Reviews tagging 'Chronic illness'

Becoming by Michelle Obama

26 reviews

rlgreen91's review

hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

How do I even begin to describe this book? I mean, it's practically indescribable, the feeling I got while reading this. Has a book ever left you full? That reading it filled some space within in you that you didn't even know you had, or even know you wanted filled? That's probably the best way to describe reading this book for me. I didn't even know this was something I had been looking for in a book but I'll be damned if I'm not better off for finding it.

Attempts at description aside, I also want to note that this is a well-edited book. You can tell that someone took the time to work with the author to make the writing clear and concise without loosing her voice. I honestly have an urge to buy copies of this book and ship it to different organizations with a note that says "See, this is why you need to hire editors."

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Chronic illness

Minor: Death of parent

leonormsousa's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

TRIGGER WARNINGS 

racism, sexism, death, death of a parent, child death, mass/school shootings, police brutality, gun violence, hate crime, chronic illness, cancer, miscarriage, grief 

REVIEW 

Michelle Obama is the GOAT and that is a fact. So obviously her memoir had been on my wishlist since… well, since I knew it existed. It was recommended to me by a multitude of people who give great recommendations and I feel kind of stupid that I didn’t get around to reading it sooner (although I do think that I read it at the perfect time of my life so I might have been consciously stupid but unconsciously smart :p). 

First of all, Michelle (yes, I will call her by her first name because in my mind we’re friends <3) has a hell of a life story so it’s hard not to feel grasped by it. We follow her from childhood to the end of Obama’s presidency, while she grows up through hardness but also happiness and lots of love. 

The book is very well written, including historical contextualization as we move through time, something that is especially relevant for someone who is not super familiar with US history/geography (like me). I read the book in audiobook (which I think is definitely a plus) and so it felt like she was right in front of me, just telling me her story, with emotion showing every once in a while and her strength always present. 

There is a part of the book in particular where Michelle shares her struggles with finding a purpose. After accomplishing everything she had planned (becoming a good layer with a good job), she feels like maybe being a layer is not what she wants. At 27 she shifts her career and once again finds her path but before that, she goes through a period of insecurity and confusion. This in itself is already something interesting to read about but the thing is: I was/am going through something similar in my own life. So you can imagine how reading how the GOAT dealt with and overcame this was so important to me. 

There is also some romance in this memoir and it’s so cute that you almost forget you’re not reading fiction. But it’s also very real and I love how Michelle is not afraid to expose how their relationship wasn’t perfect but it was something they both worked for. It makes me believe that maybe real love does still exist. 

The only little thing I can point at this book is that there are some parts that are a bit repetitive, namely when she’s talking about her work as a first lady. It’s nothing too much and it really is such a small thing compared to the greatness of the book but I always like to give some constructive criticism :p (like she’s actually gonna read this :p) 

Last but definitely not least, this is a book written by a Black woman so expect (great) notes on feminism and racism marking every step of Michelle’s life. It’s of course, one of the best parts of this memoir, especially because it is non-fiction so it can’t get more real than this… 

No decent conclusion: just go read this! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Death of parent, Grief, Cancer, Gun violence, Child death, Death, Miscarriage, Hate crime, Chronic illness, Mass/school shootings, Racism, Sexism, and Police brutality

ivana's review

hopeful inspiring medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Blood, Child death, Chronic illness, Gun violence, Cancer, Death, Mass/school shootings, War, Death of parent, and Racism

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

angstyevie's review

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

crystalmethany's review

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

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

zeenatpatel01's review

emotional hopeful informative inspiring slow-paced

5.0

I am a reader and I always have been. However, I decided that this would officially be my first audiobook. Mrs Obama's voice was soothing and stern. This book was raw, real and worth every minute of the 19 hours and 3 minutes it took for me to finish it

I never rush memoirs and believe in taking my time. And wow!!I have a new favourite. 10 out of 10

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent and Chronic illness

Moderate: Mass/school shootings, Police brutality, and Racism

Minor: Miscarriage