“You Literally Couldn’t Make Up Melania the Memoir,” Says Novelist Freya Berry

Freya Berry, the author behind the book The Dictator’s Wife, has commented on Melania Trump’s 184-page memoir, describing it as “stranger than fiction” and an experience that must be read to be believed. In her remarks on Wednesday, Berry, whose novel drew inspiration from the former first lady, expressed astonishment at the memoir’s odd narrative, which she believes surpasses anything she could have imagined in her own work.

“You literally couldn’t make up Melania the memoir,” Berry remarked. She pointed out that in Melania Trump’s initial reference to her responsibilities as First Lady, she writes, “I embarked on a grand odyssey, traveling the corners of the globe.” Berry responded with a hint of sarcasm, suggesting that the role appeared more like “a round-the-world cruise.”

Berry went on to describe Melania Trump’s memoir as a bizarre blend of Wikipedia entries, failed marketing attempts, skewed priorities, and an abundance of photographs. She noted her confusion over the events Melania claimed occupied her time before the 2020 global pandemic, listing her son’s birthday, a trip to Oklahoma, the White House Easter Roll, and lastly, as an afterthought, a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

“To read Melania is to pass through the looking-glass,” Berry wrote. She observed how trivial matters seemed to take precedence, while significant events barely registered in the narrative. The interior design received extensive attention, with six photographs dedicated to the tennis pavilion, yet Melania’s official initiatives, like she Be Best campaign, were only referenced in four, reported The Daily Beast.

Berry also expressed disappointment at the lack of genuine personal reflection, particularly when Melania Trump mentioned her late mother, Amalija Knavs. Berry quoted an excerpt: “She adored the radiant sun, as its golden rays sun-kissed her skin,” which she criticized as feeling like a promotional statement rather than an intimate memory. She even noted that parts of the memoir resembled marketing efforts, such as when Melania discussed her caviar-infused skin cream line that she “hopes” to relaunch.

Berry concluded her critique by highlighting one of the memoir’s peculiar formatting choices: “Every break is marked by an M,” she wrote, adding that it felt unsettling, especially when paired with more solemn subjects, like the mention of Melania’s mother’s passing.

Berry’s response underscores the surreal and, at times, disjointed nature of Melania Trump’s memoir, leaving readers to wonder if the truth is indeed stranger than fiction.