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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: Gaslighting, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Car accident, Sexism, Violence, Fire/Fire injury, Domestic abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Misogyny, Religious bigotry, Blood, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Animal death, Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Toxic relationship, Terminal illness, Murder, Body shaming, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Medical content, and Grief
Minor: Vomit, Racism, Miscarriage, Mass/school shootings, and Genocide
sierrabowers's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Car accident, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Abandonment, Addiction, Gaslighting, Gore, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Violence, Child abuse, Animal death, Animal cruelty, Blood, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Vomit, and Racism
rsagarin's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Chronic illness, Cursing, Blood, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Terminal illness, Violence, Vomit, Animal cruelty, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Medical content, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Racism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Ableism, Animal death, Classism, Dementia, Fire/Fire injury, and Infidelity
alexklinect's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Mental illness, Medical content, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and Police brutality
Moderate: Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Panic attacks/disorders, Animal death, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Vomit, Terminal illness, Antisemitism, and Gun violence
nc_unknown_user's review against another edition
4.5
I had a lot of thoughts and feelings about this one after finishing it but chose to take a little time before trying to sum them up in a review. Still not sure how to best go about that so bear with me…
Overall I found this story fascinating almost to the point of being unbelievable. And it seems many truly do not believe it. I however feel like it was presented in a way that made it feel factual and the author even noted the times their memory may be inaccurate, which made them feel trustworthy even when not completely credible. It’s hard to judge someone else’s story, especially when it differs so much for our own, so these reviews can be tricky. It feels weird to be entertained by stories like these but it is entertaining in its own right to learn about this kind of lifestyle and hear how someone can make so much of themselves when not given the tools to do so.
Obviously I’m still piecing together my thoughts as I ramble here but bottom line is I really enjoyed this book. I found the author’s story to be enlightening and inspiring. Could it be exaggerated or fictional in parts? I suppose but how would we ever know? I chose to believe the stories as they were written and found it to be a wild ride. I would’ve loved more details on some parts but that’s just for curiosity’s sake. Truly the writer seems to have lived quite a unique experience and I appreciate them sharing it with the world. I could see myself reading this again one day, and that says a lot for me.
Graphic: Gaslighting, Medical trauma, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Animal death, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Fire/Fire injury, and Animal cruelty
Moderate: Cursing, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Blood, Cancer, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Vomit
scoobygirl93's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Body horror, Body shaming, Gore, Grief, Violence, Xenophobia, Chronic illness, Cursing, Abandonment, Ableism, Gaslighting, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Antisemitism, Blood, Bullying, Cancer, Car accident, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Racism, Stalking, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Police brutality, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Religious bigotry, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Death, Medical content, Pregnancy, and Sexism
rumay's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Antisemitism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Violence, Blood, Bullying, Cancer, Car accident, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Misogyny, Mental illness, Injury/Injury detail, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Religious bigotry, Racism, and Racial slurs
Moderate: Gun violence and Vomit
Minor: Genocide
bingled's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Fire/Fire injury, Toxic relationship, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Car accident, Mental illness, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Physical abuse, Violence, and Vomit
katerina_l's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Animal death, Vomit, Medical content, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Religious bigotry, Adult/minor relationship, Chronic illness, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Body shaming, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Blood, Bullying, Car accident, Medical trauma, Toxic relationship, Misogyny, Physical abuse, and Violence
laurenology's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Fire/Fire injury, Blood, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Medical content, Physical abuse, and Child abuse
Moderate: Mental illness, Vomit, and Racial slurs
Minor: Animal death