Educated by Tara Westover is a memoir about the author's childhood growing up in a survivalist family in rural Idaho. Her father, being anti-establishment, never sent her to school and her homeschooling consisted of finding books to read to herself around the house. At 17, she studies for and takes the ACT, is accepted to Brigham Young University, and from there goes on to earn a doctorate at Cambridge. It is a story of overcoming one's trials and pushing through to achieve what shouldn't have been possible.
Reviewing a memoir is difficult, because while there are parts of the story you may dislike, you can't fault them for being what happened to the best of the author's memory.
This book was extremely well written. It is clear that the author is well read and well educated in the way she presents the story. There were times, though, where she was quoting her mother or sister from emails that were written and she changed their verbiage completely to match her own way of speaking. I would have liked to see the emails, typos and grammatical errors included, because I think it would have made her family more "real" to the reader. I also would have liked to see pictures included in the book. I realize that these may be few and far between, given the nature of her upbringing, but I really would have enjoyed seeing the places and people she was writing about.
At the beginning of the book, Tara includes a disclaimer that says something along the lines of, "This is not a book about Mormonism." While I appreciated the disclaimer, I would have liked further clarification in the book when describing her father's radical, even fundamentalist, way of thinking and the way she was taught to view "other Mormons" and how that way of thinking is not the norm in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Later in the book she rejects religion in her own life. I think the most unfortunate part of that, though, is that she didn't acknowledge the support and guidance she received from so many good "Mormons", especially her first bishop at BYU. I really feel like she downplayed how much that man did for her. He counseled her for months, helped her financially, helped her realize the abuse and manipulation that was happening at home, and I think he really probably prevented her from having a mental breakdown at that time. While she may not have realized it then, I think in going back and writing the memoir she should have recognized his influence more and acknowledged the good that can come from religion. My personal belief is that her ability to not only get into school, but stay in school and go on to Cambridge, was heavily guided by the Lord's hand in her life. It makes me so sad that she doesn't see it that way. I understand her parent's behavior pushed her away from Mormonism, but I really wish she had still been able to see God in her life.
There are other underlying themes of mental sickness and abuse (verbal as well as physical) in this book. The fact that she was able to overcome and move past that time in her life is inspiring, but the story in itself is heartbreaking. This book should definitely come with a trigger warning for abuse. I also am afraid to learn the outcome of her parents and other estranged family learning of this book and its success. I sincerely hope the best for Tara Westover and that she is able to continue moving forward in life; that this book helps her to put some of the past in the past. My hope is that she is vigilant with her own mental health and that she is able to form lasting relationships in her life in the future.
Overall, I would say this is a moving and thought provoking memoir. It is definitely worth the read, my only ask is that you do so with an open mind when it comes to the topics of Mormonism, mental health, and abuse.
Reviewing a memoir is difficult, because while there are parts of the story you may dislike, you can't fault them for being what happened to the best of the author's memory.
This book was extremely well written. It is clear that the author is well read and well educated in the way she presents the story. There were times, though, where she was quoting her mother or sister from emails that were written and she changed their verbiage completely to match her own way of speaking. I would have liked to see the emails, typos and grammatical errors included, because I think it would have made her family more "real" to the reader. I also would have liked to see pictures included in the book. I realize that these may be few and far between, given the nature of her upbringing, but I really would have enjoyed seeing the places and people she was writing about.
At the beginning of the book, Tara includes a disclaimer that says something along the lines of, "This is not a book about Mormonism." While I appreciated the disclaimer, I would have liked further clarification in the book when describing her father's radical, even fundamentalist, way of thinking and the way she was taught to view "other Mormons" and how that way of thinking is not the norm in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Later in the book she rejects religion in her own life. I think the most unfortunate part of that, though, is that she didn't acknowledge the support and guidance she received from so many good "Mormons", especially her first bishop at BYU. I really feel like she downplayed how much that man did for her. He counseled her for months, helped her financially, helped her realize the abuse and manipulation that was happening at home, and I think he really probably prevented her from having a mental breakdown at that time. While she may not have realized it then, I think in going back and writing the memoir she should have recognized his influence more and acknowledged the good that can come from religion. My personal belief is that her ability to not only get into school, but stay in school and go on to Cambridge, was heavily guided by the Lord's hand in her life. It makes me so sad that she doesn't see it that way. I understand her parent's behavior pushed her away from Mormonism, but I really wish she had still been able to see God in her life.
There are other underlying themes of mental sickness and abuse (verbal as well as physical) in this book. The fact that she was able to overcome and move past that time in her life is inspiring, but the story in itself is heartbreaking. This book should definitely come with a trigger warning for abuse. I also am afraid to learn the outcome of her parents and other estranged family learning of this book and its success. I sincerely hope the best for Tara Westover and that she is able to continue moving forward in life; that this book helps her to put some of the past in the past. My hope is that she is vigilant with her own mental health and that she is able to form lasting relationships in her life in the future.
Overall, I would say this is a moving and thought provoking memoir. It is definitely worth the read, my only ask is that you do so with an open mind when it comes to the topics of Mormonism, mental health, and abuse.
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