This month we had the choice of three books -
Educated by Tara Westover, The Feel - Good Hit of the Year by Liam Pieter and The Eye of the Sheep by Sofie Laguna.
Educated by Tara Westover
Summary:
Born to survivalist in the mountains of Idaho, Tara Westover was seventeen the first time she set foot in a classroom. Her family was so isolated from the mainstream society that there was no one to ensure the children received an education, 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 overseas and to Harvard and to Cambridge University. Only then would she wonder if she’d travelled too far, and if there was still a way home.
Comments from Book Club members:
Rosemary: She enjoyed the book, found it interesting but thought the narrative was written leading to a movie.
Val: Val described it as a troubling book, she was interested but didn’t enjoy it. It appalled her that people in society got away with the treatment of others. Tara’s brother Shawn should have been arrested for his sadistic behaviour.
Kerrie: It was important to keep in mind that not all Mormon families behave the way these did. But the father was way beyond any religious figure.
Part of the author’s healing was to tell her story. People had always lied to her and denied what had happened to her.
Kelly: While reading, her emotions went up and down. She was shocked at the abuse and the isolation in which they lived.
Cindy: Cindy couldn’t finish it and felt validated after listening to other people’s opinions.
Judy A: Generally agreed with the previous comments.
Tam: Echoed other people’s comments but added that the mother annoyed her because she didn’t protect her children.
Judy J: Tara was able to educate herself as were 2 of her brothers. All finished with PHDs! Those children who stayed behind, continued to live and work with the parents. There wasn’t any more contact with the family.
Judy A: Even though she knew her family relationships were deeply unhealthy, even dangerous, yet she still yearned to be accepted within that group.
There were things she didn’t find credible, chief among them being the list of injuries this family suffered and recovered from.
Joan: Joan was unsure what Tara Westover was doing now and thought she would have difficulty in having ‘normal’ relationships.
The Feel-Good Hit of the Year by Liam Pieper
Summary:
Liam Pieper was raised by his bohemian parents to believe in freedom and creativity, and that there's nothing wrong with smoking a little marijuana to make life easier. Nothing if not precocious, he used these lessons to develop a fledgling drug habit and a thriving business selling pot from the back of his pushbike. This lifestyle taught him much.
But from these highs (chemical and otherwise), Liam's life began to spiral down to some striking lows. After a family tragedy and then his arrest on several counts of possession and trafficking, Liam had to pause and ask himself: How the hell did I get here and how would he find some way out?
Comments from Book Club members:
Ed: Ed thought the book was well written and the young man was very enterprising in making money through selling drugs. She was astonished by the amount of money involved in the drug trade.
The author eventually sorts himself out and becomes a freelance writer.
She wouldn’t rave about it.
Lyn:
She didn’t find the book ‘achingly funny or heart splittingly tragic’ as said in the reviews. Heartbreaking – yes! Frustrating – a definite yes!
Lyn chose the book because of the subject, pleased she had read it, but not a book she enjoyed.
The Eye of the Sheep by Sophie Laguna
Summary:
Told from the mesmerising point of view and in the inimitable voice of Jimmy, this is an extraordinary novel about a poor family who is struggling to cope with a different and difficult child.
He's not like other kids. He finds a lot of the adult world impossible to understand - especially why his dad gets so angry with him. Jimmy's mother Paula is the only one who can manage him. She teaches him how to count sheep so that he can fall sleep. She holds him tight enough to stop his cells spinning. It is only Paula who can keep Jimmy out of his father's way. But when Jimmy's world falls apart, he has no one else to turn to. He alone must navigate the unfathomable world and make things right.
Comments from Book Club members:
Theresa: She described the book as depressing, sad, offensive and the undiagnosed autistic Jimmy, reminded her of Rainman.
He was loved by his mother who idolised him and puts up with the horrible husband.
Pat: Pat found the book hard to read, too depressing but needs to be read because this is happening now in society. She felt sorry for all the characters, all had their own problems.
Margaret: The book puts you in the mind of one of these children and how they see the world. It’s exhausting, the mix of depression, poverty, levels of sadness. Some moments of hope were brilliantly written but also exhausting.
Sheila: You could hear Jimmy’s voice all the way through the happenings with the family. She thought the author had done a lot of research or had close contact with a dysfunctional family.
She didn’t enjoy it, but glad she had read the book.
Joan: Jimmy’s first-person narrative through the book was outstanding. There is anger, judgement, understanding, compassion, hope and trust. But this is balanced with humour in the ending.
Joan described the book as one of the best written and challenging books she has read.
Debra: She didn’t like it, in fact she hated it. But she understood and appreciated the needs of the child.
The redeeming thing was the hope at the end. Jimmy was going to get help and support. Book Club can challenge what you read.
Cindy: She couldn’t finish it but appreciated it more after listening to other’s comments.
Jo: When Jo started the book, she hated. But with perseverance, she continued and eventually, ‘couldn’t put it down’.
Judy J May 2026
JUNE: Australian author Helen Garner
