lsaligmander's review against another edition
5.0
First five star rating I’ve given in a while. I was just in awe of this book, not only because of Tara’s experiences, but also because of the thought provoking way she reports on them.
Tara put into words the idea that education has both a immense worth and a significant cost, something I have seen play out many times but was able to grasp more deeply after reading.
I also think Tara did a good job highlighting difference between religious extremism and religiousness, and criticizing the former while maintaining respect for the latter. It is a difficult line to tread I think, and she did it well.
Lastly, the book made me think a lot about memory and how we reconstruct the past. Tara’s acknowledgement of the role of memory and subjective perception in our understanding of the past made the memoir seem honest in a way few others I have read we able to do.
Really an amazing book guaranteed to keep your attention and make you think.
Tara put into words the idea that education has both a immense worth and a significant cost, something I have seen play out many times but was able to grasp more deeply after reading.
I also think Tara did a good job highlighting difference between religious extremism and religiousness, and criticizing the former while maintaining respect for the latter. It is a difficult line to tread I think, and she did it well.
Lastly, the book made me think a lot about memory and how we reconstruct the past. Tara’s acknowledgement of the role of memory and subjective perception in our understanding of the past made the memoir seem honest in a way few others I have read we able to do.
Really an amazing book guaranteed to keep your attention and make you think.
winyeemichelle's review against another edition
3.0
Actual rating: 3.5 stars.
TW: physical abuse, physical bullying, animal cruelty.
Educated had been on my TBR list for years. I think there was a bit of a clamouring for it in 2020(?) but, as ever, it has taken me an age to get ‘round to it – mood reader woes! I borrowed a copy from my local library and absolutely flew through it.
Tara Westover was born in Idaho, Utah, to a Mormon ‘end-of-days’ survivalist family. Her parents rejected the government, doctors, hospitals and public schools and, as such, Westover and her siblings were off the record, homeschooled and greatly sheltered from everyday society. This memoir is fascinating, not least because of the extraordinary childhood that Westover endured, but for the hope that it shows and watching on as Tara reconciles what she knew and what she knows.
In terms of the writing/book style, I found Educated to have a compelling, smooth and readable one. I flew through this book in two days’ worth of commutes, but I do find that to be the case with many non-fiction books and memoirs.
TW: physical abuse, physical bullying, animal cruelty.
Educated had been on my TBR list for years. I think there was a bit of a clamouring for it in 2020(?) but, as ever, it has taken me an age to get ‘round to it – mood reader woes! I borrowed a copy from my local library and absolutely flew through it.
Tara Westover was born in Idaho, Utah, to a Mormon ‘end-of-days’ survivalist family. Her parents rejected the government, doctors, hospitals and public schools and, as such, Westover and her siblings were off the record, homeschooled and greatly sheltered from everyday society. This memoir is fascinating, not least because of the extraordinary childhood that Westover endured, but for the hope that it shows and watching on as Tara reconciles what she knew and what she knows.
In terms of the writing/book style, I found Educated to have a compelling, smooth and readable one. I flew through this book in two days’ worth of commutes, but I do find that to be the case with many non-fiction books and memoirs.
leannecamillebrady's review against another edition
5.0
I really enjoyed this memoir, its incredibly vivid and descriptive to the point that I would physically recoil at some descriptions. Its an inspiring account of a young woman's life growing up in a surreal environment with many ups and downs. I loved the vocabulary and pace of this book too. Super read!
emmac2000's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
caitlyn888's review against another edition
3.0
This book just didn't do it for me. Not to discredit any of the trauma and abuse that the author endured, because I truly felt angry for her and hated her family with a burning passion as I read about all the horrors they put her through.
I just felt like I couldn't fully grasp what was going on, like I was in a fever dream as I read the book. Maybe that was the author's intention, to make the reader feel how she did with all the gaslighting. I also wasn't expecting to read so many horrifying graphic depictions of working in the scrap yard, and that type of content is hard for me to stomach.
Overall it's a remarkable story of overcoming adversity to rise up, but l got lost in the details.
I just felt like I couldn't fully grasp what was going on, like I was in a fever dream as I read the book. Maybe that was the author's intention, to make the reader feel how she did with all the gaslighting. I also wasn't expecting to read so many horrifying graphic depictions of working in the scrap yard, and that type of content is hard for me to stomach.
Overall it's a remarkable story of overcoming adversity to rise up, but l got lost in the details.
vavocado's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
flapjacks's review against another edition
4.0
wow!! engaging but super intense and at times hard to read because of the subject matter
noedki's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Terminal illness, Medical trauma, Car accident, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Bullying, Violence, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, and Pregnancy