Reviews tagging 'Blood'

Una educación by Tara Westover

340 reviews

greatexpectations77's review against another edition

dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.5

Humans are such wonderful and terrifying beings, which I think this book really spells out. They can be so incredibly hurtful and so helpful and dangerous and damaging and also somehow make it out okay. This book is really shocking, but it also shows how deeply mental illness can affect a family and community. I'm really proud of Tara for making it out. This book was a wild read because most memoirs are on lives that happened before Google and you can't actually buy essential oils from their parents at this very moment. The writing style wasn't my favorite, but I thought it was fitting for the story and subject. Definitely a book that I would recommend folks to read. I think it got the publicity that it deserved. I just feel for all the children (all the children) still trapped in that family system. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Child abuse, Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Classism

Minor: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Cancer, Death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Medical content, Grief, Stalking, and Alcohol

Big content warnings about bodily injuries.

sary's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring tense medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Cancer, Chronic illness, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Terminal illness

geegee98's review against another edition

challenging emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Cancer, Death, Antisemitism, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Terminal illness and Dementia

carmentxx's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

this book is written with the most incredible hope. i have never read a book with such an incredible undercurrent of the force of hope, in fact it has moved me to tears reading it. i don’t think i really have words for how incredible this memoir is. only an overwhelming sense of sadness, respect, hope and admiration for Dr Westover. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Car accident, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, and Antisemitism

angelofmusic317's review against another edition

dark emotional tense slow-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Blood, Car accident, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

sheriffrockyraccoon's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0

After years of saying I would read this book, I finally did it and cannot believe it took me this long.

Educated is an instant classic. I truly believe it should be put on reading lists for English classes, not only because of its content but also the strength of Westover’s voice. This story is real- complicated and ongoing- and highlights an important part of American society. While most people probably have not witnessed the extremism Tara has to go through, many of her family’s philosophies are absolutely widespread in the U.S. This memoir reflects on the pain they have caused, and how difficult it is to come to terms with living a life driven by hope instead of fear.

I did find the end of the book to be a bit rushed, but it is difficult to fit decades of family history and trauma into 400 pages. This is especially true when Westover’s family starts to play supporting roles to her own life pursuing an education. Of course, this criticism pales in comparison to the strength of the rest of the book.

I think everyone should read this book. The writing is incredibly strong and every chapter is well thought out. Like I said, this book should absolutely become a staple of American Literature.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

laurajordensharris's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Blood, Antisemitism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail

oproy's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

5.0

Wow, I’m floored. I didn’t want to stop reading. This was a harrowing and inspiring tale of a young woman who had every possible obstacle thrown her way and still was able to overcome them, all while navigating the feelings and thoughts that come with puberty and growing up. 
It was honest in a way that made you love and at the same time hate each person she wrote about. Honestly one of the best books I’ve ever read, highly recommend.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Cancer, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Blood, Religious bigotry, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail

sareidle's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective medium-paced

4.5

An extremely moving book that I will be reflecting on for a long time. Tara's voice is strong throughout the memoir and tells a clear story about the trade-offs between family and education. As a student of history, I found her approach to intellectual history and historical narratives fascinating, as she knows firsthand how difficult and world-shattering it can be to "relearn" the past.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Violence, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Animal death, Blood, Pregnancy, and Fire/Fire injury

madflatt's review against another edition

dark informative medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Torture, Blood, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail

Moderate: Dementia