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krhe's review against another edition
2.75
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Cancer, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Pregnancy, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
elderwoodreads's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Grief, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Confinement, Death, Gun violence, Racial slurs, Racism, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Pregnancy, Abandonment, and Alcohol
Minor: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Body shaming, Cancer, Child death, Cursing, Drug use, Fatphobia, Homophobia, Infertility, Infidelity, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual assault, Terminal illness, Vomit, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Islamophobia, Medical content, Dementia, Murder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
pandemonicbaby's review against another edition
5.0
This book is such a marvelous, deeply interesting exploration of the power of education, of the meaning of family, of struggling with abuse and still being able to forge an identity for yourself afterward. Her path towards education is also a path towards being able to think for herself, instead of being told what to think by others. This might be the strongest, most powerful message woven in between the threads of this memoir, an ode to finding yourself through education.
So much nuance, so many tiny little intricacies present in the text show that Tara Westover truly is a historian -- that she's able to see the many different versions of a story and present them to the reader, making them reflect upon the significance and meaning of each unique account. "[...] nothing final can be known", as she quotes John Stuart Mill.
I feel like I'm going to reread this soon, just so I can underline the passages in this book that are so powerful they would make anyone stop reading just to reflect upon them. I shouldn't have been scared of underlining this book, gosh!! I gotta start being more willing to do that, whenever I think it might be important to me.
All in all, wonderful book. Marvelously crafted, beautiful writing, moving and powerful message. I cried reading this. I think it will stay with me forever.
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Blood, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body shaming, Cancer, Chronic illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Medical content, Grief, Murder, and Pregnancy
Minor: Genocide, Miscarriage, Racism, Vomit, and Mass/school shootings
sierrabowers's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Addiction, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Car accident, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
rsagarin's review against another edition
5.0
Moderate: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, Grief, Medical trauma, Car accident, Death of parent, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
alexklinect's review against another edition
4.25
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Medical content, Car accident, and Fire/Fire injury
Moderate: Animal death, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Gun violence, Terminal illness, Vomit, Antisemitism, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
nc_unknown_user's review against another edition
4.5
I had a lot of thoughts and feelings about this one after finishing it but chose to take a little time before trying to sum them up in a review. Still not sure how to best go about that so bear with me…
Overall I found this story fascinating almost to the point of being unbelievable. And it seems many truly do not believe it. I however feel like it was presented in a way that made it feel factual and the author even noted the times their memory may be inaccurate, which made them feel trustworthy even when not completely credible. It’s hard to judge someone else’s story, especially when it differs so much for our own, so these reviews can be tricky. It feels weird to be entertained by stories like these but it is entertaining in its own right to learn about this kind of lifestyle and hear how someone can make so much of themselves when not given the tools to do so.
Obviously I’m still piecing together my thoughts as I ramble here but bottom line is I really enjoyed this book. I found the author’s story to be enlightening and inspiring. Could it be exaggerated or fictional in parts? I suppose but how would we ever know? I chose to believe the stories as they were written and found it to be a wild ride. I would’ve loved more details on some parts but that’s just for curiosity’s sake. Truly the writer seems to have lived quite a unique experience and I appreciate them sharing it with the world. I could see myself reading this again one day, and that says a lot for me.
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, and Blood
Minor: Vomit
scoobygirl93's review against another edition
4.0
Graphic: Ableism, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexism, Terminal illness, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Police brutality, Antisemitism, Medical content, Grief, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Car accident, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
rumay's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Animal death, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Racial slurs, Racism, Violence, Blood, Antisemitism, Religious bigotry, Car accident, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence and Vomit
Minor: Genocide
bingled's review against another edition
4.75
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit, Grief, Car accident, Fire/Fire injury, and Injury/Injury detail