After reading Metropolis, I wanted to find a book about New York City in the 1900s, preferably one with lots of photos. I wandered over to the American History section of the library, but I didn't get very far in my search. My eyes fell on this book, and ... in the excitement leading up to the inauguration ... I decided to get to know my new President a little better.
Synopsis: During the course of the campaign, we got glimpses of Barack Obama the politician; this book gives us an idea of who he is as a man. We all know about his origins ... a mother from Kansas, a father from Kenya, raised in Hawaii and Indonesia, grandparents who played a major role in raising him. But how did this background affect his childhood and the man he would become? We learn about his search for an identity, for his place in the world. We follow him through his struggle to create change in the lives of the people of Chicago's South Side. And finally, we travel with him to Kenya as he comes full-circle to discover his family and his father's homeland.
My Thoughts: I started this book shortly before the inauguration; reading it provided me an additional feeling of connetion to the United States during this monumental event. I feel like I understand President Obama better as an individual, and of course my respect for him has only grown. The greatest feeling I had, though, was that of travelling back in time and getting to know Obama in his early years. As he struggled through challenges and setbacks, I wanted to shout into the book, "Keep going! Hang in there! I know how the story turns out ... and you're going to make it ... big!"
rating: *****
read: January 2009
source: English Language Library in Angers (borrowed)
read: January 2009
source: English Language Library in Angers (borrowed)
