Educated: A Memoir – Quill Quotes Book Club

Welcome to the third edition of Quill Quotes Book Club! Nonfiction won the genre vote and Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover won the book selection vote. Keep reading for all the details on the book, where to get it, and our reading schedule! This page will be updated with links to each discussion so keep it handy as a reference. We can’t wait for our first discussion on Saturday, June 13, 2020!

Educated: A Memoir – Summary

An unforgettable memoir about a young girl who, kept out of school, leaves her survivalist family and goes on to earn a PhD from Cambridge University.

Born to survivalists in the mountains of Idaho, Tara Westover was seventeen the first time she set foot in a classroom. Her family was so isolated from mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received an education, and no one to intervene when one of Tara’s older brothers became violent. When another brother got himself into college, Tara decided to try a new kind of life. Her quest for knowledge transformed her, taking her over oceans and across continents, to Harvard and to Cambridge University. Only then would she wonder if she’d traveled too far, if there was still a way home.

“Beautiful and propulsive . . . Despite the singularity of [Tara Westover’s] childhood, the questions her book poses are universal: How much of ourselves should we give to those we love? And how much must we betray them to grow up?”

—Vogue

“Westover has somehow managed not only to capture her unsurpassably exceptional upbringing, but to make her current situation seem not so exceptional at all, and resonant for many others.”

—The New York Times Book Review

Where to get the book?

With three weeks before the first discussion you should have plenty of time to get the book and start reading! Whether you prefer digital or physical books, we’ve listed several options below.

Digital Copy

Amazon

If you have a Kindle or like audiobooks, Amazon is probably already your go-to for book purchases. They offer a variety of purchase options. We’ll be reading the Kindle e-book version or maybe the hardcover (still deciding), but all options are listed below:

• Kindle e-book (direct purchase)
• Audiobook (direct purchase or through Audible)
• Paperback or Hardcover (be sure to check the delivery date)

OverDrive / Libby

While many libraries may be closed, they often allow digital rentals through OverDrive and the Libby app! You’ll just need your library card to log in. Educated is waitlisted at our library, but hopefully you’ll have better luck.

Physical Book

Amazon is still a good option to get the paperback or hardcover, but if they’re only delivering “essential items” in your area or the delivery date is too far out, you may need to look for other options. If they’re open, please try to support your local bookstore or library. If they’re closed, more book-focused online stores like BAM! or Barnes & Noble can probably deliver.

Reading Schedule

The book is already split into three parts, so that seemed like a good breakdown for discussion! Feel free to read at your own pace, but please avoid posting spoilers if you read ahead. Also, if you’re behind schedule and concerned about spoilers, you may want to wait until you’re caught up to join the discussion.

Discussion Section 1: Part One (Chapter 1-16): Saturday, June 13, 2020

We’ll post our thoughts and some questions on this section on the morning of June 13th to kick-off discussion! Can’t wait!

• Discussion #1

Discussion Section 2: Part Two (Chapter 17-29): Saturday, June 20, 2020

We’ll post the discussion for Part Two on June 20th!

• Discussion #2

Final Discussion: Full Book: Saturday, June 27, 2020

We’ll complete the book and begin the final discussion on June 27th!

• Final Discussion

We can’t wait to hear your thoughts on Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover. Let’s get reading!