Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

Una educación by Tara Westover

169 reviews

ajnagle's review against another edition

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dark emotional hopeful informative sad tense slow-paced

5.0


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booksoversecondbreakfast's review against another edition

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challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

4.75

I share so much of my story with this author. We have so many shared experiences and I had never heard those experiences expressed so clearly until I read this book. She made me feel like I was there beside her throughout her life and she summarized the main points she was making very thoroughly. I really liked this book, and subtract a quarter of a star only because of how negatively she cast a light towards being uneducated. It made me feel a bit too uncomfortable how angry she was, but I remain understanding of it due to the fact that she has been through so much. There were so many quoteworthy parts to this book, however, and I expect it will be a book I come back to throughout my life. She shared so many great lessons and ways of seeing the world, and I'm really grateful for that.

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greatexpectations77's review against another edition

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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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alexayres47's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

4.0


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sary's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional informative inspiring tense medium-paced

5.0


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geegee98's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective sad tense fast-paced

5.0


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angelofmusic317's review against another edition

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dark emotional tense slow-paced

3.0


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sheriffrockyraccoon's review against another edition

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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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laurajordensharris's review against another edition

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4.5


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pasupapare's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective

4.0


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