Goodreads Doesn't Have It, Data Migration: Becoming by Michelle Obama
This is an excellent book. It was interesting to hear about her childhood and her experience as a lawyer. Truly was engrossed in this book, I will say that, and finished it pretty much in one sitting. Hearing about her pianist family and also that her father worked at a water plant helped me understand a lot of the grace and logistical competence she possesses that seems really tailored and impressive. It was sad to hear about the unequal briefings when they were in the White House given she was literally his senior at the firm and he learned from her. It was also disturbing to see how much of a machine the democratic party runs and that it isn't grassroots at all. Actually really disturbing, but I appreciate her mentioning it. The shots taken at Les Miserables were not okay though. It's not a great film but that book and the French Revolution is largely why we have the equality we do to this day. Mainly France funded us and also some Germany, but the German aid was light and not much to write home about. I also think it was weird to be someone's senior partner and then you start dating. I think it is correct to keep work separate from dating altogether and abide by that to prevent power imbalances affecting these things, but sometimes one is literally forced into such a position, and I don't like that Michelle put herself on the other side of that. But it seemed consensual and like both had control, so even though I'm not powerfully enthused by that happening, Obama is a good end result if such an event must happen. There was also a weird minimization of kids hitting each other, which is not ok. In the end, I really like that she pushed gardening and working in and eating from the garden in the White House. I know writing about all this makes her very vulnerable and her views and positions have real consequences but that's the cost of vulnerability and I respect that. It's better to be real so we can work with what is real.