I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou | A book review

It is the first of her five-volume autobiographies, and I am head over heels for it. If it weren't for the then-college instructor, now lawyer, Atty. Simeon, I wouldn't bother picking up this book at BookSale.

After I made the purchase, thought to myself if it's going to be worth it, and it did not disappoint. It left me in awe and giddy with the words I've yet to learn as I go through the pages.

It's like every word that Maya Angelou uses is gold, and the book itself is a treasure chest. 

I'd like to quote Atty. Simeon says, "She writes with graceful eloquence and precision." True enough to capture not just Atty. Chanda's admiration, but mine too. All salute and respect to Maya Angelou. Her storytelling is beyond impressive. 

And just like Atty. Simeon, this line also made me stop my breath for a second and paused to internalize what she wrote:

"Then there was the pain. A breaking and entering when even the senses are torn apart. The act of rape on an eight-year-old body is a matter of the needle giving because the camel can’t. The child gives, because the body can, and the mind of the violator cannot."

The struggle an eight-year-old had to endure just because she's black made me realize how the world can sometimes be cruel to some and forgiving to others. However, it did not stop Maya from moving forward. 

Her experiences might have been cruel and unjust, but they did shape her into the Maya we now know. An insightful, articulate, strong, and self-sufficient woman. Maya proved to be someone who's resilient. 

I don't want to give away more of the book. I want you to experience it for yourself. Every page is not just a page turner; it gives you wisdom—something to ponder on. 

Here's some quotes from the book that I love:

* "I gave myself up to the gentle warmth and thanked God that no matter what evil I had done in my life He had allowed me to live to see this day."

* "... the prayers were being ignored because the Balancing Angel was blocking their passage. "

* " Anything that works against you can also work for you once you understand the Principle of Reverse."

* " I was another link in a long chain of disappointments."

* "She comprehended the perversity of life, that in the struggle, there's joy. "

* "Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with shades of deeper meaning."

Oh, Maya. Thank you for writing this book. I want to read more of and from you. Your words touched my soul more than any author could. 

Here's to more meaningful reading. 

With love,

E.