Educated

[Anonymous]

I am just finishing this on audiobook. I realize that it's several years old now, but it's quite a memoir. When I searched on here all I found were mentions in the Popular Book you Didn't Like thread.

Anyway, I felt like some of the childhood part was a bit tedious, and despite her naming it "Educated," part of that seemed a little light. I'm not sure I bought that she self-taught herself higher math, but some of the hurdles were astonishing. I honestly think her being Mormon was actually incredible helpful for her - and in the version I listened to she makes a note at the beginning that nothing in the book was meant to construe the Mormon church in a negative light. I don't know that she would have found the same acceptance at a large public university instead of BYU.

But the descriptions of the abuse and trauma and then how it affected her were so good. I fortunately don't have that in my background and while I empathize with anyone that does I don't really have the experience to truly understand it. And even though her brother Shawn was a psychopath, he probably also has a traumatic brain injury or two. She did a great job of dealing with her confusion and pain around loving her brother while also being abused by him.And frankly the same for the whole family.

All in all, I think it's pretty sad that she grew up as she did, and that her siblings are raising more kids into the same dysfunction. I was struck at the end where she finally says/realizes that her siblings that stayed in the area are financially dependent on her father, which is obviously a part of him continuing to exert his control.

I also read this recent article, which was fascinating. Her parents are so incredibly defensive about the account, which rings even more true after you read this. It's a little insane.

https://www.deseret.com/indepth/2023/1/29/23575258/what-does-educated-tara-westover-family-think-about-reconciliation-book

[Anonymous]

I posted a bit on this long thread.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/732742.page

I really found it to be an incredible read - and her to be an incredible woman.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I posted a bit on this long thread.

https://www.dcurbanmom.com/jforum/posts/list/732742.page

I really found it to be an incredible read - and her to be an incredible woman.

Thanks - I searched both "Educated" and "Westover" in this and the entertainment forum and no luck!

[Anonymous]

If you're looking for similar memoirs I suggest reading The Glass Castle. I liked Educated but enjoyed The Glass Castle even more.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you're looking for similar memoirs I suggest reading The Glass Castle. I liked Educated but enjoyed The Glass Castle even more.

NP. Agree with you. The Sound of Gravel was also very good if you haven’t already read it.

[Anonymous]

I enjoyed educated but couldn’t get through the glass castle

[Anonymous]

I just finished listening to Educated. I thought it was very good but I think I liked Truth Be Told better — it was interesting that i happened to listen to them back to back as the two authors had some childhood parallels but Bev McLachlin’s was at happier/more positive.