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101st out of 144 books
—
24 voters
Gather Together in My Name (Maya Angelou's Autobiography #2)
by
Maya Angelou
This is a continuation of Maya Angelou's personal story, begun so unforgettably in her bestselling I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. It is full of memorable people and charged with a life-giving quality that marks Maya Angelou's writing.
Paperback, 224 pages
Published
May 12th 1997
by Bantam
(first published 1974)
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A sequel to Maya Angelou's autobiography "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," this book begins when Marguerite is in her late teens. Her beautifully-written prose describes the heartwrenching mistakes that she makes in her life decisions, as a result of her risk-taking and daring personality.
My scale (since the speed of my reading is directly proportional to how well I like the book):
1 - couldn't get through it
2 - actually got through it but it took months
3 - read it fairly consistently on the tra...more
My scale (since the speed of my reading is directly proportional to how well I like the book):
1 - couldn't get through it
2 - actually got through it but it took months
3 - read it fairly consistently on the tra...more
I love the voice, though that doesn't always translate to loving the persona.
But when her attitude misfires, she has the dignity to admit it and soldier on. She's a tough woman, that Angelou, at least as she describes herself in her memoir, and I admire that.
I loved Angelou's conversational tone, where she'd write things like, "By 1943, when I first saw him, his good looks were as delicate as an old man's memory, and disappointment rode his face bareback" (9). I loved that bareback image and w...more
But when her attitude misfires, she has the dignity to admit it and soldier on. She's a tough woman, that Angelou, at least as she describes herself in her memoir, and I admire that.
I loved Angelou's conversational tone, where she'd write things like, "By 1943, when I first saw him, his good looks were as delicate as an old man's memory, and disappointment rode his face bareback" (9). I loved that bareback image and w...more
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Starts at age 17 where “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” left off on her autobiography detailing her struggles of a young lonely unmarried black with a young child trying to survive. Her power in her faith in herself is clear and her lack of understanding (including her own culture in Arkansas) of how it relates to what ‘white’ society offers her plus her misconceptions about what she can’t do and what she has to due to survive are powerful. The jobs available exotic dancer, a cook (multiple tim...more
Being that Dr. Angelou is my favorite writer/poet/inspirational speaker since the age of 10, and the fact that I have had the pleasure of personally meeting and being uplifted by her words, I tend to be biased in my opinion compared to others when it comes to her work. I absolutely adored and appreciate the fact that she yet again chose to share such a raw and vivid story of struggle, bad choices, and circumstance with her readers.
Yes it started off slow in the beginning, but yet again she held...more
Yes it started off slow in the beginning, but yet again she held...more
The canonic understanding of this book is that it is entirely autobiographical, though its picaresque quality and the rapidity with which the narrator, in her late teens, switches milieus could make you think it had been fictionally constructed to neatly illustrate every facet of the tougher side of African-American life just post WWII.
Our 17-year old protagonist goes, in quick succession, from San Francisco short-order soul-food cook, to San Diego madam, to city girl who doesn't realize quite...more
Our 17-year old protagonist goes, in quick succession, from San Francisco short-order soul-food cook, to San Diego madam, to city girl who doesn't realize quite...more
Reading Maya Angelou is like listening to a song or a poem. She is such a beautiful writer. I enjoyed reading it just for the sentences.
I picked this book up in a used book store as I had enjoyed her earlier autobiography,I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. This pick up the story. What an interesting story of her life and the times and a glimpse into the black post-WWII world. Maya describes taking dance lessons, reading Dostoevsky, working as a waitress and bar girl, an evening with two lesbians,...more
I picked this book up in a used book store as I had enjoyed her earlier autobiography,I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. This pick up the story. What an interesting story of her life and the times and a glimpse into the black post-WWII world. Maya describes taking dance lessons, reading Dostoevsky, working as a waitress and bar girl, an evening with two lesbians,...more
(Read 5/2009). The second book in her autobiographical series (2 of 6). This book is set in her teen years after she had her son (at age 16). It was a bit of a shocker to discover via reading this book that she was at some point in her life the madame of a brothel, a prostitute in a brothel, and moved around more times in 3 years than I have probably in my entire life, and I have lived in 3 different states. It is the most off-putting in the series; but, if you hang on for number three you will...more
The more I read about Maya Angelou, the more I think that she was born an artist even though she didn't find her voice as a writer until she was close to 40. She overcame such overwhelming circumstances, like having an eccentric but distant mother, being a single mother, and growing up in the 1930s south. In Gather Together in My Name she talks about going from job to job and home to home (from CA to AR and back again), and tries to make a living as she raises her young son. She makes mistakes,...more
A very interesting story about a young black woman's (Maya Angelou's) struggle with poverty, work and her fatherless child. Explores the themes of race, gender and class in a pretty unique way, but I found it to be vaguely misogynistic in parts, despite being considered a "feminist" text. Not particularly well written, but very engaging. It was quite a page turner and vaguely inspiring; Angelou seems to experience a lot of setbacks in her life, but she doesn't let it discourage her - she gets on...more
'Gather Together in My Name', which follows on from 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings' begins with Maya as a 17 years old mother, struggling to find a job to support herself and her son, Gay. The narrative covers several jobs in several cities; she works as a dancer, a cook, a Madam, a waitress, and - for a short time - a prostitute. The momentum of the story lies in the way Maya explains how and why she ends up in each of these jobs and the relationships with the people she meets along the way....more
I am a fan of Maya not only because of her beautiful story-telling but everytime I read her books I see myself in her character. Basically Rita has been to hell and back; and she still live life to the fullest. I like the fact that she doesn't give up on love regardless of what has happened to her in the past!!
Towards the end, it was a beautiful less when her last lover used drugs infront of her and I was so happy she didn't want some as she inquisitive for her own good.
I loved it, I cant wait t...more
Towards the end, it was a beautiful less when her last lover used drugs infront of her and I was so happy she didn't want some as she inquisitive for her own good.
I loved it, I cant wait t...more
In this book she struggles to take care of her son (alone). She had various jobs. I was amazed that her hired babysitter kept her baby night and day because she worked so much. She went to see her baby on her days off. At one point, she went home to see her mother, leaving her 2 year old with the babysitter. When she came back after a few weeks, the house was boarded up and the woman was gone with her child. She found him, luckily, and vowed to treat him differently after that. (From my notes 2-...more
Gather Together in My Name continues the remarkable story that is Angelou's life. It picks up where I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings left off. It covers Ms. Angelou from ages 16-19 as she struggled with supporting her infant son, figuring our her career path, relationships, and the challenges of the era. Ms. Angelou's writing is so conversational and entertaining that the book reads quickly.
The book ended too soon. I will definitely read the next installment.
The book ended too soon. I will definitely read the next installment.
Having recently seen Maya Angelou in person, when I saw this book on the shelf I snatched it up. When speaking, she alluded to some of the incidents spoken of in more detail in this book. Although ultimately it is positive, it tore at my heart to hear of the many things that this woman went through-- and all this in just three years. This is a raw, unrepentant account of part of Ms. Angelou's life, and I was unable to put it down once I began reading.
'If you're happy being miserable, enjoy it...wallow around. Take your time to savor all its subtleties. But don't come to me expecting sympathy.' p.29
'In southern towns, the people grandmother called 'wordly' socialised on Saturday night, while th 'godly' entertained on Sunday' p.47
'There is such a thing as a whore mentality. You can find it a housewife who will only go to bed with her husband if he buys her a new washing machine' p.195
'In southern towns, the people grandmother called 'wordly' socialised on Saturday night, while th 'godly' entertained on Sunday' p.47
'There is such a thing as a whore mentality. You can find it a housewife who will only go to bed with her husband if he buys her a new washing machine' p.195
An autobiographical account of Angelou's young adulthood in California. The heart aches for Angelou as she stumbles through life, trying to find a place for herself in a world that has little place for a gangly, abrasive girl with the soul of a poet. Drugs and prostitution surround her, but she seems oddly innocent no matter how jaded her young self talks, and her older self's voice holds contempt and compassion for herself in equal measures that is sometimes harder to read than her actual exper...more
Another brilliant book by Angelou which follows her from understanding her sexuality without feeling sexual to being a teenage mother and learning about the harshness of life as a black woman. It's an amazing story. Maya has a strong personality and has a broken family but a strong love within that family which helps her to be who she is. She makes it clear that all she wants is a man who will love her and her son and look after them.
Was entirely shocked that this book was on the recommended reading list for my middle school student in celebration of Black History Month. This book is completely inappropriate for that age group (10-13). Turns out the librarian had not read the book and only picked it because it was Maya Angelou's writing. Once the content was brought to the attention of the administration, the book was removed from the library shelves.
SPOILER ALERT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Did you know that Maya Angelou was once ran a whorehouse? Did you know that she then became a whore? I didn't until I read the second book of Maya Angelou's multi-volume autobiography. I'm completly shocked and speechless about this book and it serves as a reminder that we all have a past and any of us can rise above what we've been through to make ourselves a glorious future.
Did you know that Maya Angelou was once ran a whorehouse? Did you know that she then became a whore? I didn't until I read the second book of Maya Angelou's multi-volume autobiography. I'm completly shocked and speechless about this book and it serves as a reminder that we all have a past and any of us can rise above what we've been through to make ourselves a glorious future.
Love it.
Love it.
Love it.
Do not understand the motives of the main character very well for making certain (bad) decisions, but well.
I do admire her strength for moving on and finding a new job and place to live again and again. In her place I would feel very lonely and scared I think, you don´t have anything or anyone to hold on to really but yourself. At least I have been in somewhat similar circumstances and found it very hard, but in Angelou´s writing I do not see that reflected so much. She...more
Love it.
Love it.
Do not understand the motives of the main character very well for making certain (bad) decisions, but well.
I do admire her strength for moving on and finding a new job and place to live again and again. In her place I would feel very lonely and scared I think, you don´t have anything or anyone to hold on to really but yourself. At least I have been in somewhat similar circumstances and found it very hard, but in Angelou´s writing I do not see that reflected so much. She...more
This book is well written. Maya is an exceptional writer. As a teen, she was very brave and determined to succeed against all odds.
I like the fact that she wasn't prone to pity parties and grabbed life with both hands.
I love that she was her own greatest supporter.
Most of all, I love that her determination to be great at whatever she was doing was rock solid.
I am definitely reading more of her.
I like the fact that she wasn't prone to pity parties and grabbed life with both hands.
I love that she was her own greatest supporter.
Most of all, I love that her determination to be great at whatever she was doing was rock solid.
I am definitely reading more of her.
This was quite blah at the beginning & middle; and towards the end it elicited a very severe, visceral disgust with the author's choices at that particular stage of her life. I had to force myself to finish this which was disappointing considering the success of the 1st book.
I might pick up the 3rd installment because i realize that every person's life is a journey & just because I couldn't stomach her choices from 16-19 and her outlook on life, doesn't mean there isn't something worth r...more
I might pick up the 3rd installment because i realize that every person's life is a journey & just because I couldn't stomach her choices from 16-19 and her outlook on life, doesn't mean there isn't something worth r...more
I have just recently finsihed this book and it truly was an amazing story! Maya continues to create this vivid picture of her life which enagages many readers. She shows the struggle of a single mother and a young 17 year old girl trying to find herself as life continues. Both of these struggles meet head to head and that really allows readers to feel connected to Maya. I really did enjoy this book.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it,
click here.
Mar 12, 2012
Di
is currently reading it
'Angelou has the knack of guiding us along the seamier side of life while making us feel refreshed and restored like a terrfic gospel blues singer'
'She has the knack of guiding us along the seamier side of life while making us feel refreshed and restored like a terrfic gospel blues singer'
This is the second title from her 6 autobiography books
'She has the knack of guiding us along the seamier side of life while making us feel refreshed and restored like a terrfic gospel blues singer'
This is the second title from her 6 autobiography books
Very raw and honest. The truth about how cruel life can be when we make bad choices. I was very sad for her and wish that she could have experienced the love of Jesus before she decided to give her self away to men that would never love her the way she deserved. I feel for her past and it humbles me to know how gracious our Lord truely is.
So far, this is a very intriguing book just as her first one was....I know why the caged bird sings. Maya is such an inspiration!
I only had the first few chapters as a sample on my Kindle but those who great chapters of her life. so now I bought the fourth book of hers.....The Heart Of A Woman. Tells of her life as a singer and meeting so many famous people along the way. Then starting her writing career.
I only had the first few chapters as a sample on my Kindle but those who great chapters of her life. so now I bought the fourth book of hers.....The Heart Of A Woman. Tells of her life as a singer and meeting so many famous people along the way. Then starting her writing career.
oh, this one was a hard read. My heart went out to Maya, a young mother, desparate for love, and going along with men who did not have her best interrests at heart. I can breathe again now that I know she survived this period, but it was a very very tough time. As always, love her use of language.
I loved that this memoir picked up right where "I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings" left off. Having read the books in quick succession made it just seem like one long book. I am only saddened by the thought that I waited so long to read her memoirs and look forward to exploring more of her writing.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
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| I prefer Maya Angelou's memoirs over her fiction. Am I alone in this? | 1 | 6 | May 11, 2012 11:31am |
Maya Angelou, born Marguerite Ann Johnson April 4, 1928 in St. Louis, Missouri, is an American poet, memoirist, actress and an important figure in the American Civil Rights Movement. In 2001 she was named one of the 30 most powerful women in America by Ladies Home Journal. Maya Angelou is known for her series of six autobiographies, starting with I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, (1969 which was no...more
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Feb 16, 2012 04:21pm