Stephanie Jane reviewed Educated by Tara Westover
A powerful memoir
5 stars
I think I am probably the last book blogger in the world to read Educated! This memoir seemed to be absolutely everywhere over the past couple of years so I wanted to wait for the hype to fade somewhat before starting it in the hope that unrealistically high expectations wouldn't lead to Tara Westover's memoir being a disappointment. It certainly wasn't! Westover's writing style is clear and straightforward with a remarkable emotional restraint and lack of anger considering the neglect and abuse she was subjected to throughout her childhood. She calmly describes scenes of such callousness on the part of her father and viciousness from an elder brother as though this was acceptably normal behaviour. For her, of course, it was, but for the other adults surrounding the Westover family - grandparents, cousins, neighbours? I struggle to believe that not one of them realised the Westover children needed rescuing.
What …
I think I am probably the last book blogger in the world to read Educated! This memoir seemed to be absolutely everywhere over the past couple of years so I wanted to wait for the hype to fade somewhat before starting it in the hope that unrealistically high expectations wouldn't lead to Tara Westover's memoir being a disappointment. It certainly wasn't! Westover's writing style is clear and straightforward with a remarkable emotional restraint and lack of anger considering the neglect and abuse she was subjected to throughout her childhood. She calmly describes scenes of such callousness on the part of her father and viciousness from an elder brother as though this was acceptably normal behaviour. For her, of course, it was, but for the other adults surrounding the Westover family - grandparents, cousins, neighbours? I struggle to believe that not one of them realised the Westover children needed rescuing.
What resounded for me in the days after finishing this powerful memoir was its similarities to other works I have read by formerly repressed women across the world. Tara Westover grew up in white America, but aspects of her experience could have come from parts of Asia or the Middle East or anywhere where devout religious faith is culturally warped into an excuse for violent patriarchal domination and a lack of access to education allows destructive behaviour patterns to go unquestioned. That Tara had the strength of mind to successfully escape her family is a testament to her alone. Her story demonstrates that, while we might all like to believe in the concept of family as a safe haven which should be preserved at all costs, this is not always the case. I now do completely understand why Educated has been such a successful publication, and I hope its influence goes beyond the immediate chatter of enthusiastic readers to lead to lasting changes in equal access to education regardless of gender, affluence or even religious beliefs.