about her grandmother. A quick and entertaining read that I would recommend to anyone, especially those who grew up in the 80s. Thank you to Booktasters and Angie Cavallari for providing me a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

[Daryana Quintana Cowie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I didn't grow up in a trailer park, but I sure did meet most of the characters described in this book. I relate on a few levels, but that's not why I read the book.... I had a longer flight and I was tired. I wanted an easy read. The book surprised me so much! Love the capacity of the author to describe places and "tenants".... I could see them in my head!
Great book, authentic, easy to follow. I'm impressed with the story telling. Laughter and melancholia will hit you, no doubt. I went on a trip down to the memory lane in an era when I was barefoot and waited a week for a letter to be able to get news from family, not having a phone. Was fun to remember my own childhood! This is a one sitting read, very captivating. Will defenetly revisit soon.

[Alex Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised at how fun this book was to read in spite of the fact that it's a memoir that takes place in a trailer park. Author Angie Cavallari does an excellent job of describing each and every character in detail to the point that I could picture myself in her odd world. But my favorite part of this memoir was the '80s nostalgia woven throughout the stories without over-explaining or exploiting that decade. Many mentions of songs with heavy saxophones and no call waiting. I think GenXers will especially connect with this memoir and other generations including Millenials will certainly enjoy a view into what it was like to only have a velcro wallet and watch on your person.