Jaclyn Day (jaclynday) - The United States (888 books)

Jaclyn Day is now friends with Katrina

Jaclyn Day is currently reading:

Bringing Up Bebe: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting
by Pamela Druckerman

My rating:

Jaclyn Day is currently reading:

The Girlfriends' Guide to Surviving the First Year of Motherhood by Vicki Iovine

The Girlfriends' Guide to Surviving the First Year of Motherhood: Wise and Witty Advice on Everything from Coping with Postpartum Mood Swings to Salva
by Vicki Iovine

My rating:

Jaclyn Day gave

to:

The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy
by Vicki Iovine

My rating:

Jaclyn Day is currently reading:

Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime
by John Heilemann

My rating:

Jaclyn Day gave

to:

The Fault in Our Stars
by John Green

My rating:

This book is as good as you’ve probably heard it is. It’s the story of two young teens with cancer, and while that may sound a little depressing or even a little Walk To Remember, I assure you—it’s not. The literary equivalent of Juno (+ cancer), thi...more

Jaclyn Day gave

to:

The Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvey Karp

The Happiest Baby on the Block: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer
by Harvey Karp

My rating:

Jaclyn Day gave

to:

The Obamas
by Jodi Kantor

My rating:

I admit that I’m struggling to write this review. I’ll nit-pick in a moment, but for now I’ll simply say that this book was like the ultimate Dessert Book. It was voyeuristic and fun—the book equivalent of picking up US Weekly or InTouch. There was m...moreI admit that I’m struggling to write this review. I’ll nit-pick in a moment, but for now I’ll simply say that this book was like the ultimate Dessert Book. It was voyeuristic and fun—the book equivalent of picking up US Weekly or InTouch. There was mention of how Michelle Obama’s wardrobe has played into public perception, there was a section on their disastrous New York City date night, there were little political asides and well-written summaries of the President’s challenges and victories over the past several years. It’s such a far-reaching book that you assume it will be completely vapid and underdeveloped or confusing chronologically. It’s neither. Perhaps the worst you can say about it is that it’s entertaining—and to some, that might be a negative thing.

As someone who voted for Obama in 2008, I have to agree with other reviews I’ve read in that the most irritating thing about reading this book was how often Obama’s missteps are laid out. The book is not overly long, and the problems that he’s encountered throughout his first term seem to come back to back to back. Among a sea of challenges (some of which were overcome, others not so much), there are occasional wins for the Obama team, but you come away with a general sense that the administration was initially overwhelmed and disorganized and that set the President’s agenda back too far to fully recover.

Another interesting thing: I became really curious to read this book after seeing the White House’s swiftly negative reaction to the publication of The Obamas and a recent Politico article seemed to align with my suspicions. Why did they condemn the book so strongly? I think it touched a nerve, especially with Michelle Obama and her public relations team. Her portrayal in the book is actually quite a positive one, but there has been a concerted effort on the part of the administration to make her seem less opinionated and more passive since the inauguration and this book moves to defeat some of that image “repair.” (Personally, I prefer an outspoken, opinionated First Lady, but I guess the majority of the country doesn’t feel the same way.) She is shown to be just as opinionated in the book—the only exception to this being that she reserves her remarks for private settings within the administration instead of speaking to reporters or to crowds about them.

Anyway, if you’re looking for something entertaining to read or you are intrigued by this President and the First Lady (who isn’t?), I recommend giving this book a go.(less)

Jaclyn Day gave

to:

Secrets of the Baby Whisperer by Tracy Hogg

Secrets of the Baby Whisperer: How to Calm, Connect, and Communicate with Your Baby
by Tracy Hogg

My rating:

Jaclyn Day marked as to-read:

Real Food: What to Eat and Why
by Nina Planck

My rating:

Jaclyn Day's Profile

Jaclyn's favorite books

Jaclyn's Bookshelves

Jaclyn is Currently Reading

rss
Jaclyn's Recent Updates

Jaclyn's Friends (101)

Jaclyn Day is now friends with Katrina
13 hours, 57 min ago
Jaclyn Day is currently reading: Bringing Up Bebe: One American Mother Discovers the Wisdom of French Parenting by Pamela Druckerman	My rating:
13 hours, 58 min ago
Jaclyn Day is currently reading: The Girlfriends' Guide to Surviving the First Year of Motherhood: Wise and Witty Advice on Everything from Coping with Postpartum Mood Swings to Salva by Vicki Iovine	My rating:
Feb 21, 2012 12:28pm
Jaclyn Day gave to: The Girlfriend's Guide to Pregnancy by Vicki Iovine	My rating:
Feb 21, 2012 12:28pm
Jaclyn Day is currently reading: Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime by John Heilemann	My rating:
Feb 21, 2012 12:28pm
Jaclyn Day gave to: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green	My rating:
This book is as good as you’ve probably heard it is. It’s the story of two young teens with cancer, and while that may sound a little depressing or even a little Walk To Remember, I assure you—it’s not. The literary equivalent of Juno (+ cancer), thi...more
Feb 20, 2012 12:47pm · see review
Jaclyn Day gave to: The Happiest Baby on the Block: The New Way to Calm Crying and Help Your Newborn Baby Sleep Longer by Harvey Karp	My rating:
Feb 15, 2012 10:48am
Jaclyn Day gave to: The Obamas by Jodi Kantor	My rating:
I admit that I’m struggling to write this review. I’ll nit-pick in a moment, but for now I’ll simply say that this book was like the ultimate Dessert Book. It was voyeuristic and fun—the book equivalent of picking up US Weekly or InTouch. There was m...more
Feb 15, 2012 10:48am · see review
Jaclyn Day gave to: Secrets of the Baby Whisperer: How to Calm, Connect, and Communicate with Your Baby by Tracy Hogg	My rating:
Feb 04, 2012 09:35am
Jaclyn Day marked as to-read: Real Food: What to Eat and Why by Nina Planck	My rating:
Feb 02, 2012 09:31am

Jaclyn Day's Profile

Jaclyn's favorite books

Jaclyn's Bookshelves

Jaclyn is Currently Reading

rssJaclyn's Recent Updates

Jaclyn's Friends (101)

rss
Jaclyn's Recent Updates