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A review by annemariecunningham
Educated by Tara Westover
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Phenomenal writing. ‘Educated’ reads like a case study on the perils of religious extremism.
Tara’s family lives “off the grid” - basically her parent’s excuse not to provide legal protections or basic healthcare for their children. Any attempts to grow in non-approved ways throughout Tara’s childhood are frowned upon, discouraged, and usually forbidden. She never attends “traditional” school, but is naturally bright and curious, traits that eventually lead her to shift the views she was taught and find her way to independence through post-secondary education.
Westover is skilled at writing a story that evokes a roller coaster of emotions - horror, sympathy, disgust, frustration, hope, sadness. Tara’s slow realization of just how twisted her family’s beliefs are and their unwillingness to evolve made me want to scream at times. Her logic as a young woman is absolutely revolting, but some subconscious part of her brain seemed to know what she couldn’t yet comprehend. Shawn’s shift from pseudo-protector to cruel abuser (head injuries or not), and her family’s subsequent defense of Shawn, enraged me.
The insight and self-revelations in the book fulfilled a need I didn’t know I had. Having grown up in a traditionally religious family, I could relate to being taught some irrational beliefs, though not nearly to the same extent. Still, I went on my own journey of discovery as a teenager, which is perhaps one of the reasons I liked the book so much.
Definitely recommend!
Tara’s family lives “off the grid” - basically her parent’s excuse not to provide legal protections or basic healthcare for their children. Any attempts to grow in non-approved ways throughout Tara’s childhood are frowned upon, discouraged, and usually forbidden. She never attends “traditional” school, but is naturally bright and curious, traits that eventually lead her to shift the views she was taught and find her way to independence through post-secondary education.
Westover is skilled at writing a story that evokes a roller coaster of emotions - horror, sympathy, disgust, frustration, hope, sadness. Tara’s slow realization of just how twisted her family’s beliefs are and their unwillingness to evolve made me want to scream at times. Her logic as a young woman is absolutely revolting, but some subconscious part of her brain seemed to know what she couldn’t yet comprehend. Shawn’s shift from pseudo-protector to cruel abuser (head injuries or not), and her family’s subsequent defense of Shawn, enraged me.
The insight and self-revelations in the book fulfilled a need I didn’t know I had. Having grown up in a traditionally religious family, I could relate to being taught some irrational beliefs, though not nearly to the same extent. Still, I went on my own journey of discovery as a teenager, which is perhaps one of the reasons I liked the book so much.
Definitely recommend!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Incest