Becoming by Michelle Obama

Amy   

memoir

I loved this memoir. Michelle Obama’s tale in Becoming is compelling, genuine, and relatable. Her skills of observation, analysis, and description are superb.  She was insightful, thoughtful, and reminiscent. (Wow, that’s a lot of adjectives but it’s all true!)

She is a contemporary of mine—she is only a few years older—and I really enjoyed the memories of my own childhood and my own motherhood that were jogged by reading her memories from those same time periods even though our lives were very different.  Her parents’ philosophies about raising children were inspirational. They encouraged individuality, self-destination, and hard work. Her family was not materially wealthy but they were rich in family love and support. Her effort to find her own balance juggling work and family is also so eloquently explained and familiar to me personally.  Her honest feelings about not wanting to share her husband with the world as he was thinking about running for President, were heartfelt and understandable.  And, I enjoyed her perspective about how much life in the White House is so different from daily life for most families. Of course, I already had an idea of how difficult it would be to live any aspect of a “normal” life as the First Family.  But, she really drove it home as she is only one of a few people who can. 

Reading all about the political campaigns from her perspective were eye-opening. I’ve often thought it would be rough running for office and it definitely is—especially with a family for whom you want stability. I lost a little interest during her detail about her personal initiatives even though I admire all of them. Of course, they were important to her in her role as First Lady and I don’t blame her for devoting significant detail and explanation about them. Other than the few sections that got more political and less personal, her story drew me in.  Her ideas and impressions were fascinating to me.  Her influence has made a difference to the very women, children, and future to which she devoted her energies. She has made her mark and I appreciate her so much. I loved learning about her very interesting and unique life!

Michelle was her own narrator of the audiobook which was amazing!  I love hearing any author narrate their own book but memoirs are even more poignant when read by the author because the reader can truly hear their emotions and personality through their own voice.  Her voice is clear and genuine and I give her a very resounding A+ as a narrator.