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A review by rachelmariereads
From the Corner of the Oval by Beck Dorey-Stein
5.0
This is the best book I’ve read so far this year. I loved everything about it. The blend of politics, workplace drama, and soul-searching that Dorey-Stein brings to this book is unmatched. And her writing is absolutely phenomenal. Funny, real, heartbreaking, this book had me hooked from the beginning and I enjoyed every minute of it.
We follow Beck Dorey-Stein throughout her tenure as a stenographer at the White House. Not particularly passionate about politics, Dorey-Stein practically falls into her job. But being a part of the Obama Administration inspired a reverence for the Presidency and it comes through on the page. I loved how this was paced and how Dorey-Stein took the time to talk about all of the major political issues that Obama faced during his second term. Despite living through it, I honestly forgot just how much happened in that four-year span. It was so interesting to see behind the scenes of what was happening in the White House.
In addition to the politics, Dorey-Stein also talks about her life as a staffer. Traveling all over the world, keeping crazy hours, navigating the hierarchy, befriending other staffers… maybe even falling for them. All of her friends were portrayed so well, I loved how she included the little moments with them between all the larger parts of the story. This was so real. Dorey-Stein makes mistakes and she doesn’t sugar-coat them. You see the highs and lows of working in the White House, and feel them viscerally. You watch her try to find her passion amidst the madness. But her writing was so beautiful, it made me laugh and cry and I could feel everything that she felt.
If you like political memoirs, workplace drama, and heartfelt storytelling, I really can’t recommend this enough. I loved the way Beck Dorey-Stein painted the picture of her time in the White House. Despite the insanity of her life during those years, this felt so authentic and relatable. Her writing is incredible, and I really can’t wait to see how it translates to her fiction novel Rock the Boat, which comes out in June!
We follow Beck Dorey-Stein throughout her tenure as a stenographer at the White House. Not particularly passionate about politics, Dorey-Stein practically falls into her job. But being a part of the Obama Administration inspired a reverence for the Presidency and it comes through on the page. I loved how this was paced and how Dorey-Stein took the time to talk about all of the major political issues that Obama faced during his second term. Despite living through it, I honestly forgot just how much happened in that four-year span. It was so interesting to see behind the scenes of what was happening in the White House.
In addition to the politics, Dorey-Stein also talks about her life as a staffer. Traveling all over the world, keeping crazy hours, navigating the hierarchy, befriending other staffers… maybe even falling for them. All of her friends were portrayed so well, I loved how she included the little moments with them between all the larger parts of the story. This was so real. Dorey-Stein makes mistakes and she doesn’t sugar-coat them. You see the highs and lows of working in the White House, and feel them viscerally. You watch her try to find her passion amidst the madness. But her writing was so beautiful, it made me laugh and cry and I could feel everything that she felt.
If you like political memoirs, workplace drama, and heartfelt storytelling, I really can’t recommend this enough. I loved the way Beck Dorey-Stein painted the picture of her time in the White House. Despite the insanity of her life during those years, this felt so authentic and relatable. Her writing is incredible, and I really can’t wait to see how it translates to her fiction novel Rock the Boat, which comes out in June!