Reviews tagging 'Gun violence'

Becoming by Michelle Obama

73 reviews

paperportals's review

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

Becoming by Michelle Obama is my first proper audiobook. The experience of "reading" an audiobook was engaging on its own, making me believe that audiobooks might need to be the golden standard for reading memoirs. There's something about Michelle's voice (at 1.6 speed), relaying to me her journey towards the White House and out of it, that was gripping as much as it was rousing. I didn't expect it, but there were specific moments (such as her childhood, her foray into young adulthood, the inevitable shrouding of death as time passed) that made my eyes water and taught me a thing or two about the gross violence of aging, parenting I might want to one day emulate, the "advantage of an advocate", and what it might mean to be a competent, intelligent, articulate person who cares. 

What an excellent first audiobook. There were some fleeting moments of meandering, where I would tune out, but that fact that her storytelling would make me audibly gasp, or stop washing the dishes to listen more intently, was a new experience for me entirely. Whoever edited Becoming deserves a raise and a tip of the hat. I approached this book not knowing much (or caring, really) about the Obama family, and now on the other side of Michelle's book, I can only really hope that our politicians in the Philippines would have but the same dedication, commitment, and desire to achieve the common good for the Filipino.

I highly recommend this book. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence and Police brutality

Moderate: Death of parent and Miscarriage

thewordsdevourer's review against another edition

hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

3.25

this book offers a rare glimpse into the former first lady's life before and during her tenure in the white house. i particularly enjoyed reading abt michelle's journey towards finding her own purpose-driven work, and her juggle of work and family life which im sure resonate w/ countless women. the minute ways inequality dis-levels the playing field were revealing, while her hope and integrity were at times inspiring as well.

however, the pacing's a bit off for me: the book was quite slow going in the beginning, then simply blasted thru her time in the white house--8 yrs of jam packed life--in simply a couple chapters. i wish there were more, at least a lil more details and events described. surprisingly, becoming also didnt elicit much emotions from me, thus the seemingly-unpopular-opinion of 3ish stars.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism and Racism

Moderate: Death of parent, Death, Terminal illness, and Chronic illness

Minor: Classism, Gun violence, and Cancer

quejk25's review against another edition

hopeful informative inspiring slow-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Mass/school shootings, and Chronic illness

Moderate: Racism, Child death, and Gun violence

Minor: Miscarriage and Police brutality

mirajuliee's review against another edition

hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death, Gun violence, Violence, Mass/school shootings, and Racism

Minor: Child death, Death of parent, Death, Hate crime, Grief, and Cancer

angstyevie's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Minor: Cancer, Car accident, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infertility, Mass/school shootings, Misogyny, Murder, and Racism

laverlately's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Mass/school shootings, and Chronic illness

Moderate: Racism, Gun violence, and Child death

Minor: Grief and Police brutality

rbacon's review against another edition

challenging informative reflective slow-paced

As you get into the third part of the book, the sequence of events seems to get looser and chapter placements become somewhat arbitrary, which I think made it slow in parts to get through. The beginning of the book and particularly Michelle Obama's upbringing is really interesting and a great reminder that anyone could make a difference with perseverance and the right opportunities. Raises some interesting questions too.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Grief, Mass/school shootings, Sexism, Racism, Hate crime, Gun violence, and Death of parent

qi_'s review against another edition

hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.5

 i don't think i need to add to the immense praise that this book has already received, and i mean rightfully so. i feel weirdly empowered so i can imagine how impactful this would be to people who are able to have their experiences directly reflected through Michelle.

anyway, i didn't expect to get fully trolled by a somewhat political memoir -

the opening to chapter 22 when she details a 'bad dream' she had where they were invited to a petting zoo with sedated big cats in their backyard and then the cheetah attacked her daughter but they accidentally shot the tranquillizer into her arm instead of the cheetah. i fully believed that until i reached the end of the passage revealing it was a dream. and i was like 'how did i not know this happened?' and reading aloud parts to my brother like 'can you believe this?'

well-played Michelle..

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence and Death of parent

crystalmethany's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness

Moderate: Racism, Death of parent, Death, Miscarriage, and Child death

Minor: Gun violence

lucy12345's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Chronic illness, Death of parent, Gun violence, and Mass/school shootings

Moderate: Misogyny, Racism, and Child death

Minor: Miscarriage and Grief