How well written in the review of 'Becoming'?

The article, Becoming by Michelle Obama review, is not well written for its purpose, because it does not provide a clear opinion on the book, it is not informative on the book, and it does not provide clear comparisons to similar works. However, it does a good job at keeping a serious tone throughout, and it includes quotes from the book and from experts. Hirsch makes the topic of the article clear from the very first sentence: “Before I tell you how much I love Michelle Obama, let me tell you what I have against her.” (Hirsch, Becoming by Michelle Obama Review – race, marriage and the ugly side of politics) This quotation communicates Hirsch’s intent to give her opinion on Michelle Obama, as opposed to her opinion on the book being reviewed. True to her word, she goes on to give her judgement on Michelle Obama’s role in politics. However, she does give an insight into the book by providing a few quotations. “In Becoming – the first book that tells her story from her own perspective – she reveals that her life is a form of alchemy.” (Hirsch, Becoming by Michelle Obama Review – race, marriage and the ugly side of politics) While this does inform us on the content of the book, it is still focusing on her life, and is not followed by any opinion of the book. She does not reveal to readers whether the book is good, nor whether it is worth reading. Hirsch does mention a few other books, however she does not provide any comparisons between these books and Becoming. “​​Incidentally it is O’Reilly’s book that Obama will undoubtedly knock off the top of the bestseller list with Becoming” (Hirsch, Becoming by Michelle Obama Review – race, marriage and the ugly side of politics) This is one example of where she mentions another book, without linking it to the content of Becoming.

This article is quite well written for the audience. It would be appreciated by politically and socially aware individuals: specifically those that support Michelle Obama’s views, Feminism, and antiracism. From the title alone, it is clear that the review will be about politics and that the target audience is those with an interest in politics. Within the first paragraph, Hirsch states that “For feminists, or anyone frankly with a 21st-century grasp of gender equality, it is a highly troublesome concept.” (Hirsch, Becoming by Michelle Obama Review – race, marriage and the ugly side of politics) This quotation clearly establishes the perspective of the review, as well as one of the main topics covered, thus further establishing the target target audience. Hirsch describes the idea of the “American dream” as “problematic from a black perspective” (Hirsch, Becoming by Michelle Obama Review – race, marriage and the ugly side of politics). She supports this with a quotation from Malcolm X, in which he says, ‘I don’t see any American dream. I see an American nightmare.’” (Hirsch, Becoming by Michelle Obama Review – race, marriage and the ugly side of politics) The target audience would likely appreciate this expert opinion, as it uses the opinion of a respected figure in antiracist history. They would also appreciate the way she frames the topic in the context of race.

Works Cited

Hirsch, Afua. “Becoming by Michelle Obama review – race, marriage and the ugly side of

politics.” The Guardian, 14 November 2018,

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2018/nov/14/michelle-obama-becoming-review-

undoubtedly-political-book. Accessed 1 May 2023.