I don’t read biographies or autobiographies that often. Quite simply, I love the drama of fiction and feel that the real life wont feed my craving for drama satisfactorily.
However, those autobiographies I have managed to finish, can give any fiction novel a run for its money.
Becoming is one of them.
What drove me to read this book? well, out of all the American presidents and first families, Barack Obama and his family are by far my favorite. I truly felt that Barack and Michelle Obama carried themselves with an ease that is rarely seen in people who are world famous. Also, this book came highly recommended. It seems like, fans of all genres have read Becoming and have loved it.
I of course chose the audio book as it had been narrated by the author herself. And I should point out, this is the best audio narration of a book I have come across so far. May be because the author was narrating the story of her own life. There were moments in the audio book where I could hear the emotion in Michelle’s voice, be it the cracking of her voice when she narrated her father’s demise or the passion with which she conveyed her feelings about the rising gun violence.
You know, I often hesitate in picking up books based on real life as I feel, what special could they have to offer? However, Michelle Obama’s life is truly unique and one of a kind in the entire world at present. I mean, I agree, each individual has a world of experience that makes their journey unique and interesting. But here is the story of a highly educated female belonging to a minority (that’s not so common), a first lady of USA (very few of them are living) and the first American first lady of colour (only one).
Regardless of the fact that the book is about her life as the wife of a President, Michelle manages to make it sound like you are listening to a neighbor narrating a very interesting experience she had over a cup of tea or coffee.
Over all, if this book hasn’t already been recommended to you by every book lover you know, I highly recommend it. I’m sure if you have been keeping up with the happenings around the world over the past decade, you have read about the Obama’s. this book just gives you the inside story. We all saw when Barack Obama addressed the nation after being elected for President, now just read what was going on behind the bullet proof glass.
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