This book offers a fascinating glimpse into the life of Maya Angelou.

It does so by presenting a collection of stories that detail her personal experiences and the people who were dear to her.

Readers will be drawn into the rich tapestry of her life, filled with both joy and sorrow.

The stories paint a vivid picture of the times and places in which she lived, as well as the relationships that shaped her.

From her early years to her later achievements, this book provides a comprehensive look at the remarkable woman that was Maya Angelou.

It is a must-read for anyone interested in learning more about her life and the impact she had on the world.

Whether you are a fan of her work or simply curious about her story, this book is sure to captivate and inspire.

A Song Flung Up to Heaven is the sixth and final installment of Maya's six-part autobiography, covering the years from 1964 to 1968. It is an extremely heart-rending volume. The story begins with her return to the US after spending years in Ghana, where her son has decided to stay behind. One of the reasons for her departure is to put some distance between herself and her husband, whom she refers to as "the African". He symbolizes every wrong choice of lover a woman could make.

She comes back to America to join her friend, Malcolm X, in establishing an Organisation of African-American Unity. However, just two days after her return and after speaking to him, she receives the tragic news of his assassination.

Spurred on by her mother, brother, and loyal friends, she manages to find work. She sings in a nightclub in Hawaii and does market research in Watts, a black area in LA that erupted into violent riots in 1965.

By 1968, we see Maya returning to New York to work with Martin Luther King, raising funds for a poor people's march. But unfortunately, on the very day she was supposed to start her work, King is assassinated.

Reliving these traumatic moments through her eyes is truly heartbreaking. It is easy to understand her despair and withdrawal. As she herself says: "Depression wound itself around me so securely I could barely walk, and didn't want to talk." From these experiences, she masters her pen...

Together, these six books, which I have devoured in the last few days, are a unique autobiographical achievement. I can think of no more fitting a celebration of the indomitable spirit of Maya Angelou.

4.5⭐️ What a remarkable life this woman had.

She seemed to have experienced a plethora of adventures and challenges throughout her years.

From the early days of her childhood, filled with dreams and aspirations, to the later stages of her life where she had accumulated a wealth of wisdom and memories.

Her story was one that could inspire others, a tale of perseverance in the face of difficulties and a pursuit of happiness that never wavered.

She had loved deeply, lost painfully, but had always managed to pick herself up and move forward.

Her life was a tapestry of colors and emotions, a beautiful and complex masterpiece that would be remembered for a long time.

And as we look back on her life, we can't help but be in awe of all that she had accomplished and the person that she had become.

Ms. Angelou's narrative is a captivating journey that takes the reader from the depths of the pain of love lost to the heights of the joy of self-discovery. As she recounts her friendship with James Baldwin, the unbelievable grief she felt over the assassinations of both Malcom X and MLK, and so many other amazing peaks and valleys, it is truly awe-inspiring. Her ability to capture the radical life and times of such a vivacious woman is a testament to her skill as a master storyteller. She does not shy away from her worst moments nor does she overly esteem her best qualities. Instead, she presents a brutally honest account of her life that is both heartbreaking and inspiring. I love this book for its unwavering honesty and the hope it instills in every imperfect person who is striving to make a life well lived. It serves as a reminder that even in the face of great adversity, we can find the strength within ourselves to persevere and grow.

I am just one book away from completing Maya Angelou's autobiography, and I consider this particular one as the last that mainly delves into her aging life.

She is an absolutely incredible woman, exuding confidence and being a fearless warrior. However, despite all these qualities, she has shown in this book that no one is truly an island, and she too is vulnerable. Just two days after her arrival in the US, Malcolm X died. Then came a series of events with her abusive West African partner, her grown son desperate for an independent life as a man, and who can truly understand the feelings of a young black woman, a mother, when her child reaches that inevitable stage of parental detachment and maturity?; and then Martin Luther King died. All of these occurred in her nearly middle age, and her mum was there, as were her friends, but most importantly, her brother, Bailey.

I am so pleased to encounter such a healthy sister-brother relationship, one that at all times will offer wisdom and a shoulder to lean on. I will always be grateful that Robert Loomis persistently convinced her to write an autobiography, as my life truly wouldn't have changed. The book ends with the first words from her first book that made me admire her, "What are you looking at me for. I didn’t come to stay.”

The last in a collection of 6 amazing autobiographies is truly a remarkable one. Maya returns to America with the intention of helping Malcolm X. However, before she can do so, he is tragically assassinated.

After getting over her grief, Maya relocates to L.A. There, she finds herself caught up in race riots. Additionally, an old African ex-husband calls her. But most significantly, she embarks on a journey to become a writer.

She witnesses the profound effect of Martin Luther King Jnr's assassination. And she finishes her autobiographies at the start of writing 'I know why a caged bird sings'. This book may not be for everyone, but for me, she is a triumph and an inspiration.

If you want to know what a good literary autobiography should read like, this is the book for you. It is the last of my forever autobiographies and a collection of books I simply can't live without. If you aspire to be a good ally, this is required reading.

It offers a unique perspective on life, race, and the power of writing.

Truthfully, this isn't the best in the series. The storyline seems to bounce around quite a bit, and it is held together mainly by the assassinations of Malcom X and MLK.

However, it is still a very enjoyable read. The author has managed to create a world that is both engaging and thought-provoking. The characters are well-developed and the plot, despite its flaws, keeps the reader hooked from start to finish.

I will be sad to finish the final volume. It has been a great journey through this series, and I have learned a lot about history and human nature along the way. I highly recommend this series to anyone who enjoys historical fiction or wants to learn more about the civil rights movement in America.

Overall, while this may not be the perfect installment in the series, it is still a worthy read that will leave a lasting impression on the reader.

It took Maya Angelou a long time to figure out who she was.

That is not a criticism, since some people never do. But she was kind enough to take us on her journey in six autobiographical books, and this one is the last.

It is perhaps an odd place to end her autobiographies, as it ends with an invitation to write her first. So, she doesn't tell the story of her great fame and life as one of America's finest poets.

However, that's okay. Cumulatively, these books take us through the life of a poor southern girl who was largely raised by her grandmother to the woman ready to be the Maya Angelou we all know and ought to love.

She was always unsparing about her flaws and mistakes, and she is just as unsparing in this volume. She includes a mistake she didn't learn from the first time.

She also takes us through the murders of Malcolm X and Dr. King, and the varied responses of the black community in addition to her own (she knew both men).

This book is as fine as the others, and every bit as important. It offers a unique perspective on her life and the times she lived in, allowing us to better understand the woman behind the legend.

Maya Angelou has a remarkable way of storytelling that truly engages readers and makes them feel as if they are right there with her in the narrative.

"A Song Flung Up to Heaven" is no exception to this. As I delved into the pages, I had the distinct impression that I was strolling the streets of Watts alongside Maya. I could sense the palpable, foreboding fear that gripped the community, followed by the profound lament that ensued after the tragic deaths of Malcolm X and Dr. King.

I also shared in her sense of wandering and the unknown as she journeyed from Africa to California, then to Hawaii and back again. In a very real way, it felt as if she was not only sharing her own story but also mine. It was the story of my people, of Black people and our remarkable resilience, just as she had intended to do with her very first autobiography.

Angelou's words have the power to touch the hearts and souls of readers, transcending time and space and connecting us all through the universal themes of struggle, hope, and perseverance.

A touch of magic, a pinch of the devilish and the heavenly, a wonderfully gifted voice soaring far above our heads. It's such a pleasure to read her writing, it's really addictive.

This book is less of an autobiography, and more a collection of excerpts of memory, one flowing on from the other, with at times implied connections. Liquid spirited ink stares back at me from this narrative and leaves me as usual spellbound.

Her words seem to dance on the page, creating a vivid and enchanting world that I can't help but get lost in. Each memory is like a precious gem, carefully polished and presented for our enjoyment. The way she weaves these memories together is truly masterful, making it difficult to put the book down.

As I turn the pages, I feel as if I am on a journey with her, experiencing her joys, her sorrows, and everything in between. Her writing has the power to transport me to another time and place, and I am grateful for the opportunity to experience it.

This book is a must-read for anyone who loves beautiful writing and captivating stories. It is a true work of art that will leave you spellbound from beginning to end.

Maya Angelou is a renowned American author and poet, widely celebrated for her powerful and inspiring works. Her series of autobiographies has been a significant contribution to the literary world, captivating readers with her honest and vivid accounts of her life experiences.

Each volume in the series offers a unique perspective on different stages of her journey, from her early years filled with challenges and hardships to her growth and transformation as an individual.

However, as with all good things, the series of Maya Angelou autobiographies has come to an end. This marks the conclusion of a remarkable body of work that has touched the hearts and minds of countless readers around the world.

Although the series may be over, the impact of Maya Angelou's words will continue to resonate for generations to come. Her stories serve as a reminder of the strength and resilience of the human spirit, and the importance of perseverance in the face of adversity.

And so ends the series of Maya Angelou autobiographies, leaving behind a rich literary legacy that will be cherished and studied for years to come.

Maya Angelou’s autobiography, volume 6, covering the years 1965 - 1968, did not quite reach the same heights as the previous volumes.

There wasn't a great deal that seemed to happen, and in parts, it felt more like a simple list of events and names. However, it's important to note that I'm comparing it to the other books in the series, which were absolute masterpieces.

Angelou's beautiful command of the written word still managed to make even the most mundane of stories enjoyable to read. The parts that I found particularly interesting were the deeply personal accounts of grief following the assassinations of Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr.

The way these events affected the black community was truly eye-opening. It provided a very valuable insight not only into that specific time and place but also more generally into the struggles, sorrows, and joys of living in a marginalised ethnic community.

Overall, while this volume may not have been as strong as the others, it still offers important perspectives and a glimpse into a significant period of history.