Review: Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover

Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I anticipated that this might be a 5 star read for me but it didn’t quite make it there. I suspect some of that had to do with the number of interviews with the author I heard before picking up the book. In many ways, major components of the book were ‘spoiled’ in those interviews and therefore didn’t have the emotional resonance that they may have if I’d come into the book without the interviews. This is one that had a ton of buzz. I heard about it everywhere! That can sometimes impact my enjoyment of a book. Despite the preconceived notions that I may have had going in, this is a really good and interesting memoir. Tara’s story is powerful and disturbing and gut-wrenching. Try not to read a ton about this one before picking it up – just jump into this one with little information.

It’s a powerful story that really brings to life so many different things in an interesting and thought-provoking way – education, fundamentalism, health care, mental health, parenting, neglect and abuse, and ideas of family and home. I highly recommend this one. It’s unlike anything I’ve read before – Tara Westover is an amazing person and reading her story will give you a view of her troubled and fascinating family.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book as an ARC from the publisher for an honest review.