I recently read Educated by Tara Westover, which is an acclaimed memoir that explores the intricacies of family dynamics in a landscape tinged by undiagnosed, untreated mental illness. Westover’s stories draw the reader into the complex web of relationships that defined her childhood and adolescence and the loyalties that remain and those that disintegrate as she finds her life beyond the rural and ideologically primitive setting of her upbringing. I found this book especially relevant in today’s political climate, where the American people seem especially divided and political allegiance to one of two parties tends to follow certain geographic boundaries. As the New York Times book review states, “The political parties are aligned more than ever around blue metropolises and red spaces in between.”
Educated was included in the New York Times Book Review’s 10 Best Books of 2018. You can read more about the themes over at the NY Times. I highly recommend this book!
Have you read Educated? What were some of your takeaways?
