Tara was raised in a Mormon environment in Idaho. Her dad had very controversial opinions about the world – he believed that any interaction with the government, whether through education or hospitals, was communicating with the devil, and so the Westover family spent their time preparing for the End of Days. When she turned sixteen, Tara decided she wanted to educate herself. The more she delved into the world of school and education, the more distant she became with her family, who have rejected these values all her life. Educated is an incredible memoir of how Tara comes to terms with herself as a young, educated woman, and her old life back in Idaho, which she never seems to be able to let go of.
I think I can safely say that this is one of the most fascinating books I have ever read, and I reckon it’s become my favourite book of 2020 so far. Despite being an autobiography, it reads like a novel, maybe because of how different Tara Westover’s life has been compared to the average person. She had never been to school, she didn’t have a birth certificate, and couldn’t drink milk, all because of her father’s views – all she knew in life was working at her dad’s junkyard.
I felt an enormous amount of sympathy for Tara, who essentially grew up not knowing what was out there in the world for her. Even as she began her new life in college, her loyalty to her family is undeniable, and she feels guilty for betraying their trust. She is constantly torn between what is expected of her and what she wants to do. I’m sure that a lot of people can relate to that feeling of being torn in different directions, yet it at times becomes dangerous for Tara. Her complicated relationship with some of her family members meant that I was often rooting for her to leave them and pursue her education, although that’s a lot easier said than done.
We also see Tara struggle to adapt to this new life because she had been so sheltered in her upbringing. When people thought she was joking when she asked what the Holocaust was, it becomes clear that she had a lot of life to catch up on.
This book is moving, inspirational, and really eye-opening. It juggles so many themes, from family hierarchies, being a woman in a religious household, and finding your path in life. I genuinely don’t think my review does this book any justice, so you should absolutely go out and read it for yourself.
Favourite quotes:
“There’s a world out there, Tara, and it will look a lot different once your dad is no longer whispering his view of it in your ear.”
“I would remain a child, in perpetuity, always, or I would lose him.”
“My life was narrated for me by others. Their voices were forceful, emphatic, absolute. It had never occurred to me that my voice might be as strong as theirs.”
“Find out what you’re capable of, then decide who you are.”