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becoming

Michelle Obama's book win highlights a bigger issue in literature

Her memoir is rising up the charts.

MICHELLE OBAMA’S MEMOIR ‘Becoming’ is making history.

The former First Lady-turned-author’s book has topped the Christmas book charts, beating out stiff competition from the likes of David Walliams and Joe Wicks.

It makes her the first black woman to ever top the Christmas literature charts, and the first woman in 10 years since J.K. Rowling’s ‘The Tale of Beedle Bard’ in 2008.

‘Becoming’ shifted 91,882 copies between 9 and 15 December, and is now one of the fastest-selling memoirs ever, according to Nielsen.

Walliams, who wrote ‘The Ice Monster’, was gracious in defeat, tweeting:

Congratulations @MichelleObama for beating my book ‘The Ice Monster’ to the UK Christmas #1 spot with your brilliant memoir ‘Becoming’.
You are rightfully sitting at the very top of the tree like the shining light you are.”

In Ireland, Michelle Obama boasts the third best-selling book for the week ending on 8 December. However, she is the only person of colour on the list, which remains the significant factor.

Literature should be a space for black authors to tell their stories authentically and receive equal acknowledgment including those who can’t count themselves as privileged as Michelle.

If you don’t know where to start, that’s fine. Knowledge is power, after all. Luckily, The Root have put together a handy list of books by black authors that were released this year. Use it as a guide for your New Year’s resolution – to read more black authors.

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