Book Review: Becoming, by Michelle Obama

Since DH has done most of the driving on our road trip, I've had some extra time to read.  A friend lent me Michelle Obama's new memoir, Becoming, and, as the miles went by on one interstate after another, I finally had the chance to finish it.

Mrs. Obama divides the book into three parts: “Becoming Me,” “Becoming Us” and “Becoming More.” 

In “Becoming Me,”  Michelle Obama recounts her experiences growing up in a small apartment on the south side of Chicago alongside her mother, father and brother, Craig. She remembers her father's strong work ethic in spite of multiple sclerosis and the time her mother spent teaching her to read. She recalls the times she sat with her Aunt Robbie and labored over piano lessons (Boy, could I identify with that!). At school, even in kindergarten, she notes that she "just wanted to achieve". She shares her mother's advice about bullies: "Just remember that they're just scared people hiding inside scary people". That advice served her well long after she left childhood behind.

Due to her hard work, and her parents' support and high expectations, Michelle was accepted at Princeton, where she was a minority student for the first time, learning to navigate in a white world. She then went to Harvard to study law, followed by her first job, where she met her future husband, Barack Obama.

Michelle at Princeton

In "Becoming Us" and "Becoming More", Mrs Obama opens up about her marriage and children, including her experiences with in vitro fertilization.  She shares stories of  her time on the campaign trail and insights into her transition to life in the White House. 

The theme woven through Michelle's story is how a few key people in a life can support a young girl and elevate her, so that she, in turn, can elevate others. It is with this in mind that she developed her priorities in her years as First Lady.

I enjoyed Becoming. Probably because I admire Michelle Obama. The book was written in a conversational style and the story drew me in. It read almost like a novel and, even though I knew what was going to happen next, I couldn't wait to read about it in Michelle Obama's own words.

My sense is that if you liked the Obama's, you'll like this book.  If you did not, you probably won't.

OK, I admit it: I included this next photo for two not-very-literary reasons:

                             1. I LOVE the dress, and,

                             2. Who wouldn't love a man to look at them that way?

Both as a teenager and later as First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama asks the question many women and girls ask themselves, "Am I good enough?" 

She insists that the correct answer is, "Yes I am."

This post is linked to:

Happiness Is Homemade Link Party 262 at Bluesky at Home 

Sundays at Home at Little Farmstea

Over the Moon Link Party at Eclectic Red Barn

Wonderful Wednesday at The Eclectic Red Barn

Keep In Touch #60 at Let's Add Sprinkels