In Becoming Michelle Obama proves she was much more than just the first lady of America. An inspiration to many girls growing up (and women still becoming) everywhere.

Becoming

In her memoir Becoming, Michelle Obama describes her life from growing up in Chicago to living in the White House as the first family. It’s an intimate look at Michelle’s life. The memoir is separated into three parts; Becoming Michelle, Becoming Obama & Becoming More. Each section of the book uncovering her journey a bit more. Every chapter inspiring the reader again and again.

“Your story is what you have, what you will always have. It is something to own.”

The memoir

From the first chapter on I was blown away by Michelle’s writing. I’ve seen speeches by her and have known that she was this incredibly charismatic woman. But in this book, we see a completely different side of her. More vulnerable, more touchable.

In the first section of the book, Becoming Michelle, she opens the door to her childhood home. She illustrates a warm family home, with her parents and her big brother Craig. Loving but dealing with their economic status and the MS of her father. I felt tears sting in my eyes when she described her father and the disease wrecking his body.

I loved learning about her choice to go to school and to go on to study. She has built herself up from the ground and has been strong-headed enough to find her own way, despite others doubting her.

We then lead into the second part of the book, Becoming Obama. Where we meet Barack Obama, this charming man with big dreams. The big dreams we see come to reality in the third part of the book, Becoming More. In which we see witness the ‘behind the scenes’ of the road to Barack becoming president of the United States.

Becoming is a big book, but Michelle effortlessly narrates you through years of her life. Some parts of her life, her childhood, are more in-depth than others. Which I really enjoyed. The glimpse of the White House life is interesting, but it doesn’t beat the story of this incredible, stubborn and honest woman.

It’s one flowing story; she grabs the reader by the hand and leads her through her memories. And you feel honored to be part of that experience.

Becoming more

We follow Michelle’s story but learn so much about politics in America, the injustice and how she tried to fight it during her time as the First Lady. In her epilogue, after the whole book of looking back on her life, she looks forward. Forward to what America can become and what is needed for that. It once again brought tears to my eyes.

Becoming is a story of one woman, on how she became who she is today and what’s she still striving to be. It’ll inspire many, it certainly has done so for me.

“Now I think it’s one of the most useless questions an adult can ask a child—What do you want to be when you grow up? As if growing up is finite. As if at some point you become something and that’s the end.”

Details

Title: Mijn Verhaal (Becoming)
Author: Michelle Obama
Language: Dutch (original English)
Translator: Rob de Ridder
Publish date: 2018
Publisher: Hollands Diep
Page Number: 479
ISBN13: 9789048840762