Devastating was exactly the word I used. Several times I had to put the book down, walk away and compose myself. The book is a testament to both evil/cruelty and resilience.
Yes. I normally don’t read memoirs but was fascinated by this one. For awhile her brother had a blog that attempted to refute / clarify some of the things that happened. However it disappeared after a couple weeks. The Now Read This book club from PBS Newshour/ NYT read this selection a few months ago. Lots of fascinating discussions took place.
Just finished it; couldn’t put it down. Very well written. I’m very interested in the “resilient” children. All were raised the same way, but 3 left and not only educated themselves but got advanced degrees. The others stayed and lived the same lives as their parents.
Yes, ‘read and liked it; it’s very similar to all the books I’ve been reading lately about people with dysfunctional families and/or people overcoming major obstacles – my kind of book. Escape by Carolyn Jessop is also about a sect of Mormons( in this case, polygamous) and a good read.
Good book. Made me think about how people become educated. Self sufficiency isn’t such a bad thing. This lady was lucky that she learned to be a self started.
I was going to read it but was swayed by the reviews on Amazon. A couple of the one star ratings were by family members or family friends claiming it was a very inaccurate portrayal of the family. But I realize all memoirs are based on the authors memories alone.
Good point! One 5 star review was by “Drew”. He said he was in the family a while and could corroborate almost all of the story. So maybe I will read it after all. I do love these types of stories!
I liked the deeper more universal themes too of trying to hold onto where you come from while also making your own life and those sometimes feel at odds. Not nearly as dramatic for most people as for the author, obviously but I found that despite the extreme circumstances she experienced there were still relatable truths for every reader. Also having professionally worked with abused children I have found that they always love their parents and want to be with them regardless of how bad things are and found this to be a raw and vulnerable story of that truth also
Reading it now. Not a huge fan. 3/4 done. I am finding much of it hard to believe. Not saying that it didn’t happen. I read an article stating that her parents claim that it falsely portrays the family. Her book is one person’s perception and memory. More fiction than fact? We will never know; either way, I will finish it and be thankful for the insight.
I just finished this book. I appreciated her struggle and her decision to move beyond her upbringing. I was haunted by the violence she described at the hands of people who were supposed to love and protect her.
I read it. Liked it but thought the medical injuries were a bit far fetched to have survived. I found myself looking for pictures of her father. How did he survive that explosion. Anyone else wonder about the injuries?
Well, I’ve avoided it and I don’t know why. I’m going to download it right now. I don’t remember any other book on this site having all positive reviews.
Had not heard of this book, so had to google a summary – this one from Book Browse:
An unforgettable memoir about a young girl who, kept out of school, leaves her survivalist family and goes on to earn a PhD from Cambridge University.
Tara Westover was seventeen the first time she set foot in a classroom. Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, she prepared for the end of the world by stockpiling home-canned peaches and sleeping with her “head-for-the-hills” bag. In the summer she stewed herbs for her mother, a midwife and healer, and in the winter she salvaged metal in her father’s junkyard.
Her father distrusted the medical establishment, so Tara never saw a doctor or nurse. Gashes and concussions, even burns from explosions, were all treated at home with herbalism. The family was so isolated from mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received an education, and no one to intervene when an older brother became violent.
When another brother got himself into college and came back with news of the world beyond the mountain, Tara decided to try a new kind of life. She taught herself enough mathematics, grammar, and science to take the ACT and was admitted to Brigham Young University. There, she studied psychology, politics, philosophy, and history, learning for the first time about pivotal world events like the Holocaust and the Civil Rights Movement. Her quest for knowledge transformed her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge University. Only then would she wonder if she’d traveled too far, if there was still a way home.
Educated is an account of the struggle for self-invention. It is a tale of fierce family loyalty, and of the grief that comes from severing ties with those closest to you. With the acute insight that distinguishes all great writers, Westover has crafted a universal coming-of-age story that gets to the heart of what an education is and what it offers: the perspective to see one’s life through new eyes, and the will to change it
I read Educated, then The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah. Such hard, sad stories…one memoir and one fiction, but equally disturbing. Seriously ready for some fluff!
yes! i looked up the oils business and got everyone’s names and found them all on fb including the abusive brother. i could figure him out by the description of his kiddo.
I’m still struggling with this one. I’ve read that she created the story to seek for attention. It’s true that it’s your typical bestseller story. The line about her education was hard to believe for me personally, as there are so many people who struggle with their degrees, while she barely learned how to read and was suddenly invited to Cambridge for free. I dunno. I even watched interviews with her and she is so emotionless while talking about her childhood, it’s almost as if she recited her “story” in front of the mirror thousand times ?
Hmm I believed her thoroughly…. just felt she was an exceptional person who was lucky in the midst of horrors… I can understand her delivery of her story- she had to develop a detachment to survive.
Yes. I thought it was great, devastating and resilient.
Devastating was exactly the word I used. Several times I had to put the book down, walk away and compose myself. The book is a testament to both evil/cruelty and resilience.
@Susie for sure. It reminded me of Glass Castles but in a differnt way.
Hmmmm. This is on my TBR list but I did not like Glass Castles at all. Should I try it anyway ?
@Glenda they are different… but I liked both
My problem with Glass Castles was I was listening to it as an audiobook. I can’t always get into the audiobooks.
Hmm, I read Glass Castles but listened to Educated. But both captured my attention. I would try it. They are different
@Glenda i am reading Educated now & am not so sure I love it but I loved Glass Castles. They are very different books, I think.
Yes. I normally don’t read memoirs but was fascinated by this one. For awhile her brother had a blog that attempted to refute / clarify some of the things that happened. However it disappeared after a couple weeks. The Now Read This book club from PBS Newshour/ NYT read this selection a few months ago. Lots of fascinating discussions took place.
Loved it!
Ha! Just posted.
Loving it. Reading it now.
Reading it now!
It WAS crazy!
Very inspiring book showing how strong women succeed. It’s sad to lose your family, but self-preservation and sanity prevail
Yes, and if you ever get a chance to see her in person, do it. She’s smart, funny and a great storyteller.
Also listening to it now. Quite the story
Loved it….also heartbreaking at times.
I’m reading it now. It is uncomfortably fascinating. I feel like a voyeur; sometimes I feel like I should just look away.
So depressing for me. I kept thinking about all the children don’t get out.
Yes!
Reading it NOW. ?
I’m the middle of it…incredibly gripping!
Yes! Very interesting!
I’m reading right now!
Excellent!
One of those kids could have been decapitated and they would have stuck the head back on with salve and sent him out to play. 🙂
Excellent! Intense. But excellent!!
I enjoyed the book, though some of the issues made me want to smack someone upside their head – it is an excellent book.
Just finished it. Great book.
Iam reading it now. I am having a hard time putting it down.
Finished it last week – amazing read and story
Reading now!
Yes
Yes. A very good read.
Reading now. Great so far.
I’m reading this right now! Never ceases to amaze me that there really are parents like that out there.
What a story!
Loved
Great book
Yes; it’s geeat!
Yes- I liked her writing but crazy family!
Wow, need to read this!!!!!
Loved it.
Yes, loved it!
Reading it now!
Google her parents, makes it more interesting
@Beth I did that one night based on clues in the book. 🙂
@Michelle I was amazed that the mother really was well off due to her business and they were defending that brother
@Beth I guess we shouldn’t be surprised at the evil BS some Christians will condone.
No – tell me more
Best book ever! She is an amazing woman!
I have it on my library list
I suspect those “crazy families” are all over the U S.
Just finished it for our November book club, can’t imagine enduring her family life
Great book
Just finished it; couldn’t put it down. Very well written. I’m very interested in the “resilient” children. All were raised the same way, but 3 left and not only educated themselves but got advanced degrees. The others stayed and lived the same lives as their parents.
It’s eye opening for sure! Those poor children!
There was a good interview with the author on the Just The Right Book podcast.
Very important
I thought it was a greet book.
It is very important for educators to read this.
Amazing
Yes very interesting story!
Yes, ‘read and liked it; it’s very similar to all the books I’ve been reading lately about people with dysfunctional families and/or people overcoming major obstacles – my kind of book. Escape by Carolyn Jessop is also about a sect of Mormons( in this case, polygamous) and a good read.
Loved it. Best book of 2018.
Loved it.
I loved it. Cannot stop thinking about it
It reads like fiction. Excellent book.
Blown away
One of my favorite books ever
I just had someone in our local Silent Book Club recommend this book
Loved it! Still cannot believe what she endured.
Yes! I loved it! Recommend it!
I don’t read books like this anymore,
Too disturbing.
Yes, great book.
A friend just told me about this book today.
Amazing! Couldn’t put it down.
Good book. Made me think about how people become educated. Self sufficiency isn’t such a bad thing. This lady was lucky that she learned to be a self started.
I was going to read it but was swayed by the reviews on Amazon. A couple of the one star ratings were by family members or family friends claiming it was a very inaccurate portrayal of the family. But I realize all memoirs are based on the authors memories alone.
The family is very dysfunctional, so of course they are going to leave bad reviews. It’s an amazing, inspiring story. So worth it.
Good point! One 5 star review was by “Drew”. He said he was in the family a while and could corroborate almost all of the story. So maybe I will read it after all. I do love these types of stories!
The author does say that most of this was unknown outside of the family and protected within the family; read it!
I liked the deeper more universal themes too of trying to hold onto where you come from while also making your own life and those sometimes feel at odds. Not nearly as dramatic for most people as for the author, obviously but I found that despite the extreme circumstances she experienced there were still relatable truths for every reader.
Also having professionally worked with abused children I have found that they always love their parents and want to be with them regardless of how bad things are and found this to be a raw and vulnerable story of that truth also
this is adorable
It haunted me…had to reread parts to make sure I had read it correctly the first time
Reading it now. Not a huge fan.
3/4 done. I am finding much of it hard to believe. Not saying that it didn’t happen. I read an article stating that her parents claim that it falsely portrays the family. Her book is one person’s perception and memory. More fiction than fact? We will never know; either way, I will finish it and be thankful for the insight.
I really enjoyed it
I loved the book.
I just finished this book. I appreciated her struggle and her decision to move beyond her upbringing. I was haunted by the violence she described at the hands of people who were supposed to love and protect her.
I read it. Liked it but thought the medical injuries were a bit far fetched to have survived. I found myself looking for pictures of her father. How did he survive that explosion. Anyone else wonder about the injuries?
Great book
Yes al ost done with it. An amazing story to say the least!
One of my favorite reads for 2018. Highly recommend it.
Pretty good!
I loved it!!!!
Loved it
Well, I’ve avoided it and I don’t know why. I’m going to download it right now. I don’t remember any other book on this site having all positive reviews.
OK, let me dissent again. I couldn’t get past the sample and of course, that is a non-starter for me.
Me too!?
Loved it
Had not heard of this book, so had to google a summary – this one from Book Browse:
An unforgettable memoir about a young girl who, kept out of school, leaves her survivalist family and goes on to earn a PhD from Cambridge University.
Tara Westover was seventeen the first time she set foot in a classroom. Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, she prepared for the end of the world by stockpiling home-canned peaches and sleeping with her “head-for-the-hills” bag. In the summer she stewed herbs for her mother, a midwife and healer, and in the winter she salvaged metal in her father’s junkyard.
Her father distrusted the medical establishment, so Tara never saw a doctor or nurse. Gashes and concussions, even burns from explosions, were all treated at home with herbalism. The family was so isolated from mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received an education, and no one to intervene when an older brother became violent.
When another brother got himself into college and came back with news of the world beyond the mountain, Tara decided to try a new kind of life. She taught herself enough mathematics, grammar, and science to take the ACT and was admitted to Brigham Young University. There, she studied psychology, politics, philosophy, and history, learning for the first time about pivotal world events like the Holocaust and the Civil Rights Movement. Her quest for knowledge transformed her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge University. Only then would she wonder if she’d traveled too far, if there was still a way home.
Educated is an account of the struggle for self-invention. It is a tale of fierce family loyalty, and of the grief that comes from severing ties with those closest to you. With the acute insight that distinguishes all great writers, Westover has crafted a universal coming-of-age story that gets to the heart of what an education is and what it offers: the perspective to see one’s life through new eyes, and the will to change it
Beautiful
@Sue I thoroughly enjoyed it
How do you find those summaries?
@Loretta, I just google (or bing) the name of the book and the author.
I have it on my TBR list.
Yeah it’s hard to believe it actually is true. Crazy
One of the best I’ve ever read.
Loved it. Well written, fascinating story.
Yes. The author will be speaking here in Boise next year. Can’t wait to hear her speak.
Loved it.
Amazing. We had a great discussion at book club about it.
Reading it right now!
@Laura Me too!
Just got it from the library
I love your last name, Jane.
Reading it now.
Just finished it. Absolutely riveting though pretty gruesome at times. Worth it!
It’s on my list!
Currently reading at the mo.
Love love
Very good book
Soo good!
Extremely well written. Difficult at times due to the violence but a really good thought provoking read
great book
I read Educated, then The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah. Such hard, sad stories…one memoir and one fiction, but equally disturbing. Seriously ready for some fluff!
Just finished it and really enjoyed it!
Amazing, my favorite book of the year! I used to be Mormon but not kind of Mormon she was and I completely get all of the references.
Loved it
Me too!
Loved it! I just passed it to my mom.
Loved it too.
Yes, it is amazing!!!
Excellent read!
Contender for one of the best books I’ve read this year.
Wonderful book
Currently reading it.
I started it and put it down for other pressing reads. Intend to go back.
@Andrew what did you put it down for
I enjoyed it
True?
@Peggy yes but her parents say not everything is true
The author admits the memories differ. She was a traumatized child and her memories would differ.
@Laura true.. I really enjoyed the book
I thought it was a great book.
I liked it but not as much as others seem to.
Loved it!
Yes and I loved her determination and perseverance!
Yes. True story. I enjoyed it
i liked it and i cyberstalked the whole family ?
Cyberstalked the family? I wish I’d thought of that!
yes! i looked up the oils business and got everyone’s names and found them all on fb including the abusive brother. i could figure him out by the description of his kiddo.
@Amanda Brilliant!
i am what i am, for better or worse ??
Excellent book . ?
Hi Natalie!!
Yes it was. I enjoyed it. Always interesting to see others lives especially if they are different from your. You can learn a lot.
Riveting. Determination and @ lot of God,s grace to get her out of that environment
Quite interesting.
I loved it!
Waiting on my Kindle
I’m almost finished with it. I am loving it, although I have a hard time as a physician accepting the choices the family makes.
Oh yes. Nearly killing your kids and not getting medical treatment really bothers me.
C.r.a.z.y
I’m still struggling with this one. I’ve read that she created the story to seek for attention. It’s true that it’s your typical bestseller story. The line about her education was hard to believe for me personally, as there are so many people who struggle with their degrees, while she barely learned how to read and was suddenly invited to Cambridge for free. I dunno. I even watched interviews with her and she is so emotionless while talking about her childhood, it’s almost as if she recited her “story” in front of the mirror thousand times ?
Hmm I believed her thoroughly…. just felt she was an exceptional person who was lucky in the midst of horrors… I can understand her delivery of her story- she had to develop a detachment to survive.
Disturbing but great read
I just finished it 2 hours ago. Good read. Her dad was quite the loop.