I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (Maya Angelou's Autobiography, #1) in Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge

Sep 28, 2019 Abby Johnson added it

Shelves: memoir, diverse, author-of-color, grownup_books

I read this in high school and just reread it for our Community Read that we're holding on this title later this fall. There are so many themes that I think are just perfect for high schoolers to be experiencing, but I will tell you that I feel like I got so much more out of it reading it now than I did back then (to my memory). This is definitely a book worth a reread if you, like me, haven't picked it up since you were a teen.

I took pages and pages of notes for our discussions and I'm really ...more

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Aug 11, 2020 Ally rated it it was amazing

Shelves: kindle, truth-stranger-than-fiction, 2020-challenge

Well, I'm somewhat ashamed it took me almost 43 years to read this, but I'm (obviously) so glad I did. What an engaging autobiography - this is how it's done. Every fact and story presented with thoughtfulness and care, even if the author showed herself in a not so great light. I was so engrossed by the last third that I gasped out loud when I hit the dedication page - that almost never happens. I can't wait to work through the rest of the cycle. ...more

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May 21, 2009 Shayla rated it really liked it

Shelves: banned-book-club

I was only really familiar with Maya Angelou through her poems. I bought this book for my mother when I was in middle school and here I am nearly fifteen years later, reading it myself.

There were just so many moments that made me laugh, cheer and cry. Maya Angelou is simply a wonderful writer who has overcome such extraordinary circumstances, most not of her own doing but one major one of her own. As she said, "I had accepted my plight as the hapless, put-upon victim of fate and the Furies, but ...more

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Sep 03, 2017 Talia rated it liked it

Shelves: memoirs, readharder2017

When I started reading this book, I am ashamed to admit that there are a few things I didn't know. I didn't know this was autobiographical. I didn't know why the book was/is banned so often. Often painful yet poignant, her childhood growing up in rural Arkansas is important to read about. The almost lyrical style of writing is never overtly graphic, but still powerful.
So....why only 3 stars? After reading a bit, I never felt really compelled to read further, and reading this book, while an impor ...more

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Apr 13, 2019 Jennifer rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: memoir-autobiography, non-fiction, owned

One of those books I've been meaning to read FOREVER.

I think it would be fair to say that this is one of the most legendary autobiographies of all time, right? And if not, it certainly should be. It's definitely one of those books that so much has been said about that it's not as though I can add anything new to the conversation. But I will say that I found it fascinating how many worlds Angelou moves between here -- from her rural Southern upbringing to the cities she lived in during stays with ...more

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Mar 30, 2008 Rae rated it it was ok

Shelves: other-non-fiction

Real life is often filled with depressing events and feelings. I didn't enjoy this and wasn't particularly uplifted by it. But it does have some value for those who can learn from someone else's life. ...more

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