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mrdixon95's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
fast-paced
4.0
savageadage's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
4.0
jessicajane's review against another edition
3.0
Maya Angelou's autobiography vol.2, 1945-1947
Maya Angelou tells of finding her way in the world during her late teenage years; trying out a multitude different career paths and being involved with several men along the way. The most striking thing about the book is the independence of mind and character that Angelou showed at such a young age (18-19). This is demonstrated through the development of her own moral code; regret coming from within rather than without, and her determination to stand up to white people who are rude to her. She makes several big decisions on the spur of the moment, in a fascinating juxtaposition to the lives that so many young western women lead nowadays, which they feel to be mapped out for them. Angelou's resilience in the face of adversity and her unconditional love for her son are demonstrated in small ways throughout the book, woven throughout the confusion of early adulthood.
Maya Angelou tells of finding her way in the world during her late teenage years; trying out a multitude different career paths and being involved with several men along the way. The most striking thing about the book is the independence of mind and character that Angelou showed at such a young age (18-19). This is demonstrated through the development of her own moral code; regret coming from within rather than without, and her determination to stand up to white people who are rude to her. She makes several big decisions on the spur of the moment, in a fascinating juxtaposition to the lives that so many young western women lead nowadays, which they feel to be mapped out for them. Angelou's resilience in the face of adversity and her unconditional love for her son are demonstrated in small ways throughout the book, woven throughout the confusion of early adulthood.
koenjanssen's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Drug abuse
laila4343's review against another edition
4.0
Wow. I've somehow read these Angelou memoirs out of order (I don't think I realized for a long time that she even had more than the first one, I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings.) I wasn't prepared for how dark this one would be after reading some of the later ones. Angelou lived a hundred different lives, it seems. One would never suspect that the dignified poet who read at Clinton's inauguration had once been a prostitute. This memoir chronicles her late teenage years as she lives in San Francisco with her mother and tries to fashion a life for herself and her son. She desperately hungers for the affection of a man to "save" her and true to the norms of the time (1950's) enable her to become a housewife. In doing so she gets into some crazy situations and ends up endangering (and almost losing) her son. This was a quick read, fascinating, sometimes sad, but I'm glad I read it.
(Classics Club list, 3rd book)
(Classics Club list, 3rd book)