Although this book has been out for a pretty long time now, I couldn’t help but be curious about reading it just recently. I had many doubts if I should even bother purchasing it since books these days are a tad pricey, but I figured I might as well try something I haven’t done in such a long time.
What can I say about the book that others had not? Actually, I don’t even know how others responded to the book. Only glimpse I got was when I was browsing through the Target book section, another customer told me, as I was holding on to the book, “It is such a great book!” That’s the only review I heard of (besides one Instagrammer that I follow).
****CAUTION: SOME SPOILERS AHEAD****
Well, what I got out of the book is that education (formal schooling) is so different from family education. One of the things that popped up to me while reading this book is the quote: “The way we talk to our children becomes their inner voice.” (This quote is not from this book.)
The book had me at a levels of emotion that I could not comprehend (such as family violence and silencing those who did not follow the family rules). It actually made me feel sadness, dissapointment and upset. I even questioned if this story was really true, but I’m certain that many people have experienced that emotional and physical abuse. It made me a little sad knowing that others grew up like that.
One such situation that really left an impression is when Tara kept hanging out alone with her abusive brother. He was such a bully, picking on the youngest girl and physically and mentally hurting her was too much for me to read. I felt so bad for her. Knowing that she is being loyal to her family but also feeling stuck like not knowing where to go. It truly made me sad. And the nerve of the dad just not believing her and asking for proof? Like, what?! And her mom being conflicted as to whom to be loyal to? Omg!
This book seems like an atonement for Tara; to clear up her name and reputation amongst the community that she grew up in. Without having the backlash of her family near her. I’m sure she probably did hear something from those estranged family members when they heard about her book. Very awkward for them to be viewed as a certain type people (like extreme survivalist). But they also need to face themselves that that reality is not good for anyone.
Blood truly is not thicker than water. Why do people why to put up with such abuse even if it comes from family? The world is so huge and you keep growing and moving on. Which is exactly what happened to Tara. She was like a little mermaid going from the bottom to the top. Not feeling trapped and controlled anymore. Not being seen as just a mere woman who should be in the kitchen and being someone’s wife. She became herself and did not silence herself anymore.
You truly can choose your family. You can choose who to weed out and who to let in. Not everyone has to be included. You can build a new life and new customs and habits and be around good people that will help you grow positively. Tara created new realities for herself to get herself out of that abused mindset. She started to believe in herself and became her own hero. We can all rewrite our histories.
Educated is definitely worth reading. It will give you hope that you too can overcome the history you never chose for yourself. That there is a life beyond the lows of the valley. And that we can choose who we allow in our lives and how far we can distance ourselves from those who weigh us down. There is always a glimmer of hope.