I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

I loved Maya Angelou's narration of her early years, the joys and struggles of childhood, and how she put the situation of Black lives in perspective. Highly recommended.

I picked up this book after reading an article about how it was called to be banned several times from the American school syllabus. After reading it, I can understand where this concern came from. This book is one of several in Maya Angelou’s autobiography series; I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings explores Angelou’s early years in apartheid America - a world defined by severe racism through which the author and her family must find a way to survive. Within the first ten years of her life, young Maya is exposed to traumas that many grown adults would not be able to handle, from several instances of racial violence, to lynching and even rape. And yet, in spite of these horrors, the book’s tone isn't predominantly tragic, as one might expect. I was surprised at the matter-of-fact narrative style which simultaneously increased my horror at the normalcy of the atrocities that were committed during those times, as well as fostered a deep admiration for a human being that was not only forced to endure, but kept moving forward, one step at a time. As for whether the book should be banned or not - I am in complete agreement with the necessity of retaining it in the school syllabus, for it is not only a beautifully written book, but also a stark reminder of the depths humanity is capable of sinking to, and a warning to never let it happen again.

Curious to read this as it was on a banned list in the US. Started with enthusiasm which died down half way. Then found out this was just one of seven parts of her autobiography. Nothing in the booked screamed out to me and I'm still curious why it is banned. Long and painful childhood story told in her own unique way. But if there is an abridged version that shrinks 7 books into 1 then I'll be reading only that. Not all these endless volumes.

I read a sample of this book and decided to buy it as soon as I completed a few pages of the book. Besides being one of the strongest voices of feminisim, she is also a prolific writer and also a talented artist. The lovely little details of her childhood with her grandmother, resembles our own childhood memories full of tiny little details It is in these details that the vulnerability of children to their social setting is reflected. How a child is rendered powerless by a world of adults dealing with their own demons. Her memoir reflects the extreme form of discrimination in the South towars African Americans. Her own experience of sexual abuse, reminds us how abuse is usually by someone close to us. She places the perspective of a little child on sexual abuse, which will shake your soul and probably make you cry. The part about her teen years shows her vulnerability to typical pressures and reflects her persistence to win over them with her own individuality. I shall not write the details, as it will give away too much. We must read this book, to understand racism inequality and abuse. We must read this book more importantly to learn from Maya about strength, resilience and love.

It is to good I mean I love it and illustrations are soooooooo good it is just fabulous I mean omg. I have read that chapter 1 but it's veryyyyhyyyyy good I can't believe it is this much I can't say much i just want to say that it is good❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🙏🫰🫰🎉🫰

Easy read but profound story. Leaves a lasting impression. Though the book is about very different part of world and different life but one can connect at humane level. Book quality: light weight, font size readable. Simple no nonsense or fancy packing and binding

"From being ignorant of being ignorant to being aware of being aware of life." From a victim of racism with submissive nature into a capable young woman, the author gave me a grateful opportunity to explore subjects such as education, idendity, sexual abuse and racism stereotypes. "Though easily read, [it] is no 'easy read' " as in some parts of the book, i wondered how such simple unexaggerated recollections from a child's perspective could impact me that real hard; Like black people are forbidden to eat 'White' Vanilla Ice cream in their town. The History so far have had only a very few honest authors showing their real life experiences rather making up at some level because of the criticisms. Above all, She proved with all the prejudices and trauma, one can still live the moment peacefully. After all, it made me want to go back to my childhood days searching for those lovable characters like Mrs. Bertha Flowers, childhood teachers. "Life is going to give you what you put in it. Put your whole heart in everything you do, and pray, then you can wait." Read it and let the wonderful thoughts overwhelm you

It was good to read BUT I thought it would contain stories for empowering Black People but it was somehow off the topic as it wasn't interesting as I expected it to be. Good Book to read though.

The book arrived with a rip on its cover

Letter to My Daughter is also autobiographical and spans lessons from her whole life that she wants to pass along to everyone who is willing to learn. She writes: I gave birth to one child, a son, but I have thousands of daughters. You are Black and White, Jewish and Muslim, Asian, Spanish-speaking, Native American and Aleut. You are fat and thin and pretty and plain, gay and straight, educated and unlettered, and I am speaking to you all. Here is my offering to you. And it is just that — an offering. Maya offers a collection of 28 stories from her life and what she has learned from some of them, although she writes that she "[has not] told how I have used the solutions, knowing that you are intelligent and creative and resourceful and you will use them as you see fit." She has found that the greatest virtue is courage. The stories seem to be told chronologically and detail stories of love, some of embarrassment, and some of terrifying danger that kept me turning the pages until the very end. She tells of growing up with her grandmother in segregated Arkansas and the difference between growing up and growing old. She writes of a young sexual encounter that left her cold and pregnant, and how her mother and step-father took it in stride without so much as a reprimand. There is a humorous account of Maya attending a glamorous party in Senegal at the home of the famous actress, Samia, where she mistook the reason guests were not walking on a very expensive carpet. Thinking to set an example, she walked on it despite glances askance from others. A little later, servants came in, rolled up the carpet and replaced it with another equally beautiful one, after which they placed dishes of food on it. Then, the hostess invited everyone to sit on the carpet to dine on dishes prepared in honour of her special guest, Maya Angelou. The most shocking story was about a beau Maya had named Two Finger Mark, so called because of a factory accident which caused him to lose three fingers and destroyed his dream of being a prize fighter. He had never been anything other than kind and gentle with her until one evening when he drove her to a secluded spot and stripped and beat her within an inch of her life because he believed her to have two-timed him. If he hadn't driven her back to town and showed some friends her beaten body in the back seat of his car, she might have died. They recognized her, told a friend of her mother's, who, with some contacts, tracked her down and rescued her. She believed it to be an answer to prayer. Included is a commencement address she gave, some of her poetry, and an incident in an southern airport café where she thought she and her friend were being discriminated against, only to find that the cook was out of grits and half of the people in the restaurant hadn't received their breakfast. You will laugh and cry and be left wanting more. Maya Angelou lived an amazing life to the full and has left an incredible legacy through her writing.

So easy to read and so fascinating. Highly recommended book for anyone who has heard about Maya and her genius.

Es un libro magnífico, te atrapa desde el inicio, las anécdotas son tan atractivas y narradas con una elegancia que te hacen querer saber más. Sin duda compraré los siguientes libros autobiográficos de Maya Angelou.

Todo perfecto. Muchas gracias!