The last four of the Westovers’ seven children did not receive birth certificates at birth. In the prologue to her book, Tara tells us: “We have no medical records because we were born at home and have never seen a doctor or nurse. We have no school records because we never set foot in a classroom.” She notes a few exceptions for medical treatment, but her point is that medical care was not often sought, though it was needed. Really interesting review, thank you! I found Educated very interesting, understanding that with all memoirs, lots of it is left to the authors memories. I’m curious to read Educating now too! I want to say one small thing about midwifery. Home birth midwives with no training is very different than certified home birth midwives, who go through years of schooling and training. They are medical professionals who are qualified to deliver babies at home for women with low-risk pregnancies. They are trained to determine if there are any risks with the pregnancy that would require a hospital delivery. There are also certified nurse midwives who work in hospitals, this is incredibly common. So “midwifery” as a general term doesn’t distinguish between the differences between the various types of midwives. I am a labor and delivery nurse in a hospital, and unfortunately many of the complications we see in labor and delivery are caused by the hospital protocols and practices. I could go into lots of detail on this but I think it’s too long for a comment. Of course there are many legitimate complications that occur! But I firmly believe after years of working in delivery rooms in top hospitals that low-risk pregnancies are safer delivering at home. Just thought I’d add another perspective to that point. Thank you again for this thorough and thoughtful review. I and my housemate/best friend are reading “Educated” aloud, one chapter per night, right now. We are about halfway through the book. We’re just taking it in, without judgement, and with a tiny grain of salt because we both know (we are in our 60’s) that memories are … shaded? … colorized? … at best. And we’re OK with that.

Val also remembers the family “going to church and sitting in an available pew and watching as people near us got up and moved away without speaking a word.” It has taken incredible courage from Tara to face her abusers, question her reality and confront the lies and delusions her father and other family members unashamedly brandish as “God’s ways” although, in my view, nothing could be further from God. No one, based on reading these two books, will be able to discern the absolute truth about what really happened to Tara growing up. It’s a he-said, she-said finger-pointing blame game. And it’s sad. As they continue to talk, Frank’s world-weariness is even more apparent. He says maybe he would not be so prone to disappearing from Julia if she was more like Rita. Rita laughs these comments off.Frank tries to get her to talk more about this but she insists they need to return to studying. While discussing Chekov, Rita decides they must go to the theater, and convinces Frank to accompany her even though he is wary of what he deems “amateur” performances.

She starts asking him questions, such as what 'assonance' means. She tells him her name is actually Susan, but that she calls herself Rita after the author of her favorite book, Rubyfruit Jungle, which she presses him to read. One additional comment I wanted to make is that, thus far, I don’t find this so much a condemnation of the religion practiced by the Church of the Latter Day Saints – I am surprised if the general readership is taking it that way.. But I haven’t finished it yet so I may discover otherwise. I find Tara’s character was very honest , powerful , courageous knowing the fact that her father , brother or any other family member are quite capable to harm her both emotionally & physically after her book had published. It is not easy for anyone to step forward and talk about her sufferings so openly. especially Tara who loves her family & tried many times to be accepted by them. Moreover in her book and for that matter in all the interviews I have watched , she has always said that her family loves her but their beliefs are way too different & she has given her perspective without disgracing anyone. Her parents' attorney has said that "Her parents raised their family in what Tara described as an extremist mindset, but what they felt was self-sufficiency." [6] They maintain that there is only a "little germ of truth" in her book. [6] Their attorney said Westover's parents were hurt that Westover would write a book that slanders her upbringing and that she would accuse her brother [Shawn] of the abuse described. [6] Reception [ edit ] Is it all true? That’s what I really wanted to know when I agreed to read LaRee’s memoir. Like many of you, I read Tara’s memoir, Educated,a couple of years ago and re-read it right after reading LaRee’s book–in preparation for this review.Frank draws her attention to something she wrote on Rubyfruit Jungle, which he says is too subjective and has no real literary criticism in it. She has trouble with the concept of criticizing something she likes. She then says she read a Forster book Frank had mentioned in their first meeting but hated it because he said within the book that he did not like poor people. This incensed her, but Frank is amused and says she cannot look at the book in such a light.