Let's open the final discussion for Dreams from My Father. I found this final section to be very interesting, and I'm curious to see what others thought of it, too.
Also, if you have any feedback on the way we discussed this first book, please comment about that, too. Was the pace too fast, too slow? Should I have put up more thought questions in the discussion post?
Next book up is The Wee Free Men. Angela will be "hosting" this one. Thanks!!
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9 comments:
I found that I enjoyed the first section and the final section of this book the most. The middle section really felt mired down for me. Also, there were times when Obama got so descriptive about every detail that it made the reading a little laborious. Those few critiques aside, I really enjoyed this book. I loved seeing his family roots in Kenya. It made me appreciate his father so much more, but especially Obama himself so much more for what he's been able to accomplish in his life despite the odds being so much against him. It's quite a remarkable story to me, and I enjoyed learning a little more about our current president.
I agree with you that the middle section in Chicago was a bit frustrating to get through. Kenya got more down to the roots of who he is, while Chicago explored his view of the world and how naive he was to try to change it the way he did. I actually felt a little disappointed by the mess his family was in in Kenya, not willing to work and only squabbling among themselves for the scraps of an inheritance that never existed. So much bitterness and jealousy, I suppose it struck me as hard as it did because it's such a contrast with my own family.
This last part was one of my favorites. It had some depressing parts too (recurring theme here?), but was very interesting. I enjoyed learning more about Kenya's history, colonization, and it's current struggles. It actually makes me really sad that it all got thrown out the window during the colonial period, and now everyone seems kind of lost. The traditions and family/societal structure that worked well for them before is gone and can never be reclaimed. Plus, there's even preferrence among the Kenyans to foreigners, since they are the ones that seem to have the money.
I'm done!! I liked this last section the best. I wish the middle section had been shorter. I think it would have tightened up the narrative a lot.
I don't know much about Kenya so I liked learning about another culture. One of the things that is missing from the book in general, but particularly this section, is pictures. I think that it would have added a great deal. I wonder how his Kenyan family feels about his current success. I'm sure they must be very proud.
I agree that pictures would have been so nice. Maybe in his (auto)biography someday? I seem to remember that during the night of the elections, they showed people in Kenya watching the results. I didn't stay up late enough to see their reactions when he won, but I imagine it was a big celebration.
Pictures would have really added to the narrative, as he described people and places that so few Americans have ever seen, comparatively. Everyone talks about trips to Europe, I've known several who have been to South America, even just for vacations, and many business people travel to Asia of late, but unless you go for aid work of some kind, not too many people that I've met talk about going to Africa. Maybe this is mostly my own personal experience though.
It frustrates me lately that people complain that our president is making a bigger mess than we already had, and so many of them seem to forget that it took more than eight years to get this all started and into where it's at, and expect him to just snap his fingers and have it all cleaned up. He, at least, based on all the experiences we've read about, hopefully understands that sorting out all the problems will take time, and from what I've seen of his determination, he won't be giving up any time soon. I wish him luck in a job that I for one don't envy having right now, and I'm sure he'll do the best he can to make things better for us all.
I completely agree with Debra's comment - the middle section could have been shorter. That said, it was enlightening to get an insight into the dogged determination that Obama has in whatever he is doing. Going along with Angela's comments - I wish him the best in his presidency, too. I don't share all the same views on things, and I've become very frustrated with the financial issues that keep cropping up (AIG!!!!!), but I feel like our president really wants to do what's right for our country. He may not go about it the way everyone wants him to, but it does give me comfort that from reading this memoir by him, that he really is a good human being to the core. At least, that's how I feel.
I'm finally done! Overall I thought it was interesting, thought-provoking, and a great insight into our president. I agree too that the middle section was dragging a bit. What I enjoyed most about this last section was gaining a greater understanding of Kenya's history and the history of Africa & western/European colonialism. I hadn't ever studied much about this or the effects of it, and it really helped shed light on the current situation, for me anyway. It was also fascinating to meet the characters and family members in Africa. I found myself wondering often where they are now, how much they stay in touch, and what they think of Obama now. I think they must be proud, but I also wonder if they feel somewhat betrayed? And if perhaps they feel like he owes them a lot? It would be fascinating to see how they have reacted to his successes.
This book also gave me a greater respect and appreciation for our president. And like Angela said, makes me more patient for these problems to go away because he knows it's going to take a while and has the patience and perserverence needed. The financial situation totally stinks (or sinks?), but it makes me wonder how tied his hands are in a lot of these issues. The impression I get of Washington is that it's nearly impossible to get anything of worth accomplished. I don't understand why anyone would want to get into politics in the first, and on a grander scale be president. I have faith in President Obama. I agree that he seems like a truly good guy. I wonder how much pressure he feels being the first black president. All eyes are on him for that and not just being the president.
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