Becoming

Let me start off by saying I don't follow American politics. I live on the other side of the world for starters and I'm not a Barack Obama supporter, Donald Trump supporter nor a fan of Hillary Clinton.

However, after watching an interesting documentary about Michelle Obama which coincided with the release of her book Becoming, I really wanted to read it.

The book is split into three parts - before she met Barack Obama, when she met Barack and then life in the White House as the First Lady. The book only dwells on politics in small doses. It's more about Michelle Obama's own story growing up in Chicago, her relationship with her parents and older brother, some of the losses she experienced as a young woman, studying at Harvard, becoming a lawyer and meeting Barack. The book covers her life as wife to Barack and mother to their two children Malia and Sasha before combining that with being the First Lady.

The book delves into her thoughts and feelings dealing with the pros and cons of being married to the president, how she viewed life in the White House, the intense security, the programs she got involved in and her own emotions dealing with tragedies such as the Sandy Hook Elementary School mass shooting and other shootings, visiting seriously injured soldiers, meeting Nelson Mandela and spending time with the Queen.  

One part of this book which stood out to me was when Michelle Obama visited a wounded soldier at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and was greeted by the following message on the door of his room.

"ATTENTION TO ALL THOSE WHO ENTER HERE:

If you are coming into this room with sorrow or to feel sorry for my wounds, go elsewhere. The wounds I received, I got in a job I love, doing it for people I love, supporting the freedom of a country I deeply love. I am incredibly tough and will make a full recovery.''

The book is long but it kept me interested to the end - an ending in which Michelle Obama reveals her own plans for life after the White House.

Highly recommended reading!