It's truly wonderful to visit an old friend!

The opening presents such a stark contrast to today's "tell all" craze, where people on talk shows and "reality TV" endlessly drone on about how they've been wronged by others.

For those who may not recall, Angelou begins with her (admittedly self-centered) reaction to her son's terrible injuries in an automobile accident in Ghana. The accident completely upended her life, shattering her plans for a life in Africa and leaving her a broken shell.

She holds nothing back, meticulously detailing the criticism from her son - lying in a hospital bed in a body cast yet remaining strong - her salvation by an acquaintance who reluctantly steps in as a "brother," pushing her back on the right path, and her own self-criticism and struggle - which is ultimately successful - to take stock and forge ahead in a new direction.

Her descriptions of life in the Black American, "Revolutionist Returnee," community in Ghana - the struggles to be accepted, the connections and differences between Americans and Africans, the surprises, joys, and heartbreaks - are poetically real.

We are incredibly fortunate that Angelou left us such a rich body of literature!

What can I say besides another book I loved from the great Maya Angelou?

I was a little concerned to pick up her 5th memoir of a series as I'd only read "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings". If you're in the same boat and only have access to this, don't worry and just read it!

This is a memoir of coming "home" and discovering what "home" means in your heart.

As a white woman, I will never understand the pain of descendants of enslaved people. But as an immigrant, I'm very grateful to have two homes and understand Angelou's drive to be on the land of your ancestors. I find my experience when I go to Europe incomparable to anything else. I literally get to see the gardens my grandparents worked and take care of. And yet, there is always a part of my heart that feels so seeks out the comforts of the US.

Sorry for focusing so much on myself in this review. It's just that this resonated with me on so many personal levels, I've never felt so seen. And yet, I also felt distant. Angelou's experiences with locals and yearning shared with fellow expats is something I will never fully know because we left our continent of origin by choice, a choice Angelou and others never had.

All I can say at the end of this is, whether you are an immigrant, a multi-generational American mutt, or anything in between, pick up this book and try to answer the question for yourself - what do you identify as "home"? It could be a physical place, a feeling, a group of people, or something else entirely. The beauty of this memoir is that it makes you think deeply about this question and forces you to confront your own feelings and experiences. So, don't hesitate, give it a read and see where it takes you.

This is the 5th book in Maya Angelou’s autobiographical series, and it presents a distinct reading experience. It feels more like a collection of short stories.

The book delves into a period of Maya's life during her thirties when she resided in Ghana. I must admit, I had never before considered the difficulties that African Americans might encounter in their attempt to return to Africa. Through numerous examples that Maya kindly guides us through, as a reader, I was able to gain a better understanding of the cultural differences. I also came to realize how the African American culture was shaped by oppression and resilience. The theme of Maya's search for "home" remains unresolved throughout the book, just as it likely was in her real life. However, towards the end, there is a glimmer of hope and optimism.

Given that this was a short book, I finished it quickly. Nevertheless, I will be ruminating on its content for many days to come. It is a powerful read that truly opened my eyes and touched me on an emotional level.

This was possibly the one I have found hardest to read, until I nearly reached the end.

It’s still a powerful study of a search for identity and the feelings of loss when, going home, she finds herself still an outsider in many ways.

Possibly the start is slow because she describes her struggles when her precious son is hurt in a car crash. There is a real mother’s voice here and I was glad she found a friend to help her out of this abyss.

Towards the end, Angelou describes the visit of Malcolm X and her mixed feelings. Then the narrative seemed to take on a life, started to speak again.

There was a flash of anger with white lecturers earlier where her voice rang out and she allowed herself anger and then penitence when the black Ghanaian servant speaks to her simply and with self-assurance.

The Keta bridge incident resonates as here Angelou seems to be in touch with her ancestors, to be part of a memory she couldn’t have had. Mr Adadevo’s explanation of the history was simple, reinforcing her link to ancestors.

This is built on later when she is ‘recognised’ on the dark stairs leading to Keto’s market. A woman speaking Ewe, a language not spoken by Angelou, becomes angry at what she sees as rudeness until, thanks again to the intervention of Mr Adadevo, she realises Angelou is American.

The moment when, walking from the dark stairs into the light at the top, Angelou sees her face clearly for the first time and sees her Grandmother’s features writ large just made me stop.

I’ll finish with her words, ‘Many years earlier I, or rather someone very like me and certainly related to me, had been taken from Africa by force. This second leave taking would not be so onerous, for now I knew my people had never completely left Africa.’

Overall, this piece is a profound exploration of identity, loss, and connection, filled with vivid descriptions and powerful emotions that stay with the reader long after the final page is turned.

I give this five stars because Maya is such an incredible storyteller.

She has the ability to whisk you along like a boat on a fast-moving current, carrying you through her narrative with ease and excitement.

Maya expresses both loathing and yearning for America, which makes for a complex and thought-provoking exploration of her relationship with the country.

On one hand, I can understand her feelings of loathing, given the long and painful history of slavery and discrimination in America.

On the other hand, I am also disappointed by her negativity towards a nation that has fought a civil war and continues to strive to overcome 400 years of slavery.

Overall, however, I believe that Maya's story is an important one that needs to be heard, and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in American history and culture.

Maya Angelou's memoir is a captivating exploration of her life.

She finds herself in a delicate position as an outsider. In the western world, being Black sets her apart. And in the African world, being an American makes her stand out.

Her interactions with controversial figures like Malcolm X and President Kwame Nkrumah add another layer of complexity to her story.

She has a deep attachment to her native land Ghana, which is evident throughout her memoir.

Moreover, the memoir is filled with a load of interesting details about her traumatic childhood. These details paint a vivid picture of the challenges she faced and the strength she developed to overcome them.

Maya Angelou's memoir is not only a personal account but also a reflection of the social and cultural issues of her time.

This autobiographical series is truly very enjoyable and interesting. It offers a unique perspective into the author's life, filled with engaging stories and experiences.

I have been thoroughly enjoying reading each installment, and I'm eagerly anticipating the next one that is on its way to my library.

The anticipation is palpable as I wonder what new adventures and insights the author will share.

I can't wait to get my hands on the next book and continue this wonderful literary journey.

It's like a treasure trove of knowledge and entertainment, and I'm glad to have discovered this series.

I highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading about real-life experiences and personal growth.

It's a captivating read that will keep you hooked from start to finish.

I don't have an abundance of things to say about this particular piece. However, it offers a truly fascinating perspective on a specific place and time. It delves into the concepts of home, what home truly means, and the idea of fitting in.

Mostly, I simply wish to extract a few quotations. For instance, "We had come home, and if home was not what we had expected, never mind, our need for belonging allowed us to ignore the obvious and to create real places or even illusory places, befitting our imagination." (19) This shows how our longing for a sense of belonging can sometimes make us overlook the reality of what home truly is.

Another quote that stands out is "I doubted if I, or any Black from the diaspora, could really return to Africa. We wore skeletons of old despair like necklaces, heralding our arrival, and we were branded with cynicism." (76) It highlights the complex emotions and experiences that those from the diaspora may have when considering a return to their ancestral homeland.

"Homesickness was never mentioned in our [expat] crowd. Who would dare admit a longing for a White nation so full of hate that it drove its citizens of color to madness, to death or to exile?" (120) This quote reveals the silence and perhaps the shame that some may feel when it comes to admitting their homesickness for a country that has treated them unjustly.

Finally, "Many of us had only begun to realize in Africa that the Stars and Stripes was our flag and our only flag, and that knowledge was almost too painful to bear." (127) This shows the conflicted feelings that some may have towards their country of birth, especially when they have experienced discrimination and oppression there.

Having heard her speak, I was truly intrigued. As I read this book, her voice seemed to echo in my head. She is an amazing woman, and it was incredibly interesting to delve into this particular time in her life. Moving to Africa with her son was no small feat. It was a huge change, and the way she wasn't necessarily accepted as she had initially thought was quite eye-opening. She was seen as American-African, not the other way around. The people she meets along the way, the struggles she endures, and her triumphant moments are all beautifully depicted. Only she has the ability to bring these experiences to life in such a vivid and engaging manner. It's been over 6 months since I read this book, but the memories of her story still linger in my mind.

Reread

Although I haven't delved into anything written by her for years, Maya Angelou still holds a sacred place in the trinity of my favorite writers, a list I always recite when asked: Nawal el Saadawi, Svetlana Alexievich, and Maya Angelou. Angelou is perhaps the only author whose seven books I have devoured. Between the ages of 15 and 20, I took my time relishing the multiple, equally brilliant installments of her autobiography.

Reflecting on this reading journey that my teenage self embarked upon fills me with an overwhelming sense of love and tenderness, to the point where I could almost shed tears. When an author accompanies you for such a long period, it forges a unique bond. I still possess numerous vivid memories, which aren't truly memories but rather passages and quotes from Angelou's books. From childhood scenes in Arkansas to performances in Venice and life in Ghana, which the fifth installment centers around.

When I learned that my best friend's younger brother was about to depart for Ghana, an intense URGE surged within me to present him with this book. I scoured the online platforms for a second-hand copy and had it shipped to his residence within minutes of conceiving the idea. The knowledge that he would be reading it piqued my curiosity to reread it myself, and it did not disappoint!

The chapter detailing her invitation to dinner by Germans during a trip to Berlin and her gradual realization that she had unknowingly entered a Nazi stronghold sent shivers down my spine

It is an honest piece of work. It is light-hearted in its tone, yet also contemplative. Amazingly, it manages to reflect deeply on one person's arduous struggle with history and its cruel aspects. This is the first book I have read in Angelou's autobiographical sequence, but I am certain that it will not be the last. Her writing style is captivating, drawing the reader in and making them feel as if they are right there with her, experiencing every moment. The way she weaves together her personal experiences with the larger historical context is truly remarkable. It gives a unique perspective on history and how it can shape a person's life. I look forward to delving into the rest of her autobiographical works and continuing to explore her fascinating life story.

Another great book by Maya Angelou. If you haven't recognized it by now, I'm giving myself the gift of Maya's writing as a Christmas present.

Well, this is the period of the 1960s when she's visiting Africa, and it's very interesting. Because many of the things that happened during that time, I was alive for and read about in the newspapers. Particularly, Martin Luther King and Malcolm X.

Throughout the book, she struggles against many odds. Such as her constant lack of money, the caring of her child's education, racism, and sexism. In the end, she is a richer person because of the experiences she had in Ghana and the places she visits throughout the entire story.

The book takes place in Ghana in the early 1960s when the African community was having their own civil rights experience and was growing towards self-government. Maya Angelou shows the struggles of the people. And she shows the difficulties both in her always amazing descriptions as well as tight and precise dialogue.

Without a doubt, I have nothing but admiration and respect for this brilliant woman.

I recommend this book to her and to anyone else. When it has Maya Angelou as an author, you can be sure 100% that the book is going to be a winner. It's a captivating read that offers a unique perspective on a significant era in history and the personal journey of a remarkable individual.