"Becoming" by Michelle Obama

 What a fascinating book!
 What fascinating people!
 So unlike anyone that I have ever known, but the writing is so great, I feel that I got right into the heads of 'the Obamas'.
  There are so many fabulous quotes.  I will include a few of my favourites.


   Michelle grew up in Chicago with her parents and brother, Craig. 
In elementary school, Craig paved the way.
Quote:
"Craig, in his ambling and smiley way, had conveniently broken every trail for me...He'd created sunshine that I could then just step into".
   But she went to a different secondary school and had to find her own way.
Quote:
"At school I was quietly collecting bits of data, trying to sort out my place inside the teenage intelligentsia".
 And then she went to Princeton.
Quote: 
"It was jarring and uncomfortable, at least at first, like being dropped into a strange new terrarium, a habitat that hadn't been built for me".

   Well, you know how it goes- she became a lawyer, and met Barack.
  And what was her reaction?
Quote:
"He was white and black, African and American.  He was modest and lived modestly, yet knew the richness of his own mind and the world of privilege that would open up to him as a result....He could be light-hearted and jokey, but he never strayed far from a larger sense of obligation.  He was on some sort of quest, though he didn't yet know where it would lead."
   His theme was: "Do we settle for the world as it is, or do we work for the world as it should be?"  
  Quote:
"He read late into the night...plowing through history and biographies and Toni Morrison, too.  He read several newspapers daily, cover to cover.  He kept tabs on the latest book reviews, the American League standings, and what the south side aldermen were up to.  He could speak with equal passion about the Polish elections and which movies Roger Ebert had panned and why."
    Who wouldn't fall in love with this fascinating man?  
   Well, we know where his life did lead, but not without many heart-rending discussions between Michelle and Barack.  Michelle did not like the political scene and knew the toll it would take on the family.  But, she eventually realized that Barack never solely belonged to her and the girls.  Oh, my!

   What a great opportunity to understand this amazing couple-  many struggles: marital counselling, miscarriage, differing perspectives on life, different life paths.  But, wow, did they ever work it out!  Good for them!