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A review by chrissie_whitley
Becoming by Michelle Obama
5.0
I know, I know. I'm late to the party. I couldn't help it; I had to wait. And then I really had to wait.
When this book was first announced and then released, I asked for it for Christmas in its hardcover edition — which I received. But I could not bring myself to crack open that spine. It was too soon for me. It was all too hard and I knew it was going to make me too sad, too emotional...too many too's. And then everyone else was reading it and loving it, but still I knew I needed to wait. There was too much ugliness coming from that very place to which I knew Michelle Obama would eventually lead the reader. Then came the roaring reviews about the audiobook, and I rightly guessed that was the very way I both wanted and needed to absorb this memoir — as I do with so many biographies and other nonfiction books. But then I was met with the glaring hold list at my library. I am sure the number of holds was part Michelle Obama, but a portion of that probably must be chalked up to the pandemic which had rolled in and settled itself solidly among us by the time I decided that I too wanted to listen to the former First Lady read her own book.
I do not remember what number I was in line, but I put my name in and thought that at least this will give me an extra cushion of time to ready myself for the listen. And so I waited some more. For six months this book said hello to me whenever I visited my digital library page, until finally...after I'd gotten myself so used to waiting...she was ready for me.
This book is poignant and heartfelt, solidly expressing Obama's thoughts, fears, and doubts, but never leaving off her confidence, strength, and, perhaps most of all, relatability. From her upbringing through the last days of her husband's presidency, Obama relays touching moments that brings her humanity to the page. Her childhood through her early adulthood was a surprisingly engaging time, as I knew little of it, but she communicates it well — the pacing is solid and the memories she chose and the placing in which she opted to share them has really been edited brilliantly. This is a thoughtful book, from beginning to end, reflecting well of the woman who is its subject.
Incidentally, once we arrived at the moment of her husband's first inauguration as president in 2008 to the moment Obama relayed how she was feeling at a very different inauguration in 2016, my eyes would randomly (and sometimes not so randomly) well up with tears. (I openly cried with the part about the Sandy Hook shooting, because my younger son was a first grader that same year and it was simply devastating.) This was the part I'd dreaded in the first place...this was the part I'd missed so much in real life, with stalwart stewards leading us with dignity and class, because this was the part that was shared with my memories, too.
But with Michelle Obama's confident yet soothing voice leading the way, I followed her through to the end of her book, thankful she wrote it, thankful she felt she could. And I am glad I already owned the hardcover, because it has a small section in the center of full-color pictures. Also, I am glad I listened to the audio version — I think it helped get me through the moments that were harder for me and also allowed the more joyful memories to ring with the happiness directly from her own voice.
When this book was first announced and then released, I asked for it for Christmas in its hardcover edition — which I received. But I could not bring myself to crack open that spine. It was too soon for me. It was all too hard and I knew it was going to make me too sad, too emotional...too many too's. And then everyone else was reading it and loving it, but still I knew I needed to wait. There was too much ugliness coming from that very place to which I knew Michelle Obama would eventually lead the reader. Then came the roaring reviews about the audiobook, and I rightly guessed that was the very way I both wanted and needed to absorb this memoir — as I do with so many biographies and other nonfiction books. But then I was met with the glaring hold list at my library. I am sure the number of holds was part Michelle Obama, but a portion of that probably must be chalked up to the pandemic which had rolled in and settled itself solidly among us by the time I decided that I too wanted to listen to the former First Lady read her own book.
I do not remember what number I was in line, but I put my name in and thought that at least this will give me an extra cushion of time to ready myself for the listen. And so I waited some more. For six months this book said hello to me whenever I visited my digital library page, until finally...after I'd gotten myself so used to waiting...she was ready for me.
This book is poignant and heartfelt, solidly expressing Obama's thoughts, fears, and doubts, but never leaving off her confidence, strength, and, perhaps most of all, relatability. From her upbringing through the last days of her husband's presidency, Obama relays touching moments that brings her humanity to the page. Her childhood through her early adulthood was a surprisingly engaging time, as I knew little of it, but she communicates it well — the pacing is solid and the memories she chose and the placing in which she opted to share them has really been edited brilliantly. This is a thoughtful book, from beginning to end, reflecting well of the woman who is its subject.
Incidentally, once we arrived at the moment of her husband's first inauguration as president in 2008 to the moment Obama relayed how she was feeling at a very different inauguration in 2016, my eyes would randomly (and sometimes not so randomly) well up with tears. (I openly cried with the part about the Sandy Hook shooting, because my younger son was a first grader that same year and it was simply devastating.) This was the part I'd dreaded in the first place...this was the part I'd missed so much in real life, with stalwart stewards leading us with dignity and class, because this was the part that was shared with my memories, too.
But with Michelle Obama's confident yet soothing voice leading the way, I followed her through to the end of her book, thankful she wrote it, thankful she felt she could. And I am glad I already owned the hardcover, because it has a small section in the center of full-color pictures. Also, I am glad I listened to the audio version — I think it helped get me through the moments that were harder for me and also allowed the more joyful memories to ring with the happiness directly from her own voice.