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A review by lizaroo71
From the Corner of the Oval by Beck Dorey-Stein
3.0
When I first heard of this book, I thought it would be a nice peek into a world we very rarely get a glimpse of as American citizens: the president as he navigates public and private events.
Dorey-Stein paints a picture of the Obama administration that highlights both the exceptional moments and the mundane. Dorey-Stein is one of several stenographers for the Obama White House. This means she must type up all press events, any statement the president makes after a major disaster or event and anything going on record for an interview. She is a fly on the wall.
But the book doesn't always offer the insight I was hoping for because we get a lot of what twenty-eight year old Dorey-Stein spent her down time doing: drinking, dancing and determining whether she should continue to have sex with a man that is clearly using her. That gets a bit boring after a while. I had to remind myself that she is reflecting back on a time that, for many, is the cusp of adulthood and the last chance to be careless with personal choices before you settle in to the responsibilities of a career and love and family.
Dorey-Stein keeps reminding the reader that this is all temporary: her job, Obama's second term, her inability to commit. She started in her job during Obama's second run in the White House which means she really was there at the end of an era. Although her job as stenographer isn't specific to the president, Dorey-Stein doesn't like Trump. She does stay on for a brief time when Trump first gets inaugurated, if only to offer a lasting contrast to the two men in one of the biggest leadership roles in the world.
The ending offers a bit of hope as Dorey-Stein contrasts the Oval Office during Obama's administration and during the current Trump administration. I can visualize that smile on Obama's face as he looks up and answers the question we are all asking: This guy is president? And Obama says, "Yes. So what are you going to do about it?"
Dorey-Stein paints a picture of the Obama administration that highlights both the exceptional moments and the mundane. Dorey-Stein is one of several stenographers for the Obama White House. This means she must type up all press events, any statement the president makes after a major disaster or event and anything going on record for an interview. She is a fly on the wall.
But the book doesn't always offer the insight I was hoping for because we get a lot of what twenty-eight year old Dorey-Stein spent her down time doing: drinking, dancing and determining whether she should continue to have sex with a man that is clearly using her. That gets a bit boring after a while. I had to remind myself that she is reflecting back on a time that, for many, is the cusp of adulthood and the last chance to be careless with personal choices before you settle in to the responsibilities of a career and love and family.
Dorey-Stein keeps reminding the reader that this is all temporary: her job, Obama's second term, her inability to commit. She started in her job during Obama's second run in the White House which means she really was there at the end of an era. Although her job as stenographer isn't specific to the president, Dorey-Stein doesn't like Trump. She does stay on for a brief time when Trump first gets inaugurated, if only to offer a lasting contrast to the two men in one of the biggest leadership roles in the world.
The ending offers a bit of hope as Dorey-Stein contrasts the Oval Office during Obama's administration and during the current Trump administration. I can visualize that smile on Obama's face as he looks up and answers the question we are all asking: This guy is president? And Obama says, "Yes. So what are you going to do about it?"