Hey there my bookworms! Happy Wednesday! Our week is almost over already and if you ask me, I’m super thankful. This is day two I’ve had with a bad headache and day three with sheer exhaustion to the point my eyes burn almost non-stop. Aside from wishing I was on a long-overdo vacation where I can just unplug for a solid week, I just keep plugging along with the insanity that is life.
Here’s hoping this first month of the new year has been awesome in terms of books for you. I just now finished my first read of 2019 (it’s insane how far behind I feel already) so I thought I’d hop on here and share it all with you. Tonight, let’s talk about Becoming by former First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama.
I’ve had this book since release day and didn’t get to lose myself in it until after Christmas. I don’t normally get political in my space for books unless it has to do with the political fiction story I’m currently writing, but I felt like this was important book to pick up and savor. I was not wrong.
An intimate, powerful, and inspiring memoir by the former First Lady of the United States.
In a life filled with meaning and accomplishment, Michelle Obama has emerged as one of the most iconic and compelling women of our era. As First Lady of the United States of America—the first African-American to serve in that role—she helped create the most welcoming and inclusive White House in history, while also establishing herself as a powerful advocate for women and girls in the U.S. and around the world, dramatically changing the ways that families pursue healthier and more active lives, and standing with her husband as he led America through some of its most harrowing moments. Along the way, she showed us a few dance moves, crushed Carpool Karaoke, and raised two down-to-earth daughters under an unforgiving media glare.
In her memoir, a work of deep reflection and mesmerizing storytelling, Michelle Obama invites readers into her world, chronicling the experiences that have shaped her—from her childhood on the South Side of Chicago to her years as an executive balancing the demands of motherhood and work, to her time spent at the world’s most famous address. With unerring honesty and lively wit, she describes her triumphs and her disappointments, both public and private, telling her full story as she has lived it—in her own words and on her own terms.
Warm, wise, and revelatory, Becoming is the deeply personal reckoning of a woman of soul and substance who has steadily defied expectations—and whose story inspires us to do the same.
Believe it or not, I’m a fan of memoirs. I’ve read a decent handful in my life though it does not reflect as much here on the blog. As with most things in my literary world, I will rectify that and dig into the vault to bring some reviews of interesting people to meet if you haven’t already. Out of the four books I’m reading/listening to on Audible, half of them are memoirs or biographies of some kind, and right now, all involve American political figures.
If you’ve followed me in this space or over on social media, you know I have a thing for history, American History, and as it goes hand-in-hand, American Politics. Even though it’s rarely if discussed at all, it seems to be no secret that I have and still do admire the work of the Obamas when they were and continue to be our First Family and strong, positive influences in our society.
My time with Michelle was so insightful. Reading her book and feeling her tell her story as any other kid on the South Side of Chicago, getting an education, and evolving her way to becoming one of the most powerful figures in current political culture was amazing to behold. It took me time during some sessions of this story to piece together how a young girl went from living her-day-to-day life seemingly going through the motions. She had goals, to-do lists, hobbies, friends, family, nothing truly insane that set her apart from the rest of her community, and she meets a man through a work connection, whom she describes as a “unicorn”, and transforms into something closely resembling a superhero of sorts.
I loved and admired her ideas, her practicality, her insight, and the little ins-and-outs of the First Family. I swooned over how much her and Barack transitioned from young lawyers sharing a small, run-down apartment and digging their way out of student loan debt, to how Michelle would catch Barack awake at night reading books, or his newspapers and wondering about income inequality.
This book didn’t delve into the deep, endless crevasse that is the American Divide or policy, but it did touch on poignant moments of transformation in our nation and how situations like bipartisanship in Congress, gun violence, the war in Afghanistan, the 2016 election, and more shaped them as a family, Barack as a president, and paved a way for, “where do we go from here”?
Like Michelle, I agree that politics are a dirty, ruthless business, and she had every reason to dislike or turn her back to it, but her husband saw hope and optimism, and by sharing those views with her, she learned about the strengths of her family, of her marriage, of herself, and wound up thinking that serving as First Lady was the greatest reward of her life. For those reasons and more, I thank Michelle, Barack, and their family for sharing their story, giving us a glimpse into their lives at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and showing people how hard work and hope create a truly beautiful life.
