so-soIt is a good book--and with some of the detritus cleared and perhaps a bit more interest in the trajectory of narrative, it could have been great. Certainly it was enough that I'll be curious to read what comes next from Cunningham, and I hope there is a “next“! #TOB2025
pickI took my time with this one because it's almost 800 pages long. I appreciated the inside look at what it's like to be President and how frustrating it must have been to be thwarted at every turn. Also, I really miss this level of sanity, intelligence and introspection. #nokings
pickThis is not a book by a politician hoping to woo the public. I think that's why I couldn't put it down. Written long before his presidential candidacy began Obama explores his identity & childhood here. White grandparents from Kansas, a father from Nigeria, an upbringing in Hawaii & Indonesia, & his 1st trip to Africa is all included. It's less polished & more powerful because of that. There's a palpable struggle to find his footing in this world.
so-soA coming-of-age story about a Black man who works on Barack Obama's campaign (though Obama is not actually named). The novel had some interesting moments but didn't seem especially exciting or insightful to me.
#ToB25
#52bookclub25 (Cover font is in a primary color)
I think this is going to be a DNF for me. Library loan is due and I just don‘t care enough to race through it. Not the book‘s fault, but I can‘t really get into the world of a fictional Obama staffer right now… 🤷♀️ #ToB25
panWritten as a memoir. I thought it was very pretentious. It was a good thing I read this on my kindle because there were several times I had to figure out a word. I used to think I had an extensive vocabulary.
There were moments I read with great interest, as when he talked about his childhood. But, even those stories would be interrupted by another tangent.
I knew this book was not for me when the word "miracle" invoked Judy Garland's singing.
so-soI am not as mad about this as other Litsy members seem to be. I thought this was fine. I liked that the Senator was not named. This was not his story. I prefer this - a side character story vs books that take a still alive famous person & novelize their story
The writing is good, I liked the pacing. Overall though it is a book that didn't make an impact on me and I will probably forget I read it by end of the year. I would read the author again.
