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pandemonicbaby's review against another edition
5.0
This book is such a marvelous, deeply interesting exploration of the power of education, of the meaning of family, of struggling with abuse and still being able to forge an identity for yourself afterward. Her path towards education is also a path towards being able to think for herself, instead of being told what to think by others. This might be the strongest, most powerful message woven in between the threads of this memoir, an ode to finding yourself through education.
So much nuance, so many tiny little intricacies present in the text show that Tara Westover truly is a historian -- that she's able to see the many different versions of a story and present them to the reader, making them reflect upon the significance and meaning of each unique account. "[...] nothing final can be known", as she quotes John Stuart Mill.
I feel like I'm going to reread this soon, just so I can underline the passages in this book that are so powerful they would make anyone stop reading just to reflect upon them. I shouldn't have been scared of underlining this book, gosh!! I gotta start being more willing to do that, whenever I think it might be important to me.
All in all, wonderful book. Marvelously crafted, beautiful writing, moving and powerful message. I cried reading this. I think it will stay with me forever.
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Cancer, Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Genocide, Miscarriage, Racism, Vomit, and Mass/school shootings
autisticwhimsydreamgirl's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders, Dementia, and Pregnancy
sierrabowers's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Car accident, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
insideunder's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Chronic illness, Miscarriage, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Classism
pranjuli's review against another edition
4.0
Weirdly, despite being a story so away from our lives, Tara doesn't come across as an alien when discussing about her feelings and fears and how she felt when thrown into new situations after living a completely different life for 17 years. She doesn't feel unnatural, she doesn't come across as miraculous either.
She is a woman, just like any of us, who had to grapple with so much.
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Animal cruelty and Animal death
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
sweetbeetle's review against another edition
3.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Medical content, Medical trauma, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Racial slurs and Racism
nightpath's review against another edition
5.0
Tara Westover is a truly talented writer, and clearly a deeply reflective person. To have spent so much of her life journaling to no end and learning at a steep cost to her wellbeing, it is amazing that this book even exists.
There are few stories that allow you to see so clearly how much of a certain experience you have taken for granted, but this book takes you out of yourself entirely and shows you in absolute clarity what it is you have been given, simply by receiving an education.
My only note is to trigger warn - the book is intense and graphic and it may not suit everyone!
Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, Car accident, Death of parent, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
maggiemcfly's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Mental illness, Misogyny, and Gaslighting
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders
estherblue's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
papaveriepapere's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting