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ellei's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
slow-paced
5.0
This was a deep, profound piece of work. I want to re-listen to highlight all of the thought provoking and poetic lines. This is my first Maya Angelou book and I want to read her full catalog. The audiobook of this book was narrated by Mrs. Angelou herself and the reading is rich and emotive. 11/10 for me!
meggxh's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Beautiful prose and gripping story.
Without willing it, I had gone from being ignorant of being ignorant to being aware of being aware. And the worst part of my awareness was that I didn't know what I was aware of.
amgrace's review against another edition
5.0
It took me so long to finish this book as I had to take deep, pained breaths every time I turned a page. I think I needed to read this when I was in university. Such a descriptive narration of her own life that sometimes I believe it must be fiction! The last few chapters broke my heart.
It's amazing how she still has memory of her childhood at such vivid detail. Beautiful memoir.
I'll have to admit, however, that reading about someone who remembers everything about her early years irks me as I can't really remember mine.
It's amazing how she still has memory of her childhood at such vivid detail. Beautiful memoir.
I'll have to admit, however, that reading about someone who remembers everything about her early years irks me as I can't really remember mine.
jovanas_cloud's review against another edition
4.0
3,5/5
I'm going to be very brief. I enjoyed the story for many parts, some I found dull, some very interesting even hoping to read more about that scenario. While reading her story I thought a lot about her story and many other stories I have read about black women in their childhoods. It's extremely sad to me that so many young black girls were submitted to rape at an age they don't even know what's going on. I felt sick to my stomach because she had been sexually assaulted but I also understood her side too. Her being away from her parents and not reading about her receiving any kind of physical affection from both her Momma and Uncle Willie, I understand why she loved that Mr. Freeman hugged her during the assaults. However, it is mortifying to me that she had been assaulted three times. Moreover, I more mortified how her parents never gave her attention she needed as a kid. For example, her mother never checked on her when she was a kid; her dad didn't call once when she ran away and was homeless for a whole month??? neither did her mother call her like what do you mean you haven't heard from your daughter in two months are you insane? but also was she ever involved in her life before that. Then never having any kind of talk with her about puberty, periods, pubic hair, what lesbianism actually is, how to practice safe sex?? Especially since her virginity was stolen from her at the age of 8. And also not noticing that your daughter is pregnant like what the hell is going on? Maybe we just didn't get it in the book, but still it makes me wonder how involved her parents were in her life.
Also, I would be very surprised if Maya didn't have any religious trauma from her Momma.
Another thing, I wish we heard more about what happened to the people mentioned in the book. I'm very interested to know how Momma and Uncle Willie lived.
I'm going to be very brief. I enjoyed the story for many parts, some I found dull, some very interesting even hoping to read more about that scenario. While reading her story I thought a lot about her story and many other stories I have read about black women in their childhoods. It's extremely sad to me that so many young black girls were submitted to rape at an age they don't even know what's going on. I felt sick to my stomach because she had been sexually assaulted but I also understood her side too. Her being away from her parents and not reading about her receiving any kind of physical affection from both her Momma and Uncle Willie, I understand why she loved that Mr. Freeman hugged her during the assaults. However, it is mortifying to me that she had been assaulted three times. Moreover, I more mortified how her parents never gave her attention she needed as a kid. For example, her mother never checked on her when she was a kid; her dad didn't call once when she ran away and was homeless for a whole month??? neither did her mother call her like what do you mean you haven't heard from your daughter in two months are you insane? but also was she ever involved in her life before that. Then never having any kind of talk with her about puberty, periods, pubic hair, what lesbianism actually is, how to practice safe sex?? Especially since her virginity was stolen from her at the age of 8. And also not noticing that your daughter is pregnant like what the hell is going on? Maybe we just didn't get it in the book, but still it makes me wonder how involved her parents were in her life.
Also, I would be very surprised if Maya didn't have any religious trauma from her Momma.
Another thing, I wish we heard more about what happened to the people mentioned in the book. I'm very interested to know how Momma and Uncle Willie lived.
joshnew10987's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
medium-paced
4.5