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tania2atee's review against another edition
5.0
This has been my favourite book of 2019 so far. And while it wasn't a thriller, this memoir was harrowing and very hard to read at times. It is the story of Tara Westover's life growing up with extreme survivalists waiting for the end of days. It is about her day-to-day life in the mountains, with parents who hated the government and believed God's will solved any problems, or ailments you had. It's about how a girl who loves her family, and life as she knew it, and yet yearns for more. How she gets herself an education and asks dumb questions and has her eyes opened to a world she didn't know existed. It's about hope and determination and self-discovery and if you are going to read one book this year, this should be it!
alyssakerrigan's review against another edition
5.0
This is so incredibly well written and the stories so real and full of feeling while still seeming objective and told from a lens looking in. I was simultaneously frustrated with her for making the decisions she did while empathetic to her situation while also angry for her at the decisions of her family all while it seemed she felt none of those things. Her strength and mind are inspiring and her story is illuminating.
readingwithmanda's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
vgartner's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
mayte707's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
almostallthecake's review against another edition
5.0
Reading Blog || Socials
This book altered my brain chemistry.
It was one of the first books I read as an adult, and I read it before I went to college and was exposed to other ways of growing up and different cultures etc.
Tara grows up in the Appalachian mountains in one of the most abusive, neglectful homes you can imagine.
She learns how to read through the books she is given access to, so her writing style develops in a very specific way. This is part of what made this book special - you could tell it was a genuine, true story, behind told by someone who had been through it.
This book places a spotlight on the children still living these lifestyles and awareness of the different populations and socioeconomic groups within the United States.
There is every trigger you can imagine in this book so proceed with caution.
This book altered my brain chemistry.
It was one of the first books I read as an adult, and I read it before I went to college and was exposed to other ways of growing up and different cultures etc.
Tara grows up in the Appalachian mountains in one of the most abusive, neglectful homes you can imagine.
She learns how to read through the books she is given access to, so her writing style develops in a very specific way. This is part of what made this book special - you could tell it was a genuine, true story, behind told by someone who had been through it.
This book places a spotlight on the children still living these lifestyles and awareness of the different populations and socioeconomic groups within the United States.
There is every trigger you can imagine in this book so proceed with caution.
sadietay's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best memoirs I’ve ever read. Tara tells her story incredibly well and shares it in a way that can relate to anyone.
As a happy and committed member of the church that Tara was raised (abusively) in, I was nervous this would bash my beliefs or make light of the truth I hold close. I should not have been nervous...she makes it very clear that her experiences weren’t because of the church but because of her father. With that said, people with abuse in their childhood should be aware that the abuse Tara experiences creeps in and she is gas lit.
As a happy and committed member of the church that Tara was raised (abusively) in, I was nervous this would bash my beliefs or make light of the truth I hold close. I should not have been nervous...she makes it very clear that her experiences weren’t because of the church but because of her father. With that said, people with abuse in their childhood should be aware that the abuse Tara experiences creeps in and she is gas lit.
isabelmargetts's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Injury/Injury detail