MELANIA

MELANIA
I'll be honest, when I saw a book with a black cover titled "Melania" at the library, I didn't immediately realize it was the memoir of the First Lady of the United States, the wife of the president of the most powerful country in the world, a woman I admire. Although I'm surprised by the simple black cover; apparently, that's the style typical of the First Lady, a beauty.
It's worth noting that I usually like first ladies, especially when they protect their husbands, care for their children, and do charity work. I also liked Raisa Gorbacheva, especially the way she dressed so tastefully, even though she aroused the envy of those around her. I was also touched by how Mikhail Gorbachev saved her in Germany when she was dying of blood cancer. She could have been treated in Moscow, but he deemed it unsafe to transport her there. That's a beautiful and devoted love, the kind many can dream of.
So, I read the book "Melania" in English, and now that the film has been released, anyone can read the book, including in Russian, or watch the film in a cinema or online.
This is an autobiographical memoir, Melania's account of her life, views and experiences, including the events that shaped her as a person and a public figure.
Melania describes her childhood in Slovenia, a communist country, her interests, education, and early dreams and aspirations before being discovered by photographers. She recounts how she began her modeling career, moved to New York, expanded her professional horizons, and faced the challenges of adapting. She also details her meeting with Donald Trump in 1998 at a New York party, their courtship, engagement, and wedding in 2005. Her motherhood is described in a touching way, revealing her deep feelings for her son Barron and the impact of being a mother on her life and priorities.
She also describes the First Lady's duties in the White House, on international visits, and at official and charitable events, as well as her views on the roles she played. It's worth noting that she wrote a personal letter to Russian President Putin requesting the return to their parents of children who ended up in Russia as a result of the war.
Melania touches on some significant events in politics: the presidential election, the refusal to recognize the election results (2020), a discussion of the searches and assassination attempt on Donald Trump, and also shares her own position on a number of social issues.
The book is only 180 pages long, complete with fascinating photographs. It doesn't reveal all the hidden intrigues or dramas reported in the press, but it focuses on how Melania sees her life and her role in history.
The book's passages are intriguing, as Melania describes her childhood in Slovenia in detail as strict, hardworking, and disciplined. She emphasizes that from a young age, she learned to rely only on herself, not expecting help, and not complaining.
Interesting thought: silence is not a weakness, but a form of strength.
One of the key moments is her decision to leave for America with no guarantee of success. She writes of New York as a city of opportunity, but also loneliness. She emphasizes that the modeling industry taught her a rigorous school of self-control and survival, not glamour, as is commonly believed.
The book describes her first meeting with Donald Trump—a calm, unromantic affair. Melania emphasizes that she was drawn to him by his confidence and directness, not his wealth or status.
The warmest and most sincere pages are dedicated to her son Barron, and her role as a mother is more important to her than any public role. She emphasizes that she consciously shielded her son from politics and the press.
In the White House, she felt isolated and pressured. Melania writes that society often expected her to portray an image that was alien to her, and she was judged for her silence, not being heard.
One of the most resonant passages in the book is her support for a woman's right to decide for herself whether to have an abortion. This stands in stark contrast to the official position of many Republicans and has sparked widespread public outcry.
Here she speaks of personal freedom and responsibility. Melania writes that over her years in the White House, she has learned to separate noise from reality and not respond to every attack.
Key idea: Dignity is the ability to not explain yourself to those who do not want to listen.
Melania feels like a quiet, almost intimate conversation, one that eschews any desire to argue with the world or dot the i's. It's the story of a woman who lived for years under the public gaze while maintaining a sense of inner distance. In this memoir, the events themselves aren't as important as the silences between them—things that aren't usually spoken about. Melania Trump emerges not as a political figure, but as a person for whom personal boundaries, motherhood, and dignity are more important than public roles. I think the book is interesting precisely because of its restraint: it shows how, in an age of constant noise, silence can be a form of resistance and a means of self-preservation.
There are three powerful quotes that speak to the meaning: "I have always known who I am, even when others tried to define me for me"; "My primary responsibility is not to the public or to history, but to my son"; "When millions are watching you, the hardest thing is to keep the silence within yourself."
The book is neither sensational nor revealing. It is a restrained, careful self-portrait of a woman who lived within a turbulent era but deliberately remained in the shadows.
Many people will probably be interested in watching the film, but reading it is a great pleasure for me personally.
Marina Lagunova