Welcome to Maeg’s View Book Review!
I’ve never actually been in a book club so bare with me! I’m just a lover of books and wanted to share my thought and am curious to hear your thoughts! I’ll be answering a couple of questions about the book which I hope that encourages you to go out and read it then come back to answer the same questions in the comments! Lets get started with our very first book Becoming by Michelle Obama.

“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.”

What was your favourite part of the book?
I would have to say in general getting to see how a First Lady’s life is as we don’t really hear about that in everyday news when it comes to a presidential family.

Did you race to the end, or was it more of a slow burn?
I did start to read this book awhile back when I first got it but for some reason, I just couldn’t get into it. On my second attempt at reading it, I raced to the end to finish it.

Did this book make you want to explore the subject matter more?
I would say yes. I personally don’t like politics and I think I related with Michelle because she doesn’t like them either. However, reading about an African American growing up with not much and making it all the way to being First Lady is an amazing story. She has overcome a lot and has a lot to say about helping others that came from the same place as she did. She did so much as a First Lady and that doesn’t really get talked about; I wonder what other First Ladies have accomplished.

Of all the information presented in the book, what has stayed with you the most?
The one part that blew my mind was when Michelle was talking about the Presidents Motorcade. Everyone knows the whole family gets Secret Service agents and bulletproof cars and such but learning what one man gets, everywhere he goes is absolutely insane. In the start she talks about how everything was insane and uncomfortable especially the men just following them around but you get use to it and they became friends with them. Its refreshing to hear someone who is in that position to be uncomfortable just like the rest of the world would be.

What did you learn from hearing this persons story?
I learned that the world has a lot of work to do when it comes to racism, sexism and in general just being a better place. When Michelle talks to her guidance counsellor, she was straight up told she wasn’t Princeton material just because of her skin colour even though she had the grades. Or when people judged her during her speeches saying she was an angry black lady even though she was a passionate woman. It sickening that all of these are still a problem in the world even though it’s now 2021!

Are there any people in the book whose perspective you wanted?
Well yes, the obvious one is Barack Obama, which we all get to read now that his book is out but I would like to hear the kids perspective. They were kind of thrown into this world and grew up at a time where they would remember all the details of living in the White House.

That was a first good start! Now if you have read the book, answer the same questions in the comments or add any other questions you want me/others to answer! Lets start a conversation!

Thank you for reading,

Maeg.