Scan barcode
aecinf's review against another edition
5.0
This is a gripping memoir of a girl who was raised in a family living an extreme, fringe, off-the-grid lifestyle. This lifestyle resulted in Tara receiving very little formal schooling in her childhood - in the book she only gives credit to the practical lessons she learned from her parents' vocations and what she could teach herself from the textbooks they had around at home.
At 16, Tara began to journey through the process of seeking a formal education - this process would take her on a surprising path through some of the best schools in the world (including Cambridge and Harvard) but would also ultimately destroy her relationship with her uneducated family members.
This was an excellent read.
At 16, Tara began to journey through the process of seeking a formal education - this process would take her on a surprising path through some of the best schools in the world (including Cambridge and Harvard) but would also ultimately destroy her relationship with her uneducated family members.
This was an excellent read.
majaisreading's review against another edition
5.0
Incredible. The vivid narration made me feel like I was right there, inside of Westover’s memory. Educated contains beautiful writing, interesting stories, clever thoughts, and heartbreaking depictions of family structures. Please give this book a chance.
gelliestar's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
4.5
snipinfool's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Tara Westover was the youngest of seven children born to Mormon parents who were survivalists living near a small town in rural Idaho. Her father, Gene, did not believe in public schools, hospitals, or anything the government might use to control them. Gene believed in conspiracy theories and would lecture the family on how they needed to be prepared in case the government came to call.
Tara and her family spent their days working with Gene, gathering scrap metal to sell or building barns. It was hard and, at times, dangerous. The children were often injured. The family also helped create tinctures and other concoctions with their mother, Faye, who was an herbalist. Later, Tara helped her mother when she became a midwife. As Tara grew older and the older siblings left the house, she was abused by one of her brothers. She learned how to tread lightly around him, but often, not even that kept him from attacking her. Either her parents did not believe her when she told them what her brother had done or they told her that he was sorry and they were through talking about it.
Her brother, Tyler, decided to leave and go to college. He had borrowed textbooks to teach himself and was able to pass the ACT to get into Brigham Young University. Tara eventually did the same and was able to get into BYU also. She was seventeen when she stepped into a classroom for the first time. This was a whole new world for Tara and one where she did not know the rules. She did not let that stop her and she flourished.
I had a hard time putting this book down. The world Tara came from was so different from the one I was raised in. The hardships she dealt with in her family relationships and those in the outside world would have stopped many from trying to accomplish what they needed to do to be happy. I had a difficult time with how her parents handled the abuse from her brother. I can’t understand why they allowed it to continue. I am glad she had the support of her brother, Tyler, when she was planning to go to college. If she hadn’t, she might have never left.
Tara and her family spent their days working with Gene, gathering scrap metal to sell or building barns. It was hard and, at times, dangerous. The children were often injured. The family also helped create tinctures and other concoctions with their mother, Faye, who was an herbalist. Later, Tara helped her mother when she became a midwife. As Tara grew older and the older siblings left the house, she was abused by one of her brothers. She learned how to tread lightly around him, but often, not even that kept him from attacking her. Either her parents did not believe her when she told them what her brother had done or they told her that he was sorry and they were through talking about it.
Her brother, Tyler, decided to leave and go to college. He had borrowed textbooks to teach himself and was able to pass the ACT to get into Brigham Young University. Tara eventually did the same and was able to get into BYU also. She was seventeen when she stepped into a classroom for the first time. This was a whole new world for Tara and one where she did not know the rules. She did not let that stop her and she flourished.
I had a hard time putting this book down. The world Tara came from was so different from the one I was raised in. The hardships she dealt with in her family relationships and those in the outside world would have stopped many from trying to accomplish what they needed to do to be happy. I had a difficult time with how her parents handled the abuse from her brother. I can’t understand why they allowed it to continue. I am glad she had the support of her brother, Tyler, when she was planning to go to college. If she hadn’t, she might have never left.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Pregnancy, Car accident, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Mental illness
pflichtfeld20's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
tashagrimaudo's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
4.0