Welcome to Litsy!

“‘What‘s better for us?‘ Barak called to the people gathered in the room. ‘Do we settle for the world as it is, or so we work for the world as it should be?‘”

...

“It was as close as I‘d ever come to understanding what motivated Barack. The world as it should be.”

I listened to this book read by the author, which is definitely the way to read it. Obama posits that we shouldn't ask kids what they want to be when they grow up because it sets the expectation that we reach a point in life where we've "become" rather than the truth that we are constantly "becoming". I really enjoyed the author's voice. The end, mostly about politics and life in the White House, was harder to relate to and feel invested in.

#NamasteNovember
Among some qualities of #womenwithclass are having poise & emotional restraint, authentic, purposeful & driven, and heart-centered. Michele Obama is somewhere at the top of the list, surely.

I heard great things about the former first lady‘s memoir, but it surpassed my expectations. I loved seeing the campaigns and presidential terms through her eyes. She talks candidly about her reservations during the process. I also loved hearing about her time growing up in Chicago‘s South Side & struggling to find a work/life balance as a new mom.

“Everyone on Earth was carrying around an unseen history, and that alone deserved some tolerance.”

“Failure is a feeling long before it becomes an actual result. It‘s vulnerability that breeds with self-doubt and then is escalated, often deliberately, by fear.”

“Now that I‘m an adult, I realize that kids know at a very young age when they‘re being devalued, when adults aren‘t invested enough to help them learn. Their anger over it can manifest itself as unruliness. It‘s hardly their fault. They aren‘t “bad kids.” They‘re just trying to survive bad circumstances.”

Only halfway, but it won't be long before I've finished it.
It's so well written, and can't wait to pass on to friends and family for them to read too 😀

January 19, 2019. This was the day I placed my audio book hold to listen to Michelle Obama talk to me for 20 hours about her life. Waiting 10 months for it was SO WORTH IT! Listening to her made the words come alive and I felt everything she was saying. I learned so much about her, her family and even some fun facts about the White House. She is such a strong woman who really cares about the people and future of this country. #recommend

*image from NY public Library*
I listened to this on audio after many people recommend that medium, and it did not disappoint. Michelle reads the book which is important for me with autobiographies. I did not realize at the time the work she did with the military families. I also appreciate the honesty she gave throughout the book on how some things were just plain hard.
The only critique I have is that the ending felt a bit rushed.

Finally getting to this inspiration.

Words cannot describe how I feel after finishing this. If you‘ve not read this, I highly recommend this book!

I always inform my high schools students about what I‘m reading. Becoming is an excellent book on audio. Love ❤️

This was a really enjoyable and interesting read.

Need I mention just how much I miss her? How much I miss her partner? We were so fortunate, weren‘t we? I‘m so glad she wrote her memoir, allowing us to know in even greater detail the trajectory of her life. She is a woman of beauty, strength, and grace.

I loved the honesty Michelle gives on her experience as First Lady and her development in her life.

It's interesting to read about how she met Obama and how she had (and has) not interest in politics. Her insights and honesty is refreshing.

Only complaint would be she reads very slowly (audiobook). Thank goodness it's possible to speed it up. 1.5x 😂

Listening to my pal (😁) Michelle Obama while setting up my fall decorations. My book shelf appreciates the attention and warm light... Don't worry, they're not real candles 😋🕯️

Hands down the best autobiography I‘ve ever experienced and I‘d highly recommend listening to the audiobook version because it is narrated by Michelle Obama herself and the emotion that comes across from hearing her story through her own voice is really powerful. Straight to number one on my “famous persons dinner” guest list and if I could only be a slice of the woman she is (when I‘m a grown up 😉). Go listen now!

I fell hard in love with Michelle Obama. I had 2 hours left in my audiobook when it was automatically returned to my library. I have waited another 12 weeks so far to hear her read the end. One more week till I can finish this but I‘d recommend this to EVERYONE. Worth the wait!

The people I‘m petsitting for have good taste. I‘m gonna be borrowing this one while I‘m here this weekend! 👌

We accidentally started up an unofficial book club at work. (If you are wondering how you accidentally start a book club. We passed around The Manga version of Marie Kondo‘s Joy of Tidying Up, till we had all read it. )Our second pick - Michelle Obama‘s Becoming. This time we all got our own e-book copy. Trying to read while commuting to work.

Better late than never! Great book. Michelle has a powerful, unique voice. #Becoming #MichelleObama

5⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Its everything I have ever wanted in a memoir. I enjoyed learning about her childhood, her family and even how she met Barack Obama. She gave us so much glimpse into her life and I enjoyed it.

Michelle‘s description of the date that she & her husband had in New York 4 months into the Presidency was lovely. Then she mentioned how the Republicans went into overdrive saying how costly and extravagant it was to the taxpayers. How hypocritical, considering what we know about how the current occupant of that position spends our tax dollars. Not a peep from the Republicans. Golf anyone? Sorry to interject politics here, but I‘m infuriated.

Excellent audiobook narrated by the author! Michelle Obama is a strong, intelligent and hardworking woman. I loved hearing the stories of how she became the woman she is today. ❤️

I already knew that I liked Michelle Obama but this book cemented the reasons why. She is such a strong, intelligent, straightforward, and all around amazing woman! I loved how she didn‘t hold back in giving her opinions and did so in such an eloquent way...there were parts that felt like poetry! I‘m not a huge fan on memoirs in general but did enjoy this one. And it really makes me miss her as our First Lady 🥺! 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Beautiful book to read. We know about the Presidents of America and there thoughts in public sphere. But there are not much on the First Lady of America, what does it feel, especially when you are a lawyer and Feminist. Michelle very nicely crafted how she became what she is now. She also presented us how the public or opposition criticism hampered there lives. Her story is simple but interesting and encouraging at the same time.

I bought this audiobook when it first came out then promptly forgot for some reason. An awesome listen. And makes me so sad at what we have now. #audiobook

Finished out #BFC round 3 with this amazing audiobook! I decided to listen to it instead of reading because her voice is so intoxicating! I loved this book from start to finish . I even shed quite a few tears. Highly recommend!
Finished off #BFC round 3 with a pretty bad week. I didn‘t hit any of my fitness goals. I sort of hit a wall of crazy non stop life about midway through this round. But still feel positive ! #namastepositive

I don‘t normally read celebrity memoirs as it‘s not my genre. I read this with my f2f book group. I did find it interesting and thought Michelle and Barack Obama came over as kind and caring people. The book seems to be written from the heart.

A Memoir + Tea + Commonplace book = ❤️

#michelleobama #becoming #love #reading #bookworm #india #indianreader #newbook #newread

"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.

#michelleobama #becoming #newread #recommendsday #preface

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
#audiobook
#cloudlibrary
#nonfiction2019

Check out my podcast book review. Shelfaddiction.com #nonfiction #audiobook

Happy National Read a Book day to my readers!!

I'm enjoying Michelle Obama's "Becoming" while at work and listening to her warm voice as she talks about how Barack packed up and sold his banana yellow Datsun when he came back to the southside has made my morning.
#nationalreadabookday

A great read on Michelle‘s journey from childhood to her professional career. Her journey is inspiring for minorities, people of color, dreamers, and women.

Aack! Need to finish Becoming by Tuesday night for RL book club and Knife is due back to the library on Wednesday with no renewal option. Question is do I skip son‘s baseball tournament to concentrate on reading?

Every book club I come across has suggested this book. Every house I walk into has it on the shelf. This book needs to be experienced through the audiobook version. Mrs. Obama does an amazing job of describing the balance between being a daughter, a professional, a wife and mother, a human being, and first lady. I gained so much respect for her after listening to this book.

I finally listened to this one, and of course I loved it. I expected to like it, but I thoroughly enjoyed hearing the perspective of a working mom and a black woman who was never excited to be in the public eye, but leveraged her influence for the best.

After listening to this on audiobook I feel like Michelle and I are friends, and of course I can‘t help feeling sad she‘s no longer in the White House.

#readingwomenofcolor2019

“For me, becoming isn‘t about arriving somewhere or achieving a certain aim. I see it instead as forward motion, a means of evolving, a way to reach continuously toward a better self. The journey doesn‘t end.”

Some motivation for #TeamFitLit, all the #BFCr3 gang, and anyone else who needs it!

1. Becoming. I have both the Audible & physical copies but keep putting off reading/listening. I think it will make me too sad. ?

2. Harry Potter books.

3. Almost 2k on Goodreads. ??‍♀️ I try to only focus on the 50 I list as "Top of TBR" lol ?

4. Dang. It was Maid & I gave it 1 star.? I normally love NF.

5. Anyone else who wants to join!

#wonderouswednesday

I just finished listening to The Audacity of Hope by Barack when this hold came in. Perfect follow up. Nearly done and very well written.

#memoir

The last book I read that takes place (party) in Chicago. #letstravelaugust #chicago @OriginalCyn620 @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

What can I say that hasn‘t already been said about this book? I‘m ashamed to admit that I really didn‘t know that much about Michelle prior to reading this. Though she‘s always presented herself as very polished, yet down-to-earth and very personable, I had virtually no knowledge of her background or education. This was very well written and yet easy to read.
And oh ... I so miss the Obamas being in the White House.

An interesting read and at times I found it very educational, I learn about the culture in community. Any flaws it was the fact that was very polished and you could feel someone else input.

I made a list of all 80 of Oprah's book recommendations so far!
https://bookriot.com/2019/08/22/books-recommended-by-oprah

This is one of the books that followed me around this summer. It made my heart swell in so many ways. I loved hearing about her life before Barack and also about their courtship. And her voice is so honest and clear throughout. She pulls no punches at the end when describing how she felt to hand over everything to Trump, but keeps it classy. I just love and miss them 😭😭😭

Since #imagination is a duplicate, and I will be out of town and mostly unplugged this weekend, I‘m jumping ahead a few days to #Chicago and this charming memoir. Thanks to all the Littens who suggested the audiobook version, as it was great company during commutes and road trips. #letstravelaugust

An afternoon on the porch reading new #LitsyLove mail (thanks Jessica!), responding to #LitsyLove mail, and reading Becoming by Michelle Obama.
My first ever #LitsyLove mail will go out tomorrow!! ♡ @Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Lovesbooks87