“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
Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, Tara Westover was seventeen the first time she set foot in a classroom. Her 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. When another brother got himself into college, Tara decided to try a new kind of life. 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.”
Wow! I was definitely late to reading Educated. I had gotten several recommendations about it but never read it. That is..until about a month ago. I loved it! But there were points in the book when I grew agitated with the main character and author herself: Tara. It is hard to talk about these points without giving away a lot of the book. But it is also one of those things where you would never truly know what you would do unless you found yourself in that same situation. It is easy to say one thing because we are on the outside.
Above all, I think Educated tells an amazing story about drive, perseverance, and the female spirit. I would encourage women of all ages and even men to read this memoir.
GoodReads Rating: 4.5
Page Count: 352
Casey Joshi 