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readwithval's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
mollywetta's review against another edition
I mean this was fun, and I am totally the target audience, but even I was embarrassed for the author in a lot of ways, which oddly seemed like it was the point? I would have thought there would be more politics, too. The only issue the author really seems to care about is gun control. And she references her own writing so much, rather than just letting it speak for itself. But the hot mess is so endearing I easily overlooked the train wreck element. I think this would have been more successful as fiction in the vein of Devil Wears Prada, rather than sold as memoir.
caitgriff's review against another edition
1.0
I’ve enjoyed different takes on staffers’ time at the Obama White House, but that didn’t fully seem like what this was. The story centered on the author’s dysfunctional and toxic relationships. Maybe you can commend her on her honesty, but she honestly comes across as the antagonist of her own story, repeatedly cheating on her boyfriend, breaking the trust of her friends, etc. She seems thoughtless in how her actions affect others.
It’s also annoying how frequently she takes the opportunity to boast about how great of a writer and a runner she is. It goes beyond serving the narrative and into the territory of “look at how much these important people praise me!”
Would not recommend to anyone looking for anything actually centering around a White House experience as plot, and not just as a backdrop.
It’s also annoying how frequently she takes the opportunity to boast about how great of a writer and a runner she is. It goes beyond serving the narrative and into the territory of “look at how much these important people praise me!”
Would not recommend to anyone looking for anything actually centering around a White House experience as plot, and not just as a backdrop.
laurrecommends's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.5
aspittel's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. Brought me back to my campaign-staffer days of chasing candidates across the country. Plus the mystery of who the characters were in real life.
bethreadsandnaps's review against another edition
3.5
3.5 stars
I thought this would be a memoir about the Obama administration and working in the White House. I suppose it is, but most of the memoir is about her boyfriend drama, including an affair the author has with a senior White House staffer nicknamed "Jason." This certainly wouldn't pass the Bechdel test because she can't go more than a few paragraphs without talking about a guy. It seems like her whole self-worth is hung up in what man she's attached to. She's obsessed with Jason through most of the memoir.
This is what makes me disappointed in memoirs written by people in their 30s. It feels like they would have approached the project differently had they waited longer to write their memoir.
I thought this would be a memoir about the Obama administration and working in the White House. I suppose it is, but most of the memoir is about her boyfriend drama, including an affair the author has with a senior White House staffer nicknamed "Jason." This certainly wouldn't pass the Bechdel test because she can't go more than a few paragraphs without talking about a guy. It seems like her whole self-worth is hung up in what man she's attached to. She's obsessed with Jason through most of the memoir.
This is what makes me disappointed in memoirs written by people in their 30s. It feels like they would have approached the project differently had they waited longer to write their memoir.
samstillreading's review
5.0
It’s weird (because I’m Australian) but I’m very interested in Barack Obama’s time in the White House. Recently we’ve been blessed with a number of books about his administration and From the Corner of the Oval Office is one of them. Don’t be fooled by the bright pink cover. This is a warts and all look at working for the White House – the travel, the boredom, the work and the friendships that are made. Some may criticise this book for being too much about the author and not enough about the politics but for me the balance is perfect. If you’ve ever wondered what working for the White House is like and the baggage that goes with it, this is the book for you.
Beck is living in Washington DC with her boyfriend but can’t get full time work. She hates DC as everyone is about networking and politics. Out of desperation, she answers a job advertisement in Craigslist but blows off the interview for training at Lululemon. Fortunately, the interviewer asks her to come back and comes clean – this is for a job as a stenographer at the White House. The rest is history and Beck finds herself as one of the official stenographers for the White House. She’s there to record and transcribe every interview, every speech. At first it’s just in town, but as she gains confidence and experience, it’s time to get on Air Force One with the President (or as Beck refers to him, POTUS). Yes, it’s glamourous. But there are downsides – constant travel, odd hours and a boyfriend that then moves away from DC for the campaign trail. There is transcription of POTUS’ responses to multiple mass shootings. There’s being sick in foreign places and missing family events. Then there’s the drinking and the feeling like an outsider until a secret liaison becomes an affair.
If you’re looking for pure politics, this is not the right book. If you’re looking for the story of a young woman who works at the White House and is trying to balance work and relationships sometimes not successfully, this is for you. I loved this book. Beck Dorey-Stein has the ability to structure and write non-fiction with a plot, themes and coherence that’s like fiction. This is my kind of non-fiction, something I haven’t seen since Rebecca Skloot’s The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Beck can just make the whole story flow and the reader page turn quickly to find out what’s next happening in her life. Her life isn’t perfect and she screws up. But she’s honest about it and doesn’t edit out her mistakes. It’s refreshing and reassuring to know even someone working for the most important government in the world can drink too much, not get enough sleep and still manage to get noticed by Barack Obama on the treadmill.
I will be incredibly eager to read whatever Beck Dorey-Stein chooses to write next. She writes powerfully (the ending of the book, knowing what is coming, brought a tear to my eye) and without fear.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
Beck is living in Washington DC with her boyfriend but can’t get full time work. She hates DC as everyone is about networking and politics. Out of desperation, she answers a job advertisement in Craigslist but blows off the interview for training at Lululemon. Fortunately, the interviewer asks her to come back and comes clean – this is for a job as a stenographer at the White House. The rest is history and Beck finds herself as one of the official stenographers for the White House. She’s there to record and transcribe every interview, every speech. At first it’s just in town, but as she gains confidence and experience, it’s time to get on Air Force One with the President (or as Beck refers to him, POTUS). Yes, it’s glamourous. But there are downsides – constant travel, odd hours and a boyfriend that then moves away from DC for the campaign trail. There is transcription of POTUS’ responses to multiple mass shootings. There’s being sick in foreign places and missing family events. Then there’s the drinking and the feeling like an outsider until a secret liaison becomes an affair.
If you’re looking for pure politics, this is not the right book. If you’re looking for the story of a young woman who works at the White House and is trying to balance work and relationships sometimes not successfully, this is for you. I loved this book. Beck Dorey-Stein has the ability to structure and write non-fiction with a plot, themes and coherence that’s like fiction. This is my kind of non-fiction, something I haven’t seen since Rebecca Skloot’s The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. Beck can just make the whole story flow and the reader page turn quickly to find out what’s next happening in her life. Her life isn’t perfect and she screws up. But she’s honest about it and doesn’t edit out her mistakes. It’s refreshing and reassuring to know even someone working for the most important government in the world can drink too much, not get enough sleep and still manage to get noticed by Barack Obama on the treadmill.
I will be incredibly eager to read whatever Beck Dorey-Stein chooses to write next. She writes powerfully (the ending of the book, knowing what is coming, brought a tear to my eye) and without fear.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com