• 5 Star Reads
  • Audiobooks
  • Books on Screen
  • Children’s Books
  • Christian
  • Fiction
  • Giveaways

5 Minutes For Books

  • Home
  • About
    • Who Are We? Reviewer Bios
    • 5 Star Reads
    • Disclosure
    • Privacy Policy
    • About Us
  • Join In
    • 5 Minutes for Books Bookclub
    • Children’s Classics
    • Kids’ Picks
    • What’s on Your Nightstand
  • Link To Us
  • Contact
    • Advertise

Classics Bookclub: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

February 3, 2009 by Melissa

Classics Bookclub

This month’s selection for the Classics Bookclub is I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. If you haven’t read the preview with some suggested discussion points, you can do so by clicking here.

I must admit that I struggled through reading this book. I told my husband that I didn’t think it would ever end. It was a difficult, albeit educational, read. Certainly not what I’d expected. I think I’ve summed up my disappointments with the book in our first podcast (which will be available later this week), so I won’t belabor the point here. The focus of the discussion I had with Jennifer and Lauren was Question #1 from the preview:

This autobiography was written in 1969, before the “personal memoir” era was born. Is there a difference between these two genres of books?

I think we also touched on Question # 2

Assuming that you did not grow up as an African American in the segregated South, do you have more understanding of that time period and how it affected those who lived it?

And #6

After reading the book do you understand “why the caged bird sings”?

Perhaps it’s the relationships in young Maya’s life that I grappled with most. Although she was surrounded by family, she didn’t seem to be close to anyone (other than Bailey, but that relationship waned as they grew older). Perhaps I’m mistaken, but I didn’t get the sense that she genuinely liked anyone in her family, or that she understood them at all. Many of her recollections seem full of disdain. I know children are often embarrassed by their families, but I couldn’t help but feel that she was overly critical, a little too quick and harsh in her judgment. She was offended when the “poor white trash girls” mocked her grandmother, but at some points in the story, I felt she was nearly doing the same thing…or at least being disrespectful to the woman who shouldered the responsibility of raising her and her brother.

Memoirs, according to Merriam-Webster, are “a narrative composed from personal experience”. I suppose Angelou is just being honest about how she felt at the time. Never having lived through anything remotely similar, I cannot possibly understand the feelings her upbringing evokes. While I may think the book was tough to read, I can only imagine how brutal living through it must have been.

Did I like I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings? Honestly, no.

Am I glad I read it? Surprisingly, yes. I am able to better comprehend a part of our American history that I knew little about, and for that, I have no regrets.

So, now it’s your turn. Leave us a comment or a link to your own post and let us know what you thought.

But first — remember you’re always invited to jump in any time. Our schedule for the next six months can be found HERE.

Classics Bookclub Participants

1. Jennifer, Snapshot
2. Amy @ Hope Is the Word
3. Nise\’
4. Margot @Joyfully Retire d
5. Leya (Wandeca Reads)
6. Stephanie\’s Mommy Brain

Powered by… Mister Linky’s Magical Widgets.

Melissa has been captivated by books for as long as she can remember. She resides in Virginia at at Breath of Life.

Filed Under: Classics Bookclub, Melissa, Memoir

« Love and Other Natural Disasters
Aurora: An American Experience in Quilt, Community, and Craft »

Comments

  1. Margot says

    February 3, 2009 at 9:29 am

    My take on this book is the opposite. I had a hard time finishing it only because I thought the writing was so beautiful. I found the story heart-breaking but I couldn’t stop. I’ve been an admirer of her poetry for years but this was my first reading of this book. For the poetic writing and the history told, I feel it’s a must read.

  2. Tina says

    February 3, 2009 at 9:45 am

    It’s been about ten years since I’ve read this book, but I liked it. I agree with you that it was difficult. For me, it was just so sad to see that one girl/woman could have endured what the Maya Angelou did, but on the other hand it opened my eyes. The world isn’t always pretty and I also had the knowledge that the girl in the book grew up to be an amazing woman who broke down barriers and found healing. Knowing that made it easier to read about.

  3. stephaniesmommybrain says

    February 3, 2009 at 1:25 pm

    As I said in my review, I wish I had never read this book. I still find it shocking that this book is considered appropriate for jr./sr. English classes.

  4. Deanna says

    February 4, 2009 at 11:28 am

    I just could not read this book. I think because in my mind she was too “Oprahized” (if that is a word). Sorry…
    I am trying to read Les Miserables. Hope I make the deadline.

    Your blog “shows great attitude/gratitude” so I have passed to you the Kreativ Blog Award.

    You can take a look at my blog for further info.

    http://ibeeeg.blogspot.com/2009/02/my-first-blog-award-yeah.html

  5. Jennifer says

    February 4, 2009 at 3:08 pm

    I have read a lot of books and have hundreds in my queue. With that said, this is one of my favourite books.

Trackbacks

  1. Saturday Review of Books: February 7, 2009 at Semicolon says:
    February 14, 2009 at 9:22 pm

    […] Copperfield)128. Deliciously Clean Reads (Uprising)129. Deliciously Clean Reads (Winter Wheat)130. 5M4B (I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings)131. 5M4B (Heart in Right Place memoir)132. FleurFisher (The Red House Mystery)133. FleurFisher […]

  2. Book Club Nominations « I’m Booking It says:
    August 18, 2009 at 1:57 pm

    […] http://books.5minutesformom.com/881/i-know-why-the-caged-bird-sings/ […]

Connect with us

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Welcome to 5 Minutes for Books. We are a team blog dedicated to sharing reviews and information about children's lit, fiction, memoir, and more. Read More…

Reviews

5 Minutes for Books

Jennifer Donovan
Managing Editor

MEET OUR TEAM



Connect With Us


Pinterest

Community

Cybils Logo Draft 3

Disclosure:

Find out about our relationships with publishers and affiliate networks in our full disclosure statement.

Recent Posts

  • The Good Sister
  • The Drowning Kind
  • You Love Me
  • Remember: The Science of Memory and the Art of Forgetting
  • Are We There Yet?

Categories

Privacy Policy    |     Disclosure Policy
Terms & Conditions
© 5 Minutes for Mom

Let’s Socialize

  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Pinterest is Our FAVORITE!

Find and Follow Us at
pinterest.com/5min4books

Copyright © 2021 · Tasteful theme by Restored 316

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.OkRead more