When Michelle Robinson, a Harvard educated woman from the Southside of Chicago meets Barack Obama, a driven man raised in both Hawaii and Indonesia, she realizes that she wants more than a 9 to 5 corporate life. Suddenly, Michelle finds herself pushing for more, and taking a risk by leaving the corporate job that she once dreamed of not long ago. Will Michelle live with regret, or will she be proud of the risk she took? Find out for yourself in the former First Lady’s book, Becoming. Throughout the novel, Obama touches on the hardships she faced in becoming a wife to a busy politician. I appreciated how she shared this information because it shows people that the road her family went down was not easy. Although the toll it took on her family in the beginning steps was something Obama had to adjust to, I enjoy the way that she uses it as an example to show that even the most difficult things are capable of being overcome. In the middle of the book, Obama shares pictures dating from her childhood to the presidential elections of 2008. I loved the fact that she included pictures because it gave life to the words on the page. I really enjoyed this section because I have never seen personal pictures inserted in a novel before, and I love it because I think it makes the novel more special. One of my favorite parts of the novel was the part where Obama touched on the “angry black woman” stereotype in America. I think that connotation holds many black women back because they are afraid of being judged in a negative light. So, I really liked that Obama shared that people still used these negative stereotypes against her, even as First Lady, because it shows black women that no matter how powerful you are, you are not immune from negativity, so you should not hold yourself back because of fear. Although I do not think this was a major issue, the book was a bit slow in pace. It is not a surprise, because the novel is from childhood to adulthood. I did find myself growing inpatient waiting for Obama to transition between the life phases. So, if you are one to grow impatient quickly, then this book may not be for you. All in all, I really enjoyed this book. I would 100% recommend this to someone who has an interest in the behind the scenes of the presidency. This novel really gives you a great idea about how families transition into the White House. From the way schools are chosen for the kids to the way the First Lady chooses her initiative to focus on. Obama does a great job covering it all.
Throughout the novel, Obama touches on the hardships she faced in becoming a wife to a busy politician. I appreciated how she shared this information because it shows people that the road her family went down was not easy. Although the toll it took on her family in the beginning steps was something Obama had to adjust to, I enjoy the way that she uses it as an example to show that even the most difficult things are capable of being overcome.
In the middle of the book, Obama shares pictures dating from her childhood to the presidential elections of 2008. I loved the fact that she included pictures because it gave life to the words on the page. I really enjoyed this section because I have never seen personal pictures inserted in a novel before, and I love it because I think it makes the novel more special.
One of my favorite parts of the novel was the part where Obama touched on the “angry black woman” stereotype in America. I think that connotation holds many black women back because they are afraid of being judged in a negative light. So, I really liked that Obama shared that people still used these negative stereotypes against her, even as First Lady, because it shows black women that no matter how powerful you are, you are not immune from negativity, so you should not hold yourself back because of fear.
Although I do not think this was a major issue, the book was a bit slow in pace. It is not a surprise, because the novel is from childhood to adulthood. I did find myself growing inpatient waiting for Obama to transition between the life phases. So, if you are one to grow impatient quickly, then this book may not be for you.
All in all, I really enjoyed this book. I would 100% recommend this to someone who has an interest in the behind the scenes of the presidency. This novel really gives you a great idea about how families transition into the White House. From the way schools are chosen for the kids to the way the First Lady chooses her initiative to focus on. Obama does a great job covering it all.