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Synopsis (From Goodreads):
Tara Westover was 17 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 in her father's junkyard.
Her father forbade hospitals, 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 one of Tara's older brothers became violent.
Then, lacking any formal education, Tara began to educate herself. She taught herself enough mathematics and grammar to be admitted to Brigham Young University, where she studied history, learning for the first time about important 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. 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 with severing the closest of ties. 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.
Review:
How does one review a non-fiction book? I can't very well comment on the characters or plot. I think the one thing that I can discuss in a review is how this book touched my heart.
I had a very difficult childhood. And while I don't want to disclose too much, I can say that my father didn't want me to go to college. After all, why does a girl need an education? We're just going to get married, right?
Educated, by Tara Westover, illustrates how one's family can have a iron hold on you. It seems obvious, when seen by outsiders, what one should do (get as far away from your family as possible). But living with abuse, the lies and shame overshadow everything else.
What I Liked:
Accuracy:The author is very clear that her version of events does not always line up with her siblings. Whenever possible, she is careful to point out how her memories differ from others. It's up to the reader to decide if she is to be believed.
Blame:
Tara Westover also tries to find answers as to why her father, in particular, behaves the way he does. She never excuses his behavior, but does point out many of her dad's paranoid actions are signs of bi-polar disorder.
Her mother, who always sides with her husband, is harder to understand. Are her actions loyalty? Love? Fear? I think it could be a combination of all three things. Whatever the reason, I would think forgiving her mother for some of her actions would be more difficult.
Issues with Home Schooling:
While I don't think this was a complete indictment of the home schooling movement, it does point out some of the very real problems with letting parents have free reign over the education of their children.
In Ms. Westover's situation, her schooling was non-existent. As she became a teenager, she could barely read, write, or do even simple math. When she realizes she needs to go to college, she has to find creative ways to fill the gaps in her knowledge.
The Importance of Education:
The author shows that having an education makes one less economically dependent on others. It also give the student the means to evaluate and make decisions. Finally, as the reader can see from the book, there are so many opportunities open to those who go to college.
The Cost of Education:
The author was continually being pulled back home by various family situations. I could really identify with the guilt she felt over leaving the people she loved behind. She also felt like a fraud when she became friends with people from more traditional backgrounds. Eventually, Ms. Westover had to make a choice. She could either abandon her life as an academic, or lose her family.
While this book is shows an extreme situation, many people (women in particular) do pay a price for becoming educated. People can lose their place in their community when they go to college. There can be a level of distrust that some have over college graduates ("Do you think you're better than us?"). I know I faced this with my father. Of course, there is also a financial cost to getting a college degree.
For her situation, it seems that the author was able to receive many grants and scholarships. I'm happy for her, but most people will be saddled with lots of debt upon graduation. Many are weary of making such a commitment, which is understandable.
Trigger Warning for Domestic Violence
Rating:
Release Date: February 20th, 2018
Author: Tara Westover
Genre: Memoir
Narrator: Julia Whelan
Audio Book Publisher: Penguin Random House Audio
Audio Length: 12 Hours, 10 Minutes
Publisher: Random House
Page Length: 352 Pages
Source: Random House Audio
Format: Audio Book
Recommendation: Though sometime too violent to imagine, this is a powerful book of abuse, and what one will do to survive.
