Educated was another one that I went through pretty quickly. I’ve realized that I really enjoy memoirs and autobiographies. And speaking of autobiographies, my next read happens to be Gabrielle Union’s.
But first, let’s chat about Educated by Tara Westover.
What I Read
Educated by Tara Westover
It’s a memoir that describes Tara’s upbringing in the mountains of Idaho, isolated from the outside world with a fiercely self-sufficient, fundamentalist Mormon family. Her parents were mistrustful of the government; they believed that the education and medical systems were just vehicles through which the government controls its citizens. That being said, everything happened at home; from births, to treatment of life-threatening injuries, to schooling (if you could call it that).
Tara didn’t see the inside of a classroom until college, when she decided to take a leap of faith after hearing about the world beyond her mountain from her older brother. She details the tumultuous relationship she had with her family, herself, and the world. She was always at odds — from what she had been raised to believe, to who she felt she might be, to what she learned to be true through education and experience.
This was a powerful, sometimes heartbreaking coming of age story. Reading about her childhood was like reading a horror story. From the outside looking in, you know better, and you want better for Tara. You begin rooting for her. You become emotionally invested in her journey towards self discovery.
Parts of the story were frustrating to read. This stemmed from how dysfunctional they were, seemingly because of their religion. Whew, religion’s influence on people’s common sense is a different story for a different day.
A Few Takeaways
Some of the themes that I noticed throughout include mental health, patriarchy, religion and blind faith, conditional love, and of course, ignorance versus education.
Above all, it’s a testament to the importance of discovering your voice, learning who you are, and not allowing yourself to be defined by others’ beliefs and expectations. It’s a story about being damaged, and becoming whole. Finding your will, and overcoming the obstacles that keep you from yourself — even if those obstacles are your own family.
I actually did a little research on Mormonism while I was reading, so I could better understand Tara’s upbringing.
Basically, it’s a religion similar to Christianity, but that also incorporates values set forth by its founder, Joseph Smith. Mormons don’t believe in the concept of God existing within three entities; rather, they believe that the Father, Son and Holy Ghost are separate beings. They aren’t allowed to consume coffee, tea, alcohol, or tobacco. At one point in time, polygamy was a common practice, although now, it’s frowned upon within the religion.
The Bottom Line
I think that this is an interesting, enjoyable book. It was a peek into a lifestyle that seemed worlds away from mine. It definitely required that I consider a perspective other than my own.
This could be a great read if you find yourself bound by limitations that others have set for you, or are uninspired in terms of education and need a nudge. It’s also a great option as a lazy, “for fun” read.
What I’m Reading
We’re Going to Need More Wine by Gabrielle Union
I’ve heard such good things about Gabby’s memoir, so of course I had to read for myself. Celebrity autobiographies are always fun because it feels like gaining access to this elusive alternate universe, and then you realize that these people are just as flawed and human as you.
You know the drill! Drop by next month for the review on this book, and a sneak peak of what I’m reading next! In the meantime, get some more reading list inspiration here.
