Book notes | beautifully written memoir wins praise
Michelle Obama’s memoir, Becoming, is a chronicle of the life experiences that shaped who she has become.
Her memoir begins with reflections on her childhood growing up on the South Side of Chicago. She did not grow up in affluence as many previous first ladies did. Her family lived in a one-bedroom apartment upstairs from her aunt. She describes her childhood as wholesome and talks about how hard her parents worked to support her and her brother. This work ethic became a part of who she is.
She was a successful high school student, but still had to face down doubts of others when her high school counselor told her, “I’m not sure that you’re Princeton material.” She refused to allow this comment to lower her sights. She attended Princeton and for the first time had to adjust to being in a predominantly white and male community.
She pursued a career as a lawyer successfully but left that profession to focus on public service. Her first job after leaving her law firm was as an assistant to Chicago’s Mayor Daley, working with Valerie Jarrett (who later became a top adviser to President Obama). This was the first of several positions that fulfilled Michelle Obama’s need to give back to her community.
It was through her work as a lawyer that she met her husband, Barack Obama. She shares their love story and their struggles in balancing their career goals. She is open about her quest to become a mother and about the challenges of balancing work and parenting
The book group universally praised the book. The memoir was seen as beautifully written and personal. Words to describe Becoming included: honest, inspiring, amazing writing, from the heart.
Group members identified their favorite parts of the book. For some, it was Michelle’s growing-up years on Chicago’s South Side and her descriptions of her parents. Others enjoyed learning about how Michelle met Barack. Some readers identified with the book from their own experiences living in Chicago. The book was seen as being able to inspire readers of a wide range of ages.
—Kathleen Cramer, Book Club member
Book Club to discuss "Becoming"
Fri, Sep 20 2019, 2pm
Members of the UMRA Book Club will meet at 2 p.m. on Friday, September 20, in the 1666 Coffman Building to discuss First Lady Michelle Obama’s memoir, Becoming. Contact Pat Tollefson at [email protected] for more information.
Visit the UMRA website to read a review of the club’s refreshing summer read, A Diary of a Bookseller.
Upcoming Events
Stephanie Daily will lead the discussion of Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law by best-selling author Mary Roach when the UMRA Book Club meets via Zoom at 2 p.m. on Friday, May 17.
The May 20 hike will start at the Historic Lift Bridge in Stillwater and go along the river to the new bridge, cross over and then back on the Wisconsin side, a total of approximately 5 miles. Most of the route is paved. We will eat lunch after at Brian's Bar and Grill in Stillwater. Car pooling will be available.
Climatologist and meteorologist Mark Seeley joined the U of M faculty in 1978 and has been a weekly commentator on Minnesota Public Radio since 1992. We are honored to welcome him as our guest speaker for UMRA’s May Luncheon Forum and 2024 Annual Meeting. He is always entertaining and informative.
UMRA’s Fourth Friday Book Club welcomes back, for the second time, author Julie Schumacher, U of M Regents professor of creative writing and English, for a conversation about her novel The Shakespeare Requirement.
We are in for a treat on June 3! Lynn Anderson, will lead us on trails at two parks near her Monticello home. Bring a bag lunch and we will gather in Lynn's yard along the Mississippi River for eating and socializing after the hike.
Get out to the ballpark with fellow UMRA members for the annual U of M Day at Target Field as the Minnesota Twins take on the Oakland Athletics on June 14 at 7:10 p.m.
Please join us at 9:30 on June 17, 2024 for a walk around Lake Como in St. Paul before attending the UMRA Summer Social and Picnic starting at 11 at the Como Pavilion. A perfect opportunity to get in a walk before we gather to celebrate summer.
Picnic under the covered, open-air Como pavilion, gaze at the water, spy some birds, catch up with friends and former colleagues, and meet new members. We’ll have lunch with plenty of time for visiting and then compete in teams as we are challenged by our Quiz master(s)!
Healthy aging, mindfulness, fighting ageism, and more will be the focus of the third annual Age-Friendly University Day to be held on the U of M Twin Cities campus.