Welcome to Quill Quotes Book Club, Educated Discussion #2! We hope you are enjoying Educated by Tara Westover so far. Please keep in mind this discussion is only for Part 2 (Chapters 17-29). If you have read ahead or finished the book, please keep any spoilers or thoughts on later parts for the next discussion. See the Educated Book Club Summary Page for the reading schedule details and other discussions.
Brooke’s Thoughts
Wow! Just when you think things can’t get any crazier! Seriously, how has no one died yet?! I thought I had a high tolerance to pain but this family’s pain tolerance is astounding! I can’t imagine being burned and treated in a hospital. No way I would survive being treated at home.
I am still really enjoying the book. I kinda wished she went into more detail about her undergrad though. We seemed to fly through semesters pretty quickly but I guess that’s what happens when you are always working or studying.
Favorite Quote
“First find out what you are capable of, then decide who you are.”
–Tara Westover, Educated
Kevin’s Thoughts
I’m still really enjoying this book! I can’t imagine attending college without ever having been in a classroom before and having little foundational knowledge or understanding of what’s expected. With so little preparation, it’s incredible she did well enough to get a partial scholarship. While she did struggle and some of her errors were pretty funny, like not reading the textbook, I’d have expected her to have a much harder time.
Tara probably would have eventually found some measure of success on her own but I think she was very fortunate to get support from so many people along the way. I think her roommate, Robin, and the Bishop were especially crucial for her to make it to graduation.
Favorite Quote
“What a person knows about the past is limited, and will always be limited, to what they are told by others.”
– Tara Westover, Educated
Vote
Last Week’s Poll
While the vote was split last week on the most horrific accident, I’m sure almost everyone would agree that the father’s gas tank explosion is now the worst.
This Week’s Question
Sorry, this vote is now closed. Please see the results below.
Educated Discussion #2 Prompts/Questions
Feel free to comment whatever thoughts and questions you have! But if you aren’t sure where to start, consider some of the prompts / questions below:
- Who do you think was most impactful to Tara’s success and why?
- Did you expect Tara to struggle more or less in her first semester?
- Do you think you’d have chosen to go to Cambridge or stayed in America as her father wished?
- How do you think her father’s injuries will impact their relationship?
- Share a favorite quote.
- How do you feel about fiction versus nonfiction?
Commenting
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We hope you enjoy this discussion and join us again next week for the final discussion on the whole book! Check the Educated Book Club Summary Page for details.
When I finished Part One I figured there was no way I could continue to be shocked. But I was wrong. Part Two is full of miracles. I use the word miracles, full of its religious connotations, not because I want to disregard the hard circumstances and work that these people had to endure and put forth or because I believe that a divine agency was actively interfering but because the events are so improbable that as an observer I do not feel any other word describes the situations accurately.
Firstly, the event that most stands out to me as hovering in this vicinity of “miracle” is the author’s father surviving the gas tank explosion. I imagined Darth Vader screaming “I hate you” as he crawls out of the Mustafar lava when I pictured this man crawling across the field to reach his home. And then somehow his wife, family, and her workers, using no modern medicine and performing surgeries and excisions that untrained professionals should not be performing, saved his life. He may never have been the same but that he lived is nothing short of incredible.
Secondly, the author goes from no formal education to fighting her way into a university for an undergraduate education. And from there she goes to study at Cambridge! There are students that have unlimited resources, in comparison to the author, that could never accomplish such a feat. I worked full time while going to college and I know that the amount of work the author put in is unimaginable to me. Not only does she go to this prestigious school but she’s lauded by the professors for her writing! Again an incredible accomplishment.
While the explosion surprised me, the event that resonated with me the most and made me truly admire the author was that she was able to break through the racism that her father and brother so casually propagated. No one is a born racist but when you are taught to hate, especially by the parents who are meant to guide you, it becomes a part of you. But the author looked past the taught hate and made her own decisions not to devalue the life of others based on the color of their skin. She actually asked her brother not to call her a racist term knowing full well he could violently lash out. The beauty of this event is that it demonstrates how education can go a long way in destroying the shackles of things like religious indoctrination and racial hate.
I eagerly look forward to Part Three
I agree I did not think the family could do anything else that could shock me and then the dad one-upped everyone. At least it was the dad doing something to himself and not forcing one of his kids to do something stupid. I LOVE the Star Wars reference and I feel it is also pretty accurate. LOL!
Again, HOW DID HE SURVIVE?!? He must be very strong-willed.
I have no idea how Tara is able to do what she does. I agree college is hard without working and without a crazy family AND she’s not just an average student. It’s amazing!
Education is so important and in more ways than people realize. Books and college can not only make you book smart but you can learn about others too, especially those who are not like you. She grew up in a pretty small town and then was isolated even more to her mountain. I’m surprised she didn’t say more insensitive things. I am also shocked she stood up to her brother. I think it’s a real eye-opener and turning point for how she feels about her family.
I too think Tara’s success is because oh her professors. They saw her capabilities when she did not. Both fiction and non fiction art good reads. Let’s us know we are somewhat normal or better off than we thought. She really struggled because of lack of high school classroom but when she caught on she did really well. Tara’s brother really did a number on her which did not help her self esteem. Can’t wait to read part 3.
I’m glad her professors saw her capabilities and pushed her to do better. It shows how much a good professor can influence you.
Nonfiction can be really powerful. The book makes me grateful for how normal my family is.
I agree with Kevin, it’s impressive she caught on so quickly to the school setting. I expected her to struggle more.
I do not like Sean. He probably had the most negative impact on her life. I like that she wrote one of her papers on the effect bipolar parents have on their children. She’s right about the double risk factors, the children are genetically predisposed to mood disorders and then they are exposed to poor parenting caused by the parent’s bipolar disorder. It really makes me wonder about all of his children, especially Sean. He probably also has an undiagnosed mental illness.
It is cool that her professors believed in her so much to put their reputation on the line and get her into Cambridge. I think she’ll do well but I’m sure there are a lot more interactions with the professors that didn’t make it into the book that I’d love to hear about. Maybe it’s just that she’s done well academically and they’re fascinated that she’s done it without a formal education but I’d bet there’s more to it. Tara must have done a ton of reading to catch up on all the common knowledge, like the holocaust, that she missed.
Shawn was very negative for her at times but could also seem really nice and supportive at other points. Like helping her install the lock to her bedroom and giving her $100 for Christmas. Maybe he’s also bipolar like she suspects of their father?
I think Tara’s professors had a big impact on her success. She would have never went to Cambidge if her professor hadn’t helped her get in and get a scholarship.
I’m sure hoping she doesn’t struggle in her first semester she has struggled enough. I’m thinking she is so good at overcoming obstacles that she will do great and finally realize how smart and worthy she is in all that she has achieved.
I’m not sure if I would have went to Cambridge. I do think it was best for Tara to go she will get a great education there and learn so much more about another country and not limited to United states. Tara has already done so many things that she had no idea on what to do so she is great at figuring things out and learning from them. I’m so glad she is finally taking some help from others instead of thinking doctors or the government can’t help.
I’m thinking the dad’s accident certainly has made him a better listener so I’m hoping he will try to understand her views on life. I’m not sure his views will change because of his undiagnosed illness.
I really like reading nonfiction its great reading about a young girls success story.
I agree her professors had a big impact. It’s nice to see others take an interest in her and care so much. I like that she went to Cambridge. Moving and living in other places really does help with new perspectives.
I laughed out loud when Robin called her a Commie for taking the grant money. I would have liked to learn more about their relationship. If they were close friends or not. It seemed like Robin helped her a lot.
I’m not sure how Tara and her farther’s relationship will play out. I hope they end up on good terms but I don’t know that’s possible even after the accident.
Nonfiction isn’t my go-to genre but I do enjoy it.
Her professors were definitely a big help and she probably wouldn’t have gone to Cambridge without them. However, without Robin and the bishop, I’m not sure she ever would have accepted the government grants and wouldn’t have had the money to finish school. It was interesting how she said having extra money changed her life in ways she didn’t expect and let her focus on her classes more! I don’t think Robin and Tara were really close friends, she seemed more like an advisor or counselor.
I think Tara will come back after Cambridge and be able to form a new relationship with her dad. Now that he can’t work all the time and has money from the followers of his miraculous healing, I hope he’ll be more receptive and listen to Tara’s opinions more. I’m looking forward to reading part 3!
Your right about Robin she was the first one that made her mail her application for a scholarship, I had forgotten that. Was it the bishop that first suggested the scholarship? I was thinking it was a professor or like a guidance counselor that told her about the scholarship. I’m not great about remembering all those details even though they are important.