A review by wellworn_soles
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

4.0

”To be left alone on the tightrope of youthful unknowing is to experience the excruciating beauty of full freedom and the threat of eternal indecision. Few, if any, survive their teens. Most surrender to the vague but murderous pressure of adult conformity. It becomes easier to die and avoid conflict than to maintain a constant battle with the superior forces of maturity.”

I’m super thankful to have checked out a copy of this from my library to read during lunch breaks over the past few days. Maya Angelou has some wonderful wisdom couched in cool, clear prose that tumbles like water. Theres a lot of wisdom in here, but I found I was often transfixed by her descriptions of settings and emotions. They spooled out perfectly balanced; each a sublime articulation that tapped the root of experience. I am so in love with this style of writing. It is embedded in humility, and its spare, accessible presentation makes its metaphor and turns of phrase all the more marvelous.

I did not know this was only part 1 of her autobiography. After reading White Malice, I am excited to tackle it in hopes of catching some recounting of her time in Ghana. A wonderful read. 4.5 stars.