Old Books, New Readers discussion

Here is the thread to post discussions, comments, questions etc. for July's BOTM I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou in support of BLM.

This was another great discovery for me. I had heard of this book before, but it wasn't really on my radar until I picked it up for this month's group-read.
I particularly enjoyed the author's vibrant characterization of the different people in her community in Stamps. (Would have loved to meet Momma in real life! :-) )

So glad to hear that Angie!

How is everyone else going along?
My laptop & phone are broken. I am borrowing my sister phone for the moment to check up on things.

As a sexual assault survivor, it has been hard for me to get past chapter twelve.

I think it gets better as you get older, Elizabeth. At least it has for me. I've come to the point where it's just something that happened - but almost like it happened to someone else. All my relationships failed, but I discovered I was happier without one. It can't hurt me anymore, and I don't have any 'triggers' anymore either. I've been on my own for 10 years, and my life has never been better.

I read this book a couple of times, lovely and honest, isn't it?

Jazzy wrote: "I read this book a couple of times, lovely and honest, isn't it?"

Thanks Jazzy, I appreciate it. One of the reasons I really am enjoying this is because it is brutally honest.

I'm so sorry I'm so late to start this book. But, I was ill and could barely raise my head from my pillow.
I'm on Chapter 6 and so far I love the description that has been put into the book. The characters are all so vibrant, that I have no problem imagining them and their surroundings. If you read the audio book like me, the narrator sings the songs in the book, which is pretty cool.

Elizabeth, Jazzy, I'm so sorry for what was done to you. I know I can't relate, but I want you to know that I support you. xxx

Kathryn wrote: "I'm so sorry I'm so late to start this book. But, I was ill and could barely raise my head from my pillow.
I'm on Chapter 6 and so far I love the description that has been put into the book. The ch..."

No worries! I love that great detail about the audiobook. Hope you are enjoying the read.

I'm on 50% now. It is really well written, so detailed. :)

Excerpts of this book were required reading for me in Middle School, just picked up the audio book to hear it again with an adult ear (I also listened to the audiobook as a student). It's read by Maya Angelou herself and she is such a phenomenal story teller. I really like how well she fully captures all aspects of life... from the really terrifying and traumatizing, to the joyous and celebratory. Her books are very... human.

Phew, I didn't think I'd make the deadline, but I did, I'm finished. It was a really good book and I'm glad I finally got around to reading it. It was colourful and vibrant, rich in detail, especially that of the small Southern town living. I'm so impressed that Maya Angelou was not only able to push through all the bad things in her life, but also have the guts to decades later write it all down. I now understand her famous poem "still I rise" better now.