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J.L. Sutton's Reviews > I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
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“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”
“Hoping for the best, prepared for the worst, and unsurprised by anything in between.”
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, the first of Maya Angelou's seven autobiographies, is an engaging and remarkable memoir. It is the story of Maya (Marguerite) from the age of three until sixteen (along with her one-year older brother, Bailey Jr.). After the collapse of their parents' marriage, Maya and Bailey are sent to Depression-era Stamps, Arkansas with tags on their wrists addressed to "To whom it may concern." No one, relatives included, seem much concerned with their comings and goings. The feeling that these children are on their own is reinforced along with the accompanying realization that, despite those lack of bonds, they are not free.
Much of the story of segregated Stamps, Arkansas centers on prejudice at the hands of "powhitetrash" and how that impacts one's sense of self and place in society. Of course, this racism is also a big part of why freedom can be elusive even for someone with Maya's strength and resilience. Much of the second half of the book follows Maya's early teenage years in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Angelou writes this engaging memoir with sensitivity and beauty as well as a uniquely powerful voice. 4.25 stars
“Hoping for the best, prepared for the worst, and unsurprised by anything in between.”
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, the first of Maya Angelou's seven autobiographies, is an engaging and remarkable memoir. It is the story of Maya (Marguerite) from the age of three until sixteen (along with her one-year older brother, Bailey Jr.). After the collapse of their parents' marriage, Maya and Bailey are sent to Depression-era Stamps, Arkansas with tags on their wrists addressed to "To whom it may concern." No one, relatives included, seem much concerned with their comings and goings. The feeling that these children are on their own is reinforced along with the accompanying realization that, despite those lack of bonds, they are not free.
Much of the story of segregated Stamps, Arkansas centers on prejudice at the hands of "powhitetrash" and how that impacts one's sense of self and place in society. Of course, this racism is also a big part of why freedom can be elusive even for someone with Maya's strength and resilience. Much of the second half of the book follows Maya's early teenage years in Los Angeles and San Francisco. Angelou writes this engaging memoir with sensitivity and beauty as well as a uniquely powerful voice. 4.25 stars
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Reading Progress
January 28, 2020
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Started Reading
January 28, 2020
– Shelved
February 5, 2020
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Finished Reading
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Paula
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Feb 11, 2020 07:22PM
Wonderful review, J.L.!
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Paula wrote: "Wonderful review, J.L.!"Thank you, Paula!
Very good review. Thank you for not giving a summary of the entire book as some do, which isn’t a review. Love the quotes and photo.
Sarah wrote: "Very good review. Thank you for not giving a summary of the entire book as some do, which isn’t a review. Love the quotes and photo."Thank you, Sarah! Even though my reviews are usually fairly short, I prefer to offer some of my impressions rather than summarizing what's in the book.
It was really interesting reading about her experience with segregation. It really opened my mind to a part of the world that I feel like I wasn't very aware of. The struggle of human rights and equality was an eye-opening story and I agree that Angelou did a really good job writing the story in an engaging way.
