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I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

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I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

By: Maya Angelou
Narrated by: Maya Angelou
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About this listen

Maya Angelou's six volumes of autobiography are a testament to the talents and resilience of this extraordinary writer. Loving the world, she also knows its cruelty. As a Black woman she has known discrimination and extreme poverty, but also hope, joy, achievement, and celebration.

In this first volume of her six books of autobiography, Maya Angelou beautifully evokes her childhood with her grandmother in the American south of the 1930s. She learns the power of the white folks at the other end of town and suffers the terrible trauma of rape by her mother's lover.

"I write about being a Black American woman, however, I am always talking about what it's like to be a human being. This is how we are, what makes us laugh, and this is how we fall and how we somehow, amazingly, stand up again." (Maya Angelou)

©1969 Maya Angelou (renewed 1997) (P)2011 Random House Inc Entertainment & Celebrities Celebrity Inspiring Heartfelt Thought-Provoking Funny

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All stars
Most relevant  
Can't believe it's taken me this many years to read this book. What an interesting story that only goes up to her teens. Can't wait to read the books that follow.

Great Book Read by A Great Woman

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I absolutly adore an autobiography that takes you back in time and along on a Journey. Maya Angelou was a remarkable Lady who lived many lives and had a very true, very real up bringing that not only paints the reality of what life was like back then but is also relatable today. I had a wonderful time and I'm glad it's only book n°1.

Wonderful book !

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Laughs, cry and very touching reminders that you the reader are human too.

A really beautiful experience to get through this on the audiobook - in Maya’s voice - what a treat, sit back and get lost in Maya’s world

Incredible

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A wonderful collection of beautiful literatures and language spoken by her herself Ms Angelo. RIP

Inspirational woman

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A great story, well told. It makes you realise how lucky you are and what other people have to go through. Lots of difficult times but also a few laughs.

A wonderful story

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Very interesting book I loved Maya's voice reading the book I would recommend this book.

great book

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This is really, really excellent. A beautiful, evocative retelling of an extraordinary childhood. Painful at times (it gives as vivid an insight into the experience of sexual violence and racism as you'll read anywhere) but inspirational. 'What Would Maya Angelou Do?' is a good mantra to live your life by. Love the audio narration, I could listen to Dr Angelou all day.

Inspirational

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An easy and relaxed pace, beautiful rich flowing voice.
An enchanting and descriptive memoire of her early informative years.

Enchanting

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What a writer. Every sentence, took my breath away. I almost want to go back and all over again. Powerful woman, powerful words.

Exquisite.

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‼️Triggers References sexual and physical abuse‼️

This is a book that will make you smile, cry and laugh. This is the first of Maya’s seven books of her autobiography.

Maya weaves a raw and often painful childhood experience that she went through. Mostly growing up with her grandmother in the south of America. She goes through her life as a black young girl and she does not shy away from telling you how it was. She talks about her experiences with violence and racial discrimination. She mainly experiences poverty and the times she is with her mother she is growing and her love of Shakespeare gives her hope. Some of it was hard to read especially the abuse and my heart just broke for her at times.

I would say that knowing the public figure she became this was a shock regarding her background but as I read on it was evident to me that she was no ordinary child.

This book ends towards her late teens.

*A Remarkable Woman in The Making*

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