Reviews tagging 'Violence'

Becoming by Michelle Obama

15 reviews

zydecovivo's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

4.5

I was a bit too young to understand politics when Barack Obama became president. I also did not know much about Michelle Obama, besides the fact that her healthy food campaign had severely impacted our school lunch options (yes, we were all outraged when cookies were no longer available for purchase). Becoming tells her story, starting from the very beginning, to just after President Obama’s tenure in the White House ended. It’s a glimpse into Michelle’s past, as well as a look at the impact of political campaigns on a family at multiple levels. I can’t help but admire Michelle and her family. The only section that did not have me riveted was the listing of accomplishments and initiatives by both the White House and Michelle herself. I appreciated the stories where she expanded on why she chose certain initiatives and who they impacted, but there was a good 30 minutes to an hour (I read the audiobook version) that read like a list. But the overall writing and story were moving and made me long for the time before politics was so hateful and loyalty only given to one's own party. 

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mattyvreads's review

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hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

A profound and indefatigably hopeful piece of literature. Michelle Obama is a consummate storyteller. 

She interweaves each memory and insight with purpose in order to reveal a larger message of resilience, hope, kindness, love, and empowerment. 

This is a wonderful read.

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merrynthomas's review against another edition

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hopeful informative inspiring reflective relaxing medium-paced

4.5


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kdailyreads's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

5.0


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marlee_grace's review against another edition

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challenging informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0

Really enjoyed this! Was great to hear about Michelle and Barack's stories before being in the public eye, the struggles they endured and the changes they made :)

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grace33's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective slow-paced

4.75


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nebraskanwriter's review against another edition

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challenging emotional informative reflective medium-paced

3.5

“I’m an ordinary person who found herself on an extraordinary journey.” 

Though I am not super into politics, I found this memoir interesting, heartbreaking and enlightening. Michelle tackles the monumentous task of encompassing her entire life as well as her husband’s presidency into this book. She begins by talking about growing up in Chicago, going to law school, becoming an attorney, how her and Barack met. 

She talks about how her and Barack were always passionate about helping others and making things better for people. Which then over time led Barack to go into politics which then eventually catapulted him into the role of becoming President of the United States.

Throughout it all, from moving into the White House to traveling over to England to meet the Queen, Michelle’s focus was always on her children and making sure they could live the best life possible.

I feel like that is my biggest take away from this book. No matter what party you align yourself with, at the end of the day, Michelle was a mother and a wife. She and her husband did what they thought was best for America for their girls’ future. Whether that was successful or not is of your opinion but the love Michelle feels toward her husband and her children was evident and beautifully written. Trying to grapple with any little bit of sense of normalcy with the secret service never letting you leave their sight, aids leaving a thick binder every night for you to review and be briefed on the next day, going to funerals of gun violence victims. The weight of what any world leader goes through is immense, at times soul crushing like with the Sandy Hook shooting. But then there were also moments of happiness and success. 

Being president and a president’s wife is not a glamorous job. Everyone projects their problems onto you. These people believed so passionately in making a difference in the world that they gave up 8 years of normalcy, of privacy, of having a simple life, to make America a better place. Or at least they tried to. And I find that admirable. 

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andreamatallin's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0


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redroseses's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

5.0


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mirajuliee's review

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hopeful informative inspiring reflective slow-paced

5.0


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