Author: Tara Westover
I read the synopsis and I thought sure, this is another book about a poor and underprivileged kid overcoming the odds and making it into Harvard and finally graduating with a PhD from Cambridge. But on reading the book I was amazed to learn that in rural America there are families that can be so isolated that you wouldn’t believe they live in the United States.
Tara’s description of her life in rural Idaho is gut-wrenching. I am sure that most families are not as dysfunctional as she describes and the Westover homestead is more the exception than the rule. Nevertheless it opened my eyes to how different life can be deep in the heartland.
I won’t go into the description of hardship and abuse, but what makes this book memorable is the clarity and equanimity of her prose. I am guessing that she must have kept a journal since she is able to recreate the events of the past with uncanny detail. It makes for a heart thumping read and you will find yourself turning the pages eagerly to find out what misery lies in the next chapter.
Overall, this is a great book that is both entertaining and eye-opening.
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