Wasn't sure if I was feeling this book through the first few chapters; the storytelling was a bit jumbled and disorienting, though I think now that was definitely intentional and perhaps a truthful reflection of Tara Westover's recollection and experiences. But by the middle I was really flying through the pages, and I found this story at (many) times sad and tragic, even a little bit frightening; but also compelling and strangely relatable, even though Tara's experiences and especially their context are pretty much unfamiliar to me before she arrives at a university.

The conflict in the book that most intrigued me did not exist between any of the characters, but in fact within Tara herself; it was the conflict between what she knew (based on events that she *lived*) to be true, and the doubt she felt when facing her own experiences. It confused me almost to the point of anger, but it gave me the most meaningful insight, I think, into the changes wrought be education. How does one transition from getting knowledge and fact and truth from one person, to suddenly hearing and seeing objective truth in another, "outside" world that even contradicts that children learning? From hearing over and over that pills don't cure pain to experiencing the easing of an ache after taking a pill? Her education came not only from her studies and degrees, but from her understanding herself and her perception of truth more and more clearly.