libraryjen's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Entertaining, as always, but not particularly compelling. Angelou writes with detachment, but honesty, recording events without seeming to care what the readers think of her.I appreciate the honesty and it's always interesting to hear about what life was like for her.
beckyyreadss's review
adventurous
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
I decided to read this book because I bought a poster with 100 books to read in your lifetime. I read the first and second book in the series and I’m just inspired by her. Once I learned this was a series, I had to read more. Even though this book has Christmas in the title, this book is not based around Christmas, so I don’t feel less guilty about reading a book with Christmas in October.
This book is the third of seven volumes of Maya Angelou’s autobiography. It is a testament to the talents and resilience of this writer. She loves this world, but she also knows its cruelty. As a black woman she has known the discrimination and extreme poverty, but she also knows of hope and joy, achievement and celebration. In this book, it is focusing on her music and her son. She is on the edge of a new marriage, understanding show business and going on tour with Porgy and Bess.
Usually I struggle with non-fiction books, I find them slow, boring and can just never really dig into them and thoroughly enjoy it. This book still discusses difficult topics but within this book it’s her journey with music and it was almost as if she was writing about a fiction character in a storyline that I had to remind myself several times that she was the main character and she’s talking about her life. She was talking about the struggles of a woman in 1949 to 1955 and that is a young girl in her early twenties – the same age as me. The fact that people constantly doubt her and use her, just broke my heart. This book wasn’t as heavy as her other two books, and I think that’s because she was discussing her career rather than her personal life. I would love to have seen or have a dual POV from her son and to see if he remembered what happened during this time.
I wouldn’t say this book has any weakness, but I think the last few chapters were very rushed. She went from slowly describing everything to the events of: she needed to get a job, she needed a secure job to look after her son, she wanted a husband so she could stay at home, she goes on tour and men are interested in her, she feels guilty for leaving her son, her son is sick and then she wants to kill herself and then ends up in Hawaii. I would have loved to read more about those few bits of her life. I think she did it for a “gripping” factor to get you to read the next book . . . to be fair, it worked because I want to read the next book.
Usually I struggle with non-fiction books, I find them slow, boring and can just never really dig into them and thoroughly enjoy it. This book still discusses difficult topics but within this book it’s her journey with music and it was almost as if she was writing about a fiction character in a storyline that I had to remind myself several times that she was the main character and she’s talking about her life. She was talking about the struggles of a woman in 1949 to 1955 and that is a young girl in her early twenties – the same age as me. The fact that people constantly doubt her and use her, just broke my heart. This book wasn’t as heavy as her other two books, and I think that’s because she was discussing her career rather than her personal life. I would love to have seen or have a dual POV from her son and to see if he remembered what happened during this time.
I wouldn’t say this book has any weakness, but I think the last few chapters were very rushed. She went from slowly describing everything to the events of: she needed to get a job, she needed a secure job to look after her son, she wanted a husband so she could stay at home, she goes on tour and men are interested in her, she feels guilty for leaving her son, her son is sick and then she wants to kill herself and then ends up in Hawaii. I would have loved to read more about those few bits of her life. I think she did it for a “gripping” factor to get you to read the next book . . . to be fair, it worked because I want to read the next book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Body shaming, Cultural appropriation, Homophobia, and Toxic relationship
eveblunden's review against another edition
emotional
funny
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
sad
fast-paced
3.75
mcsangel2's review
slow-paced
2.0
The first half, set in San Francisco about her working life, is fine. For some reason, the back half, about touring in Europe with Porgy and Bess is just boring. Loved the first 2 bios though.
bookerworm's review against another edition
5.0
Finally some happiness in Maya's life. This is the happy book. Can't wait to read the next.
jummy's review against another edition
5.0
I think this one is my favourite of the series so far. This is the book in which she becomes Maya Angelou. Life is finally going well for her and she’s experiencing the world. Her writing is so honest and observant and you genuinely read her mind opening up as she experienced life more. It’s great to finally see things working out for her, this is definitely the most hopeful ones so far