Becoming by Michelle Obama (2018)

In my bid to read all Pulitzer novels from the 2000s, I have read some excellent books this year, but Becoming by Michelle Obama has become my favorite.

Mrs. Obama's book brought me to tears, made me laugh out loud, let me see myself in her, and brought me the same singing hope I had during the Obamas' presidency.

When I was six and seven years old, I made my way through a volumed set of bound books that described the childhoods of our founding fathers and mothers. It stirred a sense of patriotism and love for our government that led me to the Girl Scouts and, eventually, the law.

For me,  Michelle Obama's story nudged this same internal touchstone and then meshed other well-loved genres:  a Horatio Alger coming-of-age novel, the secret, sweet stir of a romance and the tense, ambitious political thriller, all written in the pop-culture language of a the smartest and savviest mommy blogger.

Articulate and with great craftsmanship, the story is well plotted and well paced. Told in chronological order, we watch a young girl become a professional woman and see the world through her extraordinary perspective.

To learn that her perspective is not so far from mine was heartening and gratifying. Both of us raised in middle class, minority families that knew that education was the code that led to equality, she, too, had a father that died too young from multiple sclerosis. She, too, would become a lawyer who would often be the only woman and the only minority in the room. She, too, would struggle with the balance of a law career and living a normal life.

Then I watched her fall in love, marry and then stand by the man that would lead our country for eight years. It was enlightening to see Barack Obama, our country and our world's leaders through her gaze.

It was a privilege to read her book and I would advocate everyone, but especially all women, to read this extraordinary book.

• Listening Length: 19 hours and 3 minutes
• Program Type: Audiobook
• Version: Unabridged
• Publisher: Random House Audio
• Audible.com Release Date: November 13, 2018
• Language: English, English
• ASIN: B07B3JQZCL