by Maya Angelou
A Nonfiction, 1969 by Bantam, 289 Pages
What I Didn’t Like:
- Content warning: rape of a minor, harsh treatments of minorities and minors (obviously)
- If you don’t feel ANGRY when you read this book, read it again. The way these real people were treated should make you angry. It should be read any time you forget. Just listen.
- This is an autobiography. If you don’t like stories and retellings of someone’s experiences, you won’t like this even though it’s a classic. Call that a content warning, I guess.
What I Did Like:
- The audiobook is narrated by Angelou herself and is beautiful because of it.
- The way this book delivers facts without preaching but lets the ideas linger in a way that makes you know exactly what she’s saying is just beautiful. This all happened whether you want to believe it or not. It’s beautifully written to retain a sense of innocence all while angering adults who read it and wish it had never happened.
- Maya Angelou’s childhood is a study in strength and perseverance. It’s remarkable to read this and think of how far we’ve come and then how far we still have to go.
Who Should Read This One:
- Autobiography fans. This is just beautiful and well written.
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