Gather Together in My Name

Rating:
Summary: Phenomenal
Review: I read the first and second book in Maya Angelou biographies. "Gather Together In My Name" is the sequel to "I know Why the Cage Bird Sings." In "Gather Together In My Name," Maya Angelou is still in her teens and has given birth to her son, Guy. The time that this book takes place is at the end of World War 2. This time is a time of new beginnings, especially for black people. Maya Angelou tries to find a place in the world that will except her and her son. This is most difficult for her, because she can't find a decent job and her family won't help support her son. She becomes a short-order cook and falls in love, a brief affair that makes her want a relationship, that will bring affection and security for herself and her baby. The job doesn't last long, neither do her relationships. She moves from job to job and man to man. She feels as if nothing is working for her. And that she's not accepted in society. She tries to go to the army, but doesn't get in. She becomes a night club dancer and loves that, but her new partner drops her for another women. She then works at a house for prostitution. She makes no money prostituting but as the business manager it works out for her but only a little while. Her many challenges in life has helped succeed in life, and in her careers. Her harsh experiences helped her become a great writer, and poet. I liked this book a lot. No matter what she never gave up and that is what made her strong. She is a "Phenomenal Women."

Rating:
Summary: Good book
Review: It is a good book. Maya write about her life and the book is very interesting.

Rating:
Summary: Good book
Review: It is a good book. Maya write about her life and the book is very interesting.

Rating:
Summary: Gather Together in my name
Review: There's no question why children all over the world are advised to read this book. This is the second of Maya Angelou's books that I have read, and I really enjoyed it. It's truthful and honest, but frankly, some parts of the book disgusted me. But, although I don't agree with some of the author's choices, this book is a good read. However, because of some of the content, I would only recommended it to a mature reader. If you want to read a book which doens't hide the fact that everyone makes mistakes, give this one a try.

Rating:
Summary: A heart touching story of truth and love, through struggle.
Review: This beautifully descriptive story takes place some time before the 1940's. It talks about the stuggles that blacks were facing, before the time that civil rights groups were starting to develop. As an Afican American, the story she depicts makes me proud of my race and the world as the HUMAN race. Maya Angelou is an exceptional author and to write about her own life experiences enriches the story and enlightens the reader of our past. I stongly urge anyone, no matter what race you are, to read this book.

Rating:
Summary: Troubled Woman
Review: This book is about a young black woman, who struggles mightily in all turns of life. Skipping around from man to man and job to job, she never finds that lucid light she has always been looking for. Every thing she does turns upsidedown in her face, showing that she is not afraid to deal with mistake. Whether running a whorehouse or getting high, she did admit she was wrong. THis indespensibel quality makes her an inspiration to many readers. However I suggest younger readers not to read it.

Rating:
Summary: Troubled Woman
Review: This book is about a young black woman, who struggles mightily in all turns of life. Skipping around from man to man and job to job, she never finds that lucid light she has always been looking for. Every thing she does turns upsidedown in her face, showing that she is not afraid to deal with mistake. Whether running a whorehouse or getting high, she did admit she was wrong. THis indespensibel quality makes her an inspiration to many readers. However I suggest younger readers not to read it.

Rating:
Summary: My desire to understand my prejudice kept me ready Maya
Review: This book was a real eye opener for me as a white woman. I read of her stuggles in a white dominated world and found myself cheering her on. It suprised me. The issues were balck/white and I was cheering for her team. Her strength of character and her boldness in adversity made me proud to be a woman. She tells it as only she can.

Rating:
Summary: Fine insight into young Afro-American woman's inner thoughts
Review: This is the second book by Maya Angelou I have read this week. Began with I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS. Continuing powerful insight into the thoughts of Maya, but being female myself, could be thoughts of any young woman, regardless of color. We all seem to have our flights of fantasies, but I do not recall ever reading such detailed material about them. Am already reading third book in this series, and am equally impressed.

Rating:
Summary: An honest, fascinating autobiography that reads like poetry.
Review: This is the second in Maya Angelou's series of books about her life. It is as beautifully written as the first volume, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" and covers her life from the ages of sixteen to nineteen. For many of us, these years would not make for fascinating reading, but for Ms. Angelou these were years of searching and experimenting in a time when opportunities were plentiful, but usually contained hidden costs. Much of the book is about how Ms. Angelou belatedly discovered the hidden agendas of those she came to love. Indeed, hardly anything turned out the way she planned. Ms. Angelou is completely honest about her life, her naivety, her ambitions, and especially her feelings. She successfully evokes all the feelings and dreams of a young woman who is trying to make it as an adult. This is a powerful book in which the author invites you into her innermost world, and lets you share her excitement, disappointment, fear, elation, hardship, mistakes, and desires. Ms. Angelou experienced much more during these years than most of us would dream of: She worked as a cook, waitress, dancer, prostitute, clothing seller, restaurant manager and Madam. In between jobs she retreated to life with family. All of her experiences are described in vivid detail yet so straightforwardly that the book is actually quite short (181 pages). I highly recommend this book, as well as the first volume of Ms. Angelou's autobiography