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rockets's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
relaxing
tense
medium-paced
5.0
lynecia's review against another edition
3.0
I'm barely an intermediate poetry enthusiast, (there are poets I appreciate and I do plan to read more) but I AM an avid Maya Angelou fan. When she died, I realized that to my dismay, aside from her more famous poems ("Still I Rise", "Phenomenal Woman"), I'd read so little of her poetry, which comprised so much of her body of work.
Unfortunately, I found that I didn't connect with most of the poems in this collection, but did walk away with a handful of new ones to appreciate. Perhaps, as I previously stated, because my knowledge and experience of poetry has been so limited (and even contentious at times), I was unable to appreciate it.
Unfortunately, I found that I didn't connect with most of the poems in this collection, but did walk away with a handful of new ones to appreciate. Perhaps, as I previously stated, because my knowledge and experience of poetry has been so limited (and even contentious at times), I was unable to appreciate it.
rjdenney's review against another edition
4.0
Such a beautiful and heartfelt read. My favorite poem had to be Still I Rise, my favorite line being: "You may shoot me with your words, you may cut me with your eyes, you may kill me with your hatefulness, but still, like air, I'll rise." Maya is such an inspirational and captivating woman and I'm so happy to have read her some of her work. I plan to read more soon and have more of Maya in my life. :)
mlsweeten's review
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
I like that many of her poems are straightforward but also raw and brutally honest (after all, poems should evoke some kind of emotion.) She covers topics of aging, abuse, racism, and sexuality. But my favorite passage:
“I note the obvious differences
Between each sort and type.
But we are more alike, my friends,
Than we are unalike.”
“I note the obvious differences
Between each sort and type.
But we are more alike, my friends,
Than we are unalike.”
gameoftomes's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Maya Angelou is a master of her craft, and I loved reading her full collection of poetry. She really pierces the soul. Her poems are very considered down to word choice and line spacing. I expanded my vocabulary a lot by reading this book. I recommend looking for videos of her reciting her own poetry to supplement your reading; no one can bring life to her words like she can.
10/10 required reading, objectively amazing.
ukponge's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, and Slavery