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Liz's Reviews > Educated
Educated
by
by
I grew up with my nose perpetually in a book. So, the idea of not being able to go to school, of being deprived of an education, hit me really hard. It was hard for me to grasp that things I take for granted, like knowing what the Holocaust was or who MLK, Jr. was, were black holes to Tara.
Tara Westover is the child of a religious fanatic, someone who sees the government as pure evil. And by government, he means schools, hospitals, vaccines, seat belts, car insurance, etc. Everything we think of as civilization. His family awaits the Days of Abomination. There is a similarity here to The Glass Castle. Once again, we see how a mentally unbalanced father holds sway over an entire family. He thinks he speaks for God. Tara struggles with the knowledge that for her to go to school will mean a total separation from her father because he will never acknowledge that his ideas are not the correct ones.
Parts of this book are cringeworthy. I found myself shaking my head that folks would allow severe suffering rather than a trip to the hospital or the use of real medicine. I’ll warn you that some of these sections are not for the faint of heart. The descriptions are sickening.
I know little to nothing about the Mormon faith. Certainly, the faith of this family is not the true Mormon faith. But you get glimpses enough to also realize that there is a strong anti-woman bias in the faith and that women are definitely second class citizens. Broodmares more than humans on a par with men.
This book doesn’t sugarcoat things. It’s not an education makes everything better kind of story. Tara continues throughout the book to struggle to find her way, to stand up for her beliefs. Hell, to find her own beliefs.
This is an amazing book. It makes you realize how easy your life is. And how strong folks like Tara are to be able to rise above their beginnings and be able to fight back against the attempts of family to hold them down.
I’m willing to bet this book makes it onto a lot of best of 2018 lists. It will certainly be on mine. Highly recommend!
My thanks to netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book.
Tara Westover is the child of a religious fanatic, someone who sees the government as pure evil. And by government, he means schools, hospitals, vaccines, seat belts, car insurance, etc. Everything we think of as civilization. His family awaits the Days of Abomination. There is a similarity here to The Glass Castle. Once again, we see how a mentally unbalanced father holds sway over an entire family. He thinks he speaks for God. Tara struggles with the knowledge that for her to go to school will mean a total separation from her father because he will never acknowledge that his ideas are not the correct ones.
Parts of this book are cringeworthy. I found myself shaking my head that folks would allow severe suffering rather than a trip to the hospital or the use of real medicine. I’ll warn you that some of these sections are not for the faint of heart. The descriptions are sickening.
I know little to nothing about the Mormon faith. Certainly, the faith of this family is not the true Mormon faith. But you get glimpses enough to also realize that there is a strong anti-woman bias in the faith and that women are definitely second class citizens. Broodmares more than humans on a par with men.
This book doesn’t sugarcoat things. It’s not an education makes everything better kind of story. Tara continues throughout the book to struggle to find her way, to stand up for her beliefs. Hell, to find her own beliefs.
This is an amazing book. It makes you realize how easy your life is. And how strong folks like Tara are to be able to rise above their beginnings and be able to fight back against the attempts of family to hold them down.
I’m willing to bet this book makes it onto a lot of best of 2018 lists. It will certainly be on mine. Highly recommend!
My thanks to netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book.
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Reading Progress
December 10, 2017
– Shelved as:
to-read
December 10, 2017
– Shelved
February 6, 2018
–
Started Reading
February 9, 2018
–
Finished Reading
March 6, 2018
– Shelved as:
best-of-2018
July 5, 2018
– Shelved as:
netgalley
August 11, 2019
– Shelved as:
book-clubs
Comments Showing 1-50 of 58 (58 new)
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Marie
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rated it 3 stars
Feb 10, 2018 05:51AM
This sounds really good!
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Great review, Liz! This one is on my TBR list - I really enjoyed The Glass Castle despite many of the disturbing actions from the parents.
Liz, great review for what sounds like a powerful book . Hope to read this soon.
This sounds so interesting! Thanks for putting it on my radar!
Excellent review, Liz! I thought this was great too.
Terrific review Liz! Looks very cringe-worthy -
You wrote such a powerful review of this book, Liz. Sounds like an enlightening and worthwhile read.
Liz wrote: "You wrote such a powerful review of this book, Liz. Sounds like an enlightening and worthwhile read."Thanks. It’s a powerful book. It would make a great book club selection.
Great review Liz! On my list!
Good review Liz. I'd probably get an aneurysm if I read this book.
Barbara wrote: "Good review Liz. I'd probably get an aneurysm if I read this book."There were so many times I just wanted to be able to reach through the pages and throttle both the father and brother.
I like this review LIz ... I can feel the my tension and anxiety rising already!
I won a copy in a giveaway and have been excitedly waiting for it to arrive in the mail. After reading your review I will be waiting impatiently. It sounds like I will love it.
Your review makes me realize that some books should be read, whether enjoyable or not. I’m putting this on my to-read shelf, but can’t say I’m looking forward to making time for this book. Very thought-provoking review, Liz.
Great review Liz. We are indeed blessed and should never forget it or take it for granted. This book is on my shelf and I’ll be reading it soon.
Terrific review Liz, its hard to believe things like that are still happening.
Fantastic review, Liz. I can't wait to read the book -- unfortunately, I do recognise one person heavily in your description of the father's character and I think that's what will make me relate to the book even more
I just got this on NG
BAM wrote: "I just got this on NG"I'll be anxious to read your review.
Great review! So glad to see it is Read Now on NetGalley so I could get a copy!
Thanks for the review; I’m definitely going to check this book out. Also I just wanted to let you know that I am a member of the Mormon church, and women are definitely not considered second class citizens. The statement that there is an anti-woman bias in our church is just not true. If you were to listen to any of our leaders speak, you would hear nothing but love and respect for women. Just wanted to clear that up for you and anyone reading your review.
Terrific review, Liz 🙂
Lisa wrote: "Thanks for the review; I’m definitely going to check this book out. Also I just wanted to let you know that I am a member of the Mormon church, and women are definitely not considered second class ..."Thank you for your comment. That statement was based on what she experiences in her life. She is told she is expected to marry and have children. I don’t think any religious leaders should tell a woman she has to have children.
Lovely review, Liz!! So glad you loved ;)) xox
A great interview with Ms. Westover on CBS Morning Show:
Great review Liz. I look forward to watching the interview. Thanks for sharing the link.
I just started this book and my heart aches for her! As a Mormon, I can wholeheartedly say that the views represented by her father and brother are nothing like the views of our church. The leader of our church was a well-known, pioneering heart surgeon and his two counselors were a lawyer/state Supreme Court justice and a businessman/professor before they became full-time leaders. Definitely not people who eschew government or mainstream life. I would classify the father in the category of a Mormon fundamentalist.
I just started this and my heart aches for her. As a Mormon, I can definitively say that the father’s views do not represent those of our faith. Our current leader was a well-known heart surgeon and his two counselors were a lawyer/State Supreme Court justice and a businessman/professor before becoming full-time leaders of the church. Not exactly people who eschew government or mainstream society. I’d definitely categorize the father as a Mormon fundamentalist.
Briawna wrote: "I just started this and my heart aches for her. As a Mormon, I can definitively say that the father’s views do not represent those of our faith. Our current leader was a well-known heart surgeon an..."Thanks for sharing. A question for you, though. In Chapter 23 , the bishop talks about how she needs to marry. Is this a belief of the church that it’s a requirement? It’s that part of the book that I referred to in my review.
very caring, � felt review, liz!
Fabulous review, Liz! Yep, it made it to my favorites list! What a book!
Wonderful review, Liz! I can answer your question to Briawna, although I am not a member of their church, marriage isn't a requirement, but it is expected that most people will want to marry in the temple to claim their eternal rewards. It's not just women. But that's in the LDS "Mormon" Church, and I'd be surprised if that's what church they went to. She is so vague on this, referencing their church "looks like" a mormon steeple... or something to that effect, but the FLDS (Warren Jeffs) also consider themselves "Mormon" and there are so many variations beyond that. I think there are five "churches" are considered "Mormon" - but that are not the Salt Lake City HQ "Mormons," but then there are others that are splinter groups off of those ones, as well. Hope that helps!
Cheri wrote: "Wonderful review, Liz! I can answer your question to Briawna, although I am not a member of their church, marriage isn't a requirement, but it is expected that most people will want to marry in the..."Thank you for clearing that up. Can you tell I have issues with any church issuing edicts? The bishop in the book was actually when she was at college and was “mainstream�.
Wonderful review Liz. Added this one thank you x
You are mistaken about there being a strong anti-woman bias in the Mormon faith. Perhaps you will learn more about it sometime. I recommend the church published book "Daughters in My Kingdom" for a short easily read overview, "Women of Covenant" for a longer history, and the recently published "At the Pulpit" to hear women's voices first-hand. As a Mormon woman, I belong to the largest women's organization anywhere: it centered on service, sisterhood, and faith in Jesus Christ. Mormon women fought for and won the right to vote before women anywhere else in the US. As early as the 1850s Mormon women served as doctors and publishers, post mistresses, and telegraph operators, and many other things, with full encouragement and support from the prophet, Brigham Young. Mormon women are still do amazing things. It is true that our regard for family as an eternal institution does regard motherhood as a very important and valued role . We also believe that it requires a man and woman bound together in marriage for either to achieve their fullest potential. Most certainly not second class citizens!
Camilla wrote: "You are mistaken about there being a strong anti-woman bias in the Mormon faith. Perhaps you will learn more about it sometime. I recommend the church published book "Daughters in My Kingdom" for a..."Thanks for posting. I especially appreciated your clarification that the church expects both men and women to marry to be fulfilled. To me, that’s a big difference.
Elyse wrote: "Liz .... I hope you bet big bucks. Lol🙂.... I read your review once before and not only thought it was great then ... I remember wanting you to share with me more about your family .. and ways you..."
You’re such a sweetie. Only child and lived in a neighborhood without a lot of other kids. Thank heavens for books.
Great review!! This one has been on my radar!
Just saw that this indeed did make the NYT best 10 books of 2018.
I've wanted to read this book. Now I REALLY do.
Janet wrote: "I've wanted to read this book. Now I REALLY do."Janet, I can’t recommend it highly enough. Just an amazing tale.
I certainly don't mean to beat a dead horse over the head, but I finally have finished the book (after the longest library-hold period of all time!) and I'm finally reading all the reviews and want to add my two cents! So forgive the late reply and any repeats of above, as I know a lot of this has already been addressed.Single Mormon woman here. (Or, technically, we've been asked to eschew "Mormon" in favor of the more descriptive "Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.") I have had my fair share of questions and struggles with Church teachings and/or culture over the years, but I can honestly say that I've never felt less-than for being a woman. Not even once. (Though I've had people who "aren't Mormon but know *a ton* about Mormonism" tell me that. Ahh. People.) That's just to second the comments above, since this book did focus a lot on corroboration of accounts. :) I concur that the women are men's equals within the Church, and instances like Tara's mother's not meeting with her daughter because that would mean she is not being a good wife is a misguided (IMHO) personal interpretation, not an actual teaching of the Church.
I didn't see a response to your question about the BYU bishop, so here's my own take on it: Yes, that bishop was most likely mainstream LDS. I actually don't think the family was Fundamentalist LDS, per se (i.e., not Warren Jeffs followers), as FLDS wouldn't enter a mainstream temple, which was alluded to in the book a few times. I think they just had a very extreme, non-mainstream view and approach of the religion's teachings.
Regarding the bishop, in Tara's memory, her understanding of his motivation to meet with her probably really was about "a woman of the flock who didn't want to get married"; that could be the exact impression she had at that time. However, I strongly suspect that this wasn't what the bishop would have cited. (Maybe as a bit of a light-hearted laugh to use as an icebreaker to get her talking?) I suspect that he'd heard from Robin or otherwise observed indications that there were bigger issues that she needed help with and that he wanted to meet with her on those grounds, not because a 17y/o didn't want to get married. Just my own speculation, but I thought it would be worth throwing out there for thought, as I didn't get the impression that this detail was factual as much as it was a colored memory.
Thanks for letting me share and ramble a bit; I just finished the book this morning, so now I've got to find all the people who read it a year ago! ;)
Camber wrote: "I certainly don't mean to beat a dead horse over the head, but I finally have finished the book (after the longest library-hold period of all time!) and I'm finally reading all the reviews and want..."Camber, thanks so much for posting and sharing your thoughts. All of our memories are obviously colored to different degrees. I’m glad to hear that the C of LDS is not misogynistic as came through to me from the book.
Great review, Liz. I finished reading this for book club and struggled with the story, personally. I am among the few who felt this way, but you're spot on -- that stories of this nature really make us aware of how easy life can be when held up to others' struggles.
