"Michelle Mania" is the headline on the Books section of Entertainment Weekly magazine's November 30 issue. A review of the former First Lady's memoir by David Canfield begins and ends with adoration:
Becoming reads like a glass bottle of decency, preserved from a nationwide garbage fire. A sincere book from a major public figure, it stands in stark contrast to the state of our discourse -- starting with the man currently in the White House....
The author directly condemns Donald Trump, but her broader intention is to remind her country of what is being lost -- and of what once guided the Obama presidency: A glimmer of the world as it could be." May decency reign again.
The main article on Michelle's book tour is written by Seija Rankin who begins early by comparing Mrs. Obama to Beyonce, and then notes "the crowd is amped" as "queen bees Oprah Winfrey and Michelle Obama are about to make their grand entrance."
The starry tete-a-tete took place Nov. 13 at Chicago's United Center, which usually hosts rock stars.
Only, this rock concert is actually a book tour. While Becoming Live -- a 12-city-show promoting the publication of Obama's memoir, Becoming -- bills itself as a series of intimate conversations, one could be forgiven for a little confusion. The similarities start at the price tag. Ticket prices ranged from $29.50 to the thousands, with the highest-priced seating including a VIP meet-and-greet...just like Beyonce.
Then there's the branding. Fans lucky enough to score a seat will encounter a step-and-repeat, inviting them to take selfies with life-size renderings of Obama. Then they'll find merch tables selling, yes, books, but also concert tees. A shirt with her famous "When they go low, we go high" quote was especially popular.
As usual, no one questions Mrs. Obama selling thousand-dollar-plus tickets and loading up more cash at "merch tables." She can call the current president "crazy" and "mean-spirited" in this book, but she never "goes low." Instead, we get superfans who says she is literally "everything."
2 Dope Queens [podcast host] Phoebe Robinson, who will host the Philadelphia and Detroit shows, recalls the moment she got the call. "I was freaking out, overjoyed and honored," says the comedian. "Michelle is an example of grace, finding your truth, being a citizen of the world when it comes to her philanthropy, a warrior for women. She's not perfect, but she's everything."
