As I began to read this book, my first thoughts were of two other autobiographies I have read in the last ten years. One was Queen Noor (the American-born journalist who became the Queen of Jordan in 1978 – 1999) and Sophia Loren. All had sons (though the Queen had two daughters as well). All were women who were very beautiful, international sensations, and went through tough issues as women: controversies, struggles, yet rose to fame and fortune nonetheless. None of them were tactless enough to make their book about gossip, though the Queen did have a lot to say about her son not becoming King (he wasn’t in line, as was culturally acceptable). All had strong opinions but were very grounded and kind and loving.

I also thought of Jackie Kennedy, while reading Melania’s book. I wondered what she would have thought about Melania as a First Lady. Both loved fashion and were very elegant women. Both took great pains to adhere to history when re-decorating the White House and taking their roles seriously by standing behind the man that they loved. Both dealt with infidelity that was well known. Both were Catholic women. Both multilingual. And, as we all know, one dealt with the assassination of her husband and brother-in-law. The other has dealt with two attempts, and hopefully the last. As I read about all the work Melania did on the White house improvements, I kept remembering Jackie’s TV special where she walked through the White House talking about the different rooms. She was soft spoken and careful and very professional.

Melania spent much of the book talking about her role as First Lady. I was amazed at how much work and hours are spent being in this position. I have read other first lady books or have seen documentaries, but they did not capture the emotional toil that it can take on a person. They were also not first hand. Melania faced an unbelievable amount of controversy and stress because of her husband. Not by him, but by our nation of liberals, by the divide in our country which has been going on since the second Bush administration and the outrage that he was elected over Gore. People continue to forget that it was acceptable then that the liberals did not believe it was a fair election. Prior to this, we accepted who was elected and went on with our lives, bitching if it wasn’t “our guy.” Now, we ostracize people and hate them for their beliefs. In a world that has masqueraded under the yard sign “masks” of tolerance, we are anything but. And, from what I have seen, these signs are only in liberal yards – the hypocrisy. I always say when I drive by these signs “I bet you wouldn’t tolerate me.”

Melania is an Eastern European woman. Having grown up with Hungarians, they are not the type of people to be gossipy and create sensations, unlike their American counterparts. They might gossip with a friend, behind closed doors, but the moment they come out in front of others, they are very carefully guarded and limited in being outspoken. I would have expected nothing more from this book. I think the book reads more like a journal of “my” life. At the same time, if you read it and come away thinking she didn’t say anything, than you really didn’t read it. She was very outspoken on her beliefs and very careful to make it obvious. I have a lot of respect for this woman, even more now. I much prefer to read a woman writing like this as it is showing good values, standards and a role model for us all to live by.

What I gathered from this book answered something for me, even though she didn’t come out and say it. Anna Wintour, the Editor-in-Chief of Vogue went with her assistant Andre and Melania to Paris to choose her wedding dress. This was before Donald Trump was even considering the presidency. Everyone loved Donald Trump then, both Democrats and Republicans alike. It was still okay to hang out with the rich guy and be seen with him in all the papers and magazines. Once he began to run for president and then won the election, you might have thought he had leprosy. Melania, being a former international model, should have been on all the fashion magazine covers. A first time for a First Lady to be a former model. She was nowhere to be seen. In fact, she was on the cover of Vogue while in her late stages of pregnancy and in her wedding dress. All prior to the initiative to become the head of our country. It is why I stay away from fashion magazines now, even though I have a great love of fashion. Politics and fashion don’t belong together. Politics influence fashion but fashion should not dictate politics. They need to stay in their lane.

All of these women, that I have previously mentioned were so devoted to their children. The three books might even be saying how to be a career woman and still raise your children. What I loved even more about Melania, is how she brought her mother and father to America during her son Baron’s childhood and they raised him while she worked. This is such an ideal way to have a “nanny” if it is a healthy opportunity. Melania’s mother died at the beginning of this year. The book was available for purchase just this month. The obituary which she coined for her mother, is included for you to read. She came from a very loving family and has done the same for her own child and even as a stepmother.

She does not agree with everything her husband says or her stepchildren. However, she values their opinion and her goal is in creating a loving and peaceful household. What more could a person ask for. She takes great pains to establish this. My favorite quote in her book is this:

I have come to understand that genuine happiness is not found in material possessions, but rather in the depth of self-awareness and self-acceptance. This realization has become my compass, leading me toward a life enriched with authenticity, confidence and inner peace.

A healthy way to live one’s life, one that I could not have said better. Melania is a work in progress, as we all should be. It is a heartfelt story, a woman’s struggle to do great things in the face of adversity and her disappointment in the media’s lack of honesty. As I was reading this book, I looked at many of the horrible reviews that were out there by the liberal papers, doing their best to find something, anything, to make fun of her. It is disturbing to think that our country has become such a hateful place to be in. Worse than it has ever been before. Meanwhile, despite all of this, Melania will continue to grow and thrive, with or without the media’s approval. As my dad used to joke about Liberace, “No matter what you want to say about him, he is laughing all the way to the bank.”