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A review by themadbloodstone
Educated by Tara Westover
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.75
As someone who grew up religious and took a while to grow out of its toxic side, it filled me with an immense amount of rage and frustration reading the trauma Tara and her siblings had to undergo because of their zealot parents, the gaslighting and betrayal from some of said siblings and family members, and the childhood violently ripped from her. But I was so relieved and hopeful seeing what she had achieved as she grew older and had escaped that abusive environment with a loving family she now has.
The illusion of forgiveness, “unconditional” love with nothing but conditions, and the (supposed) word of God are used as manipulative tactics by people like Tara’s parents sheltering their children from the real world and the fascists trying to ban books and anything not cis, white, straight, male, and Christian because it is easier to prevent us from realizing the abuse is real. It’s why people need to be educated.
The illusion of forgiveness, “unconditional” love with nothing but conditions, and the (supposed) word of God are used as manipulative tactics by people like Tara’s parents sheltering their children from the real world and the fascists trying to ban books and anything not cis, white, straight, male, and Christian because it is easier to prevent us from realizing the abuse is real. It’s why people need to be educated.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Car accident, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Animal death, Racial slurs, Racism, Xenophobia, and Pregnancy
Minor: Cancer and Classism