Although I read a physical copy, that I own, I also had an e-copy via Netgalley and will be sharing my thoughts there too (so thank you to them for also providing an e-copy. As usual, all opinions are my own).

Woah. This was such an intense read and one I was fully emerged in. The way in which Westover writes really pulls you into the story, making you forget that she actually lived through these rather traumatic experiences, growing up in a fundamentalist Mormon home, recounting and reflecting on how, as she learned later in life, her father's suffering with intense mental health illnesses affected her upbringing, as well as others in the household (siblings, mother).
Whenever I came out of a read, it made that fact even more impressive and inspiring that this woman went through all this yet put it aside, or used it to drive her to becoming the individual she wanted to become and better her life to make it one that she was happy to live.
There were times were, admittedly, I felt frustrated by her actions and internally screamed "just cut them off", but I understand that wasn't my life to dictate and I understand that a lot of what she felt was warped through her upbringing, probably bringing her a lot of pain and guilt when she wanted to rebel and get away from it all, in her heart. This sort of emotional turmoil, understandably, takes time to register and unlock.

There was a very interesting section where Tara spoke about her understanding of the N word and how, once she went to university, it took a whole new meaning, was her "woke" moment, so to speak. I'm glad that as she learnt and began to undo all the ignorance and shielding, growing up isolated like that had added to (what with one sided manipulation, and mental and physical abuse), it's like she grew into an evolved being and it was an amazing thing to read. Of course, this journey wasn't an instantaneous one, with many set backs and missteps along the way.

Although this didn't focus too much on the Mormon religion and more on growing up with her parents and siblings as individual beings wrapped up in the deep rooted belief of Government conspiracy, and more specifically what that was like to grow up around this way of thinking, when she knew nothing else, I found myself falling down the hole of videos from ex-Mormans/The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
This one in particular was interesting: https://youtu.be/OYFbdpqnno4 and it reminded me that I used to watch a channel about a young woman's experience within the faith and why she left and her journey to recovery and undoing the harm of her childhood (I want to stress this wasn't completely caused by her religious upbringing but I believe she said it spurred the hurtful actions that was done to her) but for the life of me, I can't recall her, or her channel name, but the lady had such a lovely voice and kind demeanour.

One thing I found difficult to follow was the comings and goings of siblings over the years. It just made for a confusing reading experience, but one I understand because it was a lot of years to go over and Westover announces many times that her memory may have failed her in some cases, often trying to check facts with other family members, so I do get it. Just thought it should be something to note as part of my review.
I also find that Westover tried her best to be as non-biased as she could be (which, when you think of memoirs, you inheritingly think of bias due to the sheer fact that someone is telling their story) but she constantly told you how, if memories differed, other people remembers the scene and I feel that was important and she even notes this at the end.

There was an unexpected moment regarding a vicious and cruel act in relation to an animal and I think that just took me out of it for a minute because it felt so jarring and I get so affected physically and emotionally with that. I feel a little weird stating that because obviously this whole book is traumatic and I'm not trying to undermine the atrocities done to people in this memoir at all, but this part really made me feel sick... and it was only a passing moment.

Overall, Educated, by Tara Westover was very powerful. There was just so much content here to unpack and I probably have only skimmed the surface, but I found it really interesting to read about, so much so that I told my boyfriend parts of it (specifically when I was really hit by shock and disbelief that there are still some people these days that believe in what her parents did, e.g. no hospital {very scary when it came to some of the traumatic accidents that happened}, not believing in public school or greater education, to name a few).
It's weird to say this is an enjoyable memoir, obviously because it's a shocking and unsettling topic, but I definitely got a lot out of it and have so much respect for all that Westover lived through and overcame.

My thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The advent of these COVID Times has created some unique family dynamics: home schooling is becoming the norm. After reading <u>Educated</u>, by Tara Westover, you might be tempted to discourage parents from deciding to self-isolate themselves and their children and take over their education. Tara's self-esteem and self-image suffered greatly from her father's bi-polar mental health issues and his decision to isolate his large family from the rest of the world.
I have often wondered why it is that a lack of knowledge or understanding (or "ignorance," as some would brutally call it) breeds so much fear and violence. Tara and her siblings suffered physical and mental abuse all of their lives because of such "ignorance." Intolerance arises from a fear of the unknown. Lack of understanding breeds distrust and anger - a sort of knee-jerk reaction that historically keeps repeating itself.
Tara Westover "educated" herself out of that vicious cycle. Unfortunately, there are still so many isolated communities that still use fear and ignorance to subdue and dominate its members. Religious doctrines have also historically been used to frighten and subjugate many a faithful follower.
Books like <u>Educated </u> and <u>The Glass Castle</u> are vital to our own "education." I rate this one a 4 out of 5 because of the very important message it has brought to the world: open and unrestricted education is key to our evolution!

This book was an eye-opener, and I can understand why it has been a best seller. Tara Westover exposes us to a world which is usually very much behind closed doors. It was insightful, it educated me and I would recommend that all must read this book

This memoir will stick with me for a looong time! Wow, mind blowing reality of Tara, growing up Mormon in Idaho, with a mentally unstable father, ruling his family with an iron fist. An unbelievable tale of perseverance and courage, venturing to change her future and make her own way in a scary world. Thank you NetGalley, author and publisher for the e-reader copy for review. All opinions are my own.

This book tells the amazing life story of Tara. I had to constantly remind myself that this was fact not fiction as the life that Tara lead with her survivalist family was so strange. Having grown up in a family where her parents believed that schools taught the devil's work and that Western style medicine was poisonous she was indeed lucky to make it through childhood.
The book follows recounts Tara's life from her unregistered birth to the educational heights she was able to climb through sheer grit and determination.
Thank you Random House Publishing, Netgalley and Tara Westover for the opportunity to read this incredible biography.

I DNF'd this at 30%. This doesn't mean that this was a bad book, it just wasn't for me. I am usually not interested in non-fiction novels, especially memoirs. I am trying to read more of them however, and heard a lot of hype for this book, so when I saw it on Netgalley I got it to try and read. It didn't click for me and at about 30% I just couldn't keep reading. Maybe I will try again in the future, but as of right now, I have no intentions to finish the book

[Thank to @netgalley and @randomhouse for the ebook!]

I am really bad about posting here, but life is so unpredictable this year that I can't even make myself feel guilty about it. Every week seems to bring new challenges and changes. But I am pushing on with reading and giving my best to write even a short review of the books I read.

I read #Educated, the story of Tara Westover's fight for education and enlightenment, in May, mostly on my way to Bonn for a job interview. I rarely read non-fiction and memoirs, but picking up this book was definitely the right decision as I was blown away by Westover's style. Especially the way she writes her childhood self, the child's voice, is masterful. There are few writers who are able to bring a child's perspective to the page like that.

I also feel it showed the struggle of reckoning with a family legacy that we may not agree with. How we try to mend fences and connections, give second, third, fourth chances to family members who may not have earned them, all in the hope of maintaining some imagined family bliss.

As many others have said this is a must-read book. As an additional perspective, you can find her brother's review/comment on Goodreads and Amazon, giving another angle on the events in the book.

Educated for me was hard to finish. I really don't like giving 2 star reviews, but I did for this book because I felt so many stories Tara Westover told were unbelievable. The chapters and stories seemed to skip around without much fluidity. It was definitely heartbreaking in places and maddening in others. I really wanted to love this book, but honestly, I had a really hard time finishing it.

Thank you Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

What a memoir! I don’t know why I waited so long to read this.

This was such an emotional rollercoaster and I was completely drawn in to Tara’s shocking life. I was furious at moments and found it hard to believe the pain and torment she was willing to put up with, but of course no one on the outside can truly understand why. And after all, family is family.

Tara’s development throughout the years and her ultimate choice to denounce her father shows how truly strong she was, even when she was constantly being drawn back in.

This was an excellent read and I’ll definitely be recommending it.

Incredible. What a journey through a harrowing childhood and into young adulthood. Every time I thought things would settle for the author, Tara, another crisis jumped up to catch at my breath. A wonderful memoir examining, truth, gaslighting, religious doctrine, misogyny, and, of course, what knowledge is and whether it has the power to free someone from their past. A beautiful portrayal.

Educated by Tara Westover

Tara Westover’s memoir turned out to be so different than I had expected. It follows her through her childhood, growing up with survivalist parents in Idaho. When I first heard about it, I thought that it would mostly be about her finding education and then living her life wanting to continue to learn, which in a small sense it is, but there are so many other aspects of her story played in as well. There are many family struggles that are tied into this novel, as well as some very stark personal struggles. Tara Westover’s memoir is a must read to expand your world view and learn more about a community that many do not know.

A huge thank you to NetGalley and Random House for the e-book.

Here's a fun fact about me: I am not really drawn to memoirs. I occasionally enjoy biographies of famous people of the past and historical figures, but memoirs have never really been my thing - in fact, I don't think I've ever read one before.

Tara Westover's memoir, however, might just be a personal turning point. It is completely and utterly mesmerizing. It is a book I struggled to put down. She did not only live an exceptional life, but is also an exceptional author, with a real knack for writing. Every single sentence was perfect, the narrative nearly flawless - she couldn't have written a more gripping story if she tried coming up with one. While I was reading, I often forgot this is a memoir, and not a completely fictitious account; the reality she described, the challenges she faced, and the obstacles she overcame were so numerous and so demanding (both physically and mentally) that, at times, the book was hard to read, especially when I remembered this is a true story.

I think what will truly stay with me will be Tara's drive and passion, how drawn she was to education. How she went from a girl who had never heard of the Holocaust to earning a PhD. A truly remarkable book written by a truly remarkable woman.

Although I like to read non fiction, I don’t read many autobiographical ones. I read this because of its popularity. This is a powerful memoir of the author’s life. What she describes about her life is unimaginable. But I couldn’t stop reading. She was raised by a family who lived a survivalist simple life and who did not believe in modern health care or formal education. I wanted, wished for there to be an end to the physical and emotional pain that she kept enduring. I was in awe with the strength she found to rise up and get a formal education and change her life. She removed herself from her family. But I can imagine to myself that she was torn by both her family bonds and unspoken obligations and her desire to escape. And that even then she would feel guilty by the twisted emotions even though she shouldn’t.

I received an advanced digital copy of this book from the author, publisher and Netgalley.com. Thanks to all for the opportunity to read and review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Tara Westover's memoir is an astounding look at growing up with a parent that is trying to cope with undiagnosed mental illness who thinks that the government is out to get them and the answer lies in extremist Mormonism.

She survived incredible situations to be able to get an education and grow.

5 out of 5 stars. Highly recommend.

I don’t usually read much nonfiction, but I really enjoyed this memoir. It was interesting and a little horrifying at parts to read about Tara’s childhood and things that she went through. The book gave a good glimpse into the way others live and was inspiring to see what all Tara was able to overcome. This book has motivated me to read other memoirs and I would definitely recommend Educated to others.

Tara Westover was the youngest child born into an extremely religious Mormon family. Her father ruled their household believing the government was evil, the world was coming to an end, and he alone knew the word of God. Nothing about her childhood was easy. She never went to school and her homeschooling consisted of working as a slave in her father's junkyard. Broken bones, horrific burns, and even severe accidents did not justify any kind of medical care. Her mother's salves and ointments were all that stood between debilitating injury or death.
Somehow, Tara and two of her brothers seek to become educated, and against all odds, they succeed. Tara first stepped into a classroom when she was seventeen, and for the next ten years, the push and pull between her old life and new life create unbearable tension. She goes back and forth between wanting nothing more than to be with her family and then understanding how wrong they are. Tara's self-doubt is debilitating, as her parents refuse to acknowledge many of the awful truths of her life.
The author is forthcoming with the fact that many of her memories may be flawed, but even if only half of her recollections are indeed true, it was still a harrowing life. Reading about how overwhelmed she was at college, not knowing a thing, I have to say that she must have been a genius because if that was me, I definitely would have flunked out. Some of her better memories from her childhood also seemed just a little suspect. Some of the things her parents let her do seem at odds with the way she was being brought up. Maybe she remembers the good times as being a little better than what they were, and the bad times being a little worse. Either way, it's a tragic tale that highlights the fact that you are at the mercy of your family as a child and the power of education.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It honestly was a lot better than I thought it was going to be . I heard different reviews so I went in optimistic and it paid off.

Okay so this book. This book is one of the best memoirs I have read in a long time.
I don’t even know how to put into words the fabulousness of this book. Everyone should read it.

How do you even begin to rate non fiction? This one though definitely deserves 5 stars without a doubt.

I felt for Tara and the life she had to endure.
I can’t even fathom how Tara Westover even survived her childhood even her teenage years.

I am so glad she found her bravery to stand up for what she believes in and escape the dysfunctional life her father has raised her in.

Tara is truly a fascinating person. To have had no schooling and still be able to pass the ACT and go to college. I mean to go to 3 different college including Cambridge and Harvard and earn her PhD is just truly amazing.

Everyone needs to read this book. This story needed to be told.

What a gripping book! Once I started it, I found I couldn't put it down until the end.

Powerful reading - a young woman's journey to finding the truth in herself and her worl.d
Harrowing in parts with the intense abuse and cruelty she lived through, and initially accepted as "normal". But throughout her "grittiness" shines through.

A real inspiration to anybody - you don't have to accept the circumstances you were born into - you can rise above them and become the person you deserve to be.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me the chance to read this book.

A great book of how a young women educates herself and makes it into a good college and discovering things she never knew before.