Tara Westover was seventeen the first time she set foot in a classroom. Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, she prepared for the end of the world by stockpiling home-canned peaches and sleeping with her “head-for-the-hills bag.” In the summer she stewed herbs for her mother, a midwife and healer, and in the winter she salvaged in her father’s junkyard.

This was such a powerful, beautiful and enlightening read. I don’t read memoirs often, not because I don’t enjoy, but it affects me on such a personal level. It’s hard to review this book with positive words because I have such strong negative feelings against her parents and one of her brothers. I couldn’t even attempt to describe without giving spoilers. I will say, her father is a religious paranoid fanatic, and very volatile who hid behind his religion. Her mother didn’t deserve to be a mother and there is special place in hell for her brother Shawn.

I have so much respect for Tara, from overcoming adversity, extreme family obstacles and having the resourcefulness to leave a very unhealthy environment, to obtain an education and give herself a better life. I have watched a couple of her interviews and listened to a podcast, and I feel she is still kind of defending her father and giving excuses for his behavior. I am not saying this as judgement because I have no clue how I would react in this situation, but I just truly do not understand the defense of these people.

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House and the author for a free advanced copy.