Monday, January 31, 2011
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
I have always been apprehensive about picking up this book in the past. I can finally say I was glad to have read it. It was an engrossing book about the trials and tribulations of Marguerite. Angelou was quite detailed in her writing but I felt as if the last 20 pages were rushed. Marguerite's parents, Daddy Bailey and Mother Dear, left me with a weird feeling. I felt as if Daddy Bailey was a poor example of a father and there was something amiss with Mother Dear. I kept thinking she was going to drop a bombshell on Bailey Junior and Marguerite. There character of Momma really made the novel for me. A strong independent woman for Marguerite to look up to is something to be admired.
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I'm curious to know what made you apprehensive about reading this book in the past? I do agree with you about the last 20 pages. There was so much that happened in those chapters that I wanted to know about.
ReplyDeleteCan you please make a post about True Diary and April Raintree? Thanks.
I agree that there was something off with Maya's parents. Her dad cared more about showing off and keeping his nasty girlfriend than he did about his daughter. Her mother was little better, always aloof and bringing questionable men around.
ReplyDeleteI too was wondering about what made you apprehensive about reading the book in the first place? Was it the title, comments others had made about reading the book, genre? What surprised you most about the book? Characters, plot, theme?
ReplyDeleteFor me what was most surprising was how the parents never really changed when they finally had the opportunity to raise their children. They were still too engrossed in their own lives. I also found it interesting that even though racial discrimination was more in the forefront when Maya and her brother lived in Stamps, life there seemed to be safer and I think that can be attributed to the strength and love of Momma.
I heard that Maya Angelou wasn't going to write this memoir, but her publisher wanted her to. They told her editor, "Just tell her it probably can't be done. Then she'll write it." Sure enough, as soon as someone told her she couldn't, Maya did!
ReplyDeleteIt's that kind of perseverance that Momma taught her that not only made things possible for Maya as Margurite, but for Maya as Maya Angelou.