Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
This is the most thought provoking book I have ever read., 20 Jan 2000
By A Customer
I was hesitant to read this book at first, I thought that it looked too long and would be boring to read. Now looking back, I know I was wrong. This autobiogaphical masterpiece is set in America in the 1930's. Maya Angelou starts the book with an excerpt from a play that she was in when she was very young. She uses humour to describe the way she feels at the time. Throughout the book, she uses lots of description to put the picture in the readers mind of her surroundings and feelings. This book tackles the racist issues that are still present in todays society. She tells us of how her father moved her away from her Grandmothers place, where she lived with her brother Bailey, and their family, to go and live with her mother. While she is over there , her mothers lover rapes her. As this is the tale of her own life, Maya Angelou has expressed the way she felt at this time incredibly well. The issues in her life at this time, are so serious it is unbelievable to think that she could possibly write a book about it , and tell the world her life story. Her troubled and exceedingly brave child hood really opened my eyes to how fortunate I am , not having to deal with such things, and I expect that anyone else who has read this book would feel the same . As Maya Angelou takes us through her life, we as active readers can expect to feel lots of different emotions. Laugh or cry, you will really get involved in her story. This book has made a big impression on me , and I will definitely be reading her other books, in hope that it will be as good as this one.
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23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A brilliant book, 14 Dec 2004
I had to read this book for a school project and at first I thought that reading the autobiography of someone that I'd never heard of would be slightly pointless. However, as we began to read the book, I discovered that previous knowledge of the author was not necessary to read and relate to this fantastically written and deeply emotional story.
Although, at times, the story (and Angelou's life) is traumatic and stressful, much of it is based on the ongoing theme of how she (and the people around her) can overcome the prejudice, hatred and lack of power that is forced upon them by the white people in their community. Angelou describes how she defeats the whites in her own personal ways, such as managing to become the first black person to work on the San Francisco streetcars.
Many people would find inspiration in this story of a child who, growing up in unfortunate and tragic circumstances, manages to overcome the racism and loathing thrown at her by not only the whites, but the other characters, such as her mother's partner, Mr Freeman, and her father's girlfriend, Dolores.
I would recommend this book to anyone, but especially those interested in American history, or the history of racism.
Maya's story is one of success and triumph through some of the most difficult situations that life could through at you.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Honest, explicit and a fearless pen, 7 May 2008
I learnt alot about American history and life in various cities in the US. This book is the autobiography of one of the most powerful women in America who lives, works and rose against the odds. This book must be deposited in every library around the world that women may read, learn and understand that life and its beauty in is doing different things under different and difficult circumstances which sometimes are cruel, nasty or not understandable to our way of life.
"... his teeth fell, no actually his teeth jumped, out of his mouth. ... grinning uppers and lowers lay by my right shoe, looking empty and ... contain all the emptiness in the world ... Sister Monroe was struggling with his coat, and men had to all but picked her up to remove her from the building ... 'Naked I came into this world, and naked I shall go out.' (pages 47) - made me laugh so much.
I also cried during the read on the fears of running a small family shop. I know those fears well. I felt those fears and I waited for those fears every day then.
The book is dedicated to all the Strong Black Birds of promise but reading it is an asset to any Bird who wants life to be one of promise and hope. What I take away most from this read is not to be ashamed of writing my truth. This reading gave me enough reasons why I should celebrate womanhood. The reading ended only after I felt and realised Freedom of the Press in the United States of America.
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