elliemcc11's review against another edition
4.0
I read I know why the caged bird sings a long while ago, and Maya Angelou told her remarkable life story. This follows on and it's equally well written.
In this book she's a teen mum living initially in SFO. She finds work as a cook, falls in love and it doesn't work out, and heads for LA before a diversion to San Diego and Oklahoma. She takes short term jobs cooking and waitressing to help her raise her son. Somewhere in this story she, at 18, runs a brothel.
The blurb tells you she dabbles in drugs and in Oakland she dabbled in prostitution before her brother brings her to her senses. She also falls in love left, right, and centre but all are bad news.
The story is again remarkable and very well written. If anything shocked me it was her leaving her son with virtual strangers for long periods of time whilst she worked. I guess times and communities have changed, at least they have in my experience, and now we don't have "mamas" who take in people's kids and virtually raise them, with the mother visiting on her day off. I liked seeing this reflection back to the past.
In this book she's a teen mum living initially in SFO. She finds work as a cook, falls in love and it doesn't work out, and heads for LA before a diversion to San Diego and Oklahoma. She takes short term jobs cooking and waitressing to help her raise her son. Somewhere in this story she, at 18, runs a brothel.
The blurb tells you she dabbles in drugs and in Oakland she dabbled in prostitution before her brother brings her to her senses. She also falls in love left, right, and centre but all are bad news.
The story is again remarkable and very well written. If anything shocked me it was her leaving her son with virtual strangers for long periods of time whilst she worked. I guess times and communities have changed, at least they have in my experience, and now we don't have "mamas" who take in people's kids and virtually raise them, with the mother visiting on her day off. I liked seeing this reflection back to the past.
shinysarah28's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug use
zoya_neela's review against another edition
4.0
Physical book, first Maya Angelou. Audience: General Content. Biography & Autobiography, African American Nonfiction, Nonfiction
Read during visit to partner's home town to celebrate Leap year birthday of brother.
This was a hard story that dealt with some very challenging situations. The characters and their growth kept the story moving along quickly.
At the time of reading, I did not realize this was an autobiographical story.
Read during visit to partner's home town to celebrate Leap year birthday of brother.
This was a hard story that dealt with some very challenging situations. The characters and their growth kept the story moving along quickly.
At the time of reading, I did not realize this was an autobiographical story.
scarlettpeterson's review against another edition
4.0
Read this a while back, it's fantastic
The candor with which Maya Angelou writes about even the least savory of times is beautiful. She simply writes what we can learn from.
The candor with which Maya Angelou writes about even the least savory of times is beautiful. She simply writes what we can learn from.
kelsied's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
I don't rate memoirs/autobiographies, but I am enjoying reading through her series about her life.
mcsangel2's review against another edition
5.0
Seriously, who knew this woman led such a fascinating life? I swear, I was becoming skeptical that at least half the things in her memoirs were totally invented, but casual research seems to indicate it's all true. That she became so successful after so many struggles is incredible.