Maya Angelou is truly a remarkable and beautiful storyteller.

As I delved into her works, I found myself deeply empathizing with her in every single one of her setbacks and triumphs. Her emotions seemed to leap off the pages, palpable and raw.

I am filled with an overwhelming sense of awe when I think about her extraordinary journey through life. The fact that she managed to become friends with so many amazing people from all over the world is truly inspiring.

Her poetry has the power to move the soul, and her literature serves as a source of inspiration for countless individuals.

I am determined to continue reading every piece of work that I can get my hands on by this incredible author.

May she rest in peace, and may her stories continue to shine a bright light on the lives of others for generations to come.

This, I firmly believe, was Angelou's final biographical masterpiece. She holds a special place among my favorite writers. However, this particular work didn't leave as profound an impression on me as her other literary gems that I've had the pleasure of reading.

It delves into a significant time period in the late 1960s. Angelou returns from Africa with the intention of collaborating with Malcom X in his noble efforts to persuade the United Nations to pressure the United States into becoming a less racist nation. Tragically, before she can even begin working with him, he is assassinated by other black men. This event deeply shatters her.

In the aftermath of the assassination, Angelou embarks on a soul-searching journey to discover her true calling in life. She spends some time singing in nightclubs in Hawaii. But realizing that singing isn't her true passion, she heads to Los Angeles in search of something more fulfilling. There, she takes on a temporary job doing door-to-door surveys in Watts. Shortly after, the infamous Watts riots break out. She bravely goes to observe them twice, once in the heat of the chaos and again on the last day when things start to calm down. The experiences she has there have a profound impact on her.

She also takes part in a play and performs admirably, yet she still hasn't found that elusive thing she desires in life. She then makes her way to New York, where she has connections with various writers, actors, and Writers' Guild officials. With the generous financial and emotional support of her friends there, she manages to survive in the big city. Dr. Martin Luther King reaches out to her, asking her to travel across the country to assist in advancing his movement. She comes up with some excellent ideas on how to do so. Sadly, before she can get started, he too is assassinated.

Angelou is an accomplished writer of poetry, essays, and more, but she isn't making a living from her writing. Then, Robert Loomis of Random House calls and suggests that she write an autobiography. It takes her a while to make up her mind, but ultimately, she decides to take on the challenge. The result is the fantastically successful "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," which serves as the springboard for her incredible writing career.

This was a relatively short book, consisting of only 134 pages. It vividly describes a major turning point in her life, during which she was closely associated with Malcom X, Watts, and Dr. Martin Luther King. She endures the pain of witnessing the assassinations of both men and the destruction of the City of Watts. She also experiences the heartbreak of a difficult breakup with an African man who creates numerous problems in their relationship. These are truly very difficult times, but she grows from them, and they play a crucial role in shaping the person she becomes and influencing how she approaches her writing career.

I truly relished this book. Maya Angelou has an incredibly assertive yet calming voice. It is impossible not to believe her, to yield to her wisdom, to be in awe of her numerous life experiences, and to find solace in her wit.

The book examines a period in history that was politically violent and tumultuous. The 1960s in America witnessed movements that claimed the lives of key figures, including two of Maya's friends with whom she was set to collaborate, Malcolm X and Martin Luther King. Maya speaks openly and frankly about the civil rights movement, and her profound sense of loss and regret over the deaths of her friends. Her writing is well-measured and confident.

It is a seamless and effortless read that is engaging at all times, and it appeals to the deep sense of humanity that we might possess. It offers a unique perspective on a significant era in American history, told through the eyes of a remarkable woman. The book is not only a historical account but also a deeply personal and emotional journey. It makes the reader reflect on the importance of equality, justice, and the power of the human spirit.

This brings the six parts that Angelou chose to divide her life into to a close, circling back around to end with her writing the first line of Caged Bird.

She describes her chosen style as the slave narrative tradition, where she is “speaking in the first person singular, talking about the first person plural, always saying ‘I’ meaning ‘we’.”

I think that I will never read her poem “Still I rise” without seeing the events she has described illuminating it. And my only regret is that I did not read her story years ago. I will look to read a copy of her story about her relationship with her mother.

It seems hardly possible that she managed to cram so much living, loving, and educating into just six books. It seems hardly possible that as I was reading about the Watts riots, explained and described firsthand, the news was alive with the riots in Minneapolis.

Angelou's work is truly a remarkable exploration of a life filled with both hardships and triumphs. Her words have the power to touch our hearts and make us reflect on the human experience.

Reading her books is like taking a journey through time and space, experiencing the world through her eyes. It is a privilege to be able to read her works and gain a deeper understanding of her life and the times in which she lived.

I am grateful for the opportunity to have discovered her writing and look forward to reading more of her works in the future.

On my last day, Robert Loomis called again. I have always been certain that he spoke to James Baldwin. He said, “Miss Angelou, Robert Loomis. I won’t bother you again. And I must say, you may be right not to attempt an autobiography, because it is nearly impossible to write an autobiography as literature. Almost impossible.” I didn't think. I didn't have to. I said, “Well, maybe I will try it. I don't know how it will turn out, but I can try.” Grandmother Henderson's voice was in my ear: “Nothing beats a trial but a failure.”

Whew. This is the last installment in Maya Angelou's autobiography. I'm trying not to feel sad about it. I have loved these six autobiographical volumes so very much. Over the last five years, I have clung to them, and I can hardly put into words how I feel at the end of this reading journey. A reviewer on Goodreads said that Maya Angelou's writing has something addictive - you just want to keep reading, craving more and more. Other reviewers describe the comfort her writing gives them. I completely concur. The reason I have stuck with this autobiography perhaps lies in the 'comfort' (though this word doesn't fully capture it) that her way of storytelling provides. And after finishing this book, I immediately downloaded all of her other published prose onto my e-reader.

Maya Angelou has truly accomplished what her editor thought was 'almost impossible': writing an autobiography of incredible literary quality. I'm sure many readers are forever grateful for her work.

There is an abundance of life within the pages of this book. Maya's biography is filled with rich experiences as she traveled to Africa and then journeyed back to the US, crossing the country from coast to coast. She had a diverse circle of friends, both famous and not so well-known. She held great admiration for strong men such as James Baldwin, Martin Luther King, and Malcolm X. Maya worked in a variety of occupations, including as a dancer, singer, author, poet, and screenwriter. She continuously reinvented herself to adapt to new jobs and meet challenges head-on. The book also delves into discussions about women's issues with men and showcases the true strength and resilience of women. Additionally, Maya provides us with insights into her family and the Black American community, making us reflect on the significance of how we treat one another. This is a concise yet well-written book that is both thoughtful and revealing, while also being highly entertaining.

3.5 stars.

Apparently, this is the last of seven short volumes of Maya Angelou's autobiography. I was completely unaware of this fact. Now, I feel a strong urge to go and read the other volumes.

This particular volume focuses on her later life. It delves into her work and experiences after she returns to the United States from Ghana. It also touches upon her plans to collaborate with Malcolm X and Martin Luther King, which unfortunately were thwarted by their tragic murders.

Maya Angelou led an incredibly eventful life. I truly appreciate the honesty and authenticity that shines through in this volume. She openly discusses her struggles in love and family, her frustrations, and her regrets. It makes for a deeply moving and thought-provoking read.

I look forward to exploring the earlier volumes of her autobiography to gain a more comprehensive understanding of her remarkable life journey.

I am an extremely slow reader. I plod through each line and page ponderously. I try to squeeze in bits of reading into thin slices of time while commuting or just before bed, etc.

However, Maya Angelou has been so captivating that I have exceeded my own expectations. I have read 6 books in just over as many weeks, easily making her my most-read author, aside from the silly childhood book series.

Her reflections on her life and the backdrop of the black struggle are particularly fascinating to me in light of recent events in America and the consequent discussions on racial and cultural integration (or the lack thereof).

This final book, which details a stage in life where Maya clearly spends a great deal of time introspecting while going about the business of life, is inspiring in its own unique way. It's okay to be lost for a while until the calling comes through loudly.

What an amazing woman she is!

I have always had a deep passion for reading anything that Maya Angelou pens. This particular book spans from the early 1960s to the late 1960s. During this time, she has returned from Africa to California.

Tough times are beginning to unfold. Her dear friend Malcolm X has been brutally murdered, and the Watts riots are starting to simmer. She undertakes a journey, traveling from California to Hawaii, back to California, and then on to New York.

By the end of the 60s, Martin Luther King has also been assassinated. A friend encourages her to write an autobiography as the tumultuous decade draws to a close. Initially, she is reluctant, but her friend manages to convince her. And this is when she pen the renowned "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings."

It is truly a remarkable book by a highly talented writer. It is a pleasure to delve deeper into her life and gain a better understanding of her experiences during such a significant period in history.

This year has been rather fortunate thus far in terms of my discoveries of several remarkable books.

Among them, A Song Flung Up To Heaven would definitely rank in the top 3.

The author is an incredibly talented writer. Reading this book is an absolute pleasure.

She possesses an effortless and concise writing style. I'm not sure if it's entirely appropriate to say, but to me, her writing seems to be a blend of Ernst Hemingway's and Audre Lorde's. It's as concise as Hemingway's yet with the warmth of Audre, making the reader feel as if they are a part of the prose.

Certain parts of this book are so vivid that they seem almost palpable. For instance:

1. The vivid description of New Yorkers (which can be related to any big city):

New York was full of vigor, and its inhabitants moved with great speed. Everyone was always headed somewhere with determination. There seemed to be no question or doubt about their destination. New Yorkers knew they were going to arrive, and no one had better get in their way.

2. People when they change places:

Human beings are like some plants. If we pause for a few seconds in our journey, we begin setting down roots, tendrils that entangle other people as we ourselves are entangled.

3. The description when James Baldwin made her meet his mom. It was so warm that I found myself smiling throughout the entire chapter.

4. My eyes widened in surprise and my heart skipped a beat when Martin Luther King was shot dead (Ah! the tragedy).

I would wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone who derives joy from reading. :)

The book seemed to be a compilation of events and friendships that lacked the cohesion found in Maya's previous works.

Consequently, it was more difficult to engage with.

However, I was intrigued (and deeply saddened) by the account of the impact that the deaths of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King had on Maya and her community.

Such events provided a unique opportunity to view world events from an insider's point of view.

I also appreciated the way the book concluded, which gave a sense of closure to the six autobiographical volumes (noting that the seventh focuses on Maya's maternal relationship).

Overall, I would rate this book 3.5 stars out of 5.

I had an intense love for all of Maya Angelou’s autobiographies.

In this particular one, she delved deep into the profound pain she experienced upon losing Malcolm X and Martin Luther King.

Moreover, she also shared her friendship with James Baldwin, which added another layer of depth to her narrative.

Her writing was so captivating that I couldn't help but wish she had written even more.

I would have been more than happy to read her entire life story, from beginning to end.

Each of her autobiographies was like a precious gem, offering unique insights into her remarkable life and the times she lived in.

I can only imagine the wealth of knowledge and wisdom that would have been revealed if she had chronicled every single moment of her existence.

Nevertheless, the ones she did write will always remain a cherished part of literary history.