Michelle Obama, First Lady of Hope - Elizabeth Lightfoot

I have just finished reading this book and am a little non-plussed. I appreciate the fact that I have read it and am now more aware of one of the key figures in the make-up of tomorrows experience but it was not a book I could get excited about. Lightfoots collation of resources impressed me. As a social research and creative writing graduate, I was delighted to read such a strong and balanced depiction of Michelle Obama. Negative publicity thrown up during the campaign was explained sensitively and with understanding. The structure allowed a person to dip in and out of sections of the biography while still gaining a rounded picture. It is not a hard hitting, contrived and complicated book and as such, this book is an accessible read, a nice reiteration of the point that anyone can do anything if they set their minds to it. To answer my questions, I do now have far more understanding of the new residents of the White House. The general feel of the book left me hopeful for the new America because I am aware that what happens in the States will have a knock on effect over here in the United Kingdom. It has not thrown up a plethora of questions but merely one or two pertaining to whether this hopeful energy can carry on through to congress and will there finally be change? I am aware that these are not questions brought about by the reading of the book as such, but more as a result of the campaign however these are subjects referred to repeatedly throughout the text whilst leaving the reader with no doubt that they must be patient because only time will tell. I am grateful for the experience of reading “Michelle Obama, First Lady of Hope”, I was pro-Obama before reading the text and it has re-affirmed what I already knew. I do feel that this would be a wonderful text for those with any doubts about the motivations behind the new president and his family. It would also be beneficial to younger students as an example of ambition. The tone and the echoes of “hope” that permeate the text are truly infectious. Although the book does not contain any personal interviews between Lightfoot and Obama, it has been thoroughly researched. Through the use of personal comparisons, Lightfoot has managed to create an accessible and humanised portrayal of a very powerful woman and role model for future generations.

Diary of an Exercise Addict - Peach Friedman

Wow, I read this book in two days, around quite a busy schedule. It drew me in, made me laugh, made me cry and made me think.
Exercise Bulimia is a touchy subject, and in my opinion, is often overlooked or misdiagnosed.
Friedman provides a refreshingly honest explanation of her descent into the illness that consequently left me feeling lucky and strong. Her life experiences were nothing out of the ordinary for a young woman other than she had a mother who was so conscious of her body. However, I feel that this is a rising phenomena in todays society with image becoming increasingly important.
After reading “The Diary of an Exercise Addict” I knew that I had learned something valuable. Eating disorders are very secretive illnesses and to see them humanised makes the mindset more understandable whilst remaining undesirable. I found that by the end of the book most of my questions had been answered, such as, how she really felt when she realised her position? Did she feel responsible for the state of her family? Although I do wonder how a person without her resources would be able to cope and survive. However, this is a book about one persons experience, she cannot be held responsible for her history and has kindly laid it bare for us to peruse.
The book has made me consider my own attitudes towards exercise, I am aware that when I trained in the gym I had a tendency towards the fanatical, I used it to express my anger and frustrations and when you see the results it makes it feel worthwhile, a personal triumph but what “Diary of an Exercise Addict” made me realise is that there is a fine line between healthy change and obsession and it is essential to maintain that balance.
The way the book has been written made it easier to piece together the timeline which, when considering the enormity of the subject matter is essential for the inexperienced to understand. The structure and chapter divisions answer the question that is rarely asked in the honest way - How does this happen? Not the whys and wherefores about it and not the physicality of the illness (this is answered by the content) but how long it took. It is important to remember that each case is different but as an example, the structure explains it magnificently.
Finally I need to consider why I read it? And the answer is simple, I found it interesting. It was not gory, it did not romanticise the illness, it was a factual explanation of a personal journey and I was compelled to travel alongside.
I would recommend this book mainly to women, anyone who has looked in the mirror, felt disgusted and thought “now is the time for that diet”. But I also feel it would be appropriate for those who deny having ever felt like that, (If they really exist) because it would serve them well to understand how extreme insecurities can manifest.
Workaholics would also benefit from this book simply because the ultimate line is about maintaining that life balance. It may sound like an obscure group of people and they are most certainly the people who would not have time to read this blog let alone read a book for fun but, there is a value to this book one that reminds the reader that inner strength is paramount.
www.diaryofanexerciseaddict.com

Reasons to Review

I (Lizzy Maden) have been asked by my good friends at GPP international if I would consider writing some book reviews for them. After some serious thought I decided that it sounded perfect. I suggested that rather than only writing an objective, distanced review that people are unable to engage with, I should write a blog, “my journey through reading”. I will be posting straightforward reviews on Amazon of the books but if you want to know more about my experience of reading the book then this is the place to be.
I plan to examine how my experience of this book has moved my knowledge of the subject forward and whether this in turn has created new and inspiring or just plain awkward questions?
How has the book fed into my life?
Am I different for having experienced the text?
Have I understood the aim and goals of the text and feel satisfied that the structure has upheld the content?
Who do I feel would get the most out of the book?
Why have I read it? This is not just because I have been asked to, as reading is a very personal thing, there are some books that I am simply unable to connect with and therefore cannot read, I suspect this may happen during my reviews but if it does, I will explain why, if it happens.
I know some of these questions sound a little subjective but I simply mean that I want to feel that the books I read make a difference and enhance my life, even a joke book can provide a change, enrich life and alter perceptions to a certain degree.