I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is the first of seven memoirs that Maya Angelou wrote. This book tells of her life from childhood to the age of seventeen - the years 1928 to 1945. The story is a harsh and sad one, dealing with poverty, racism, abandonment, rape, sexual abuse, and teenage pregnancy. It is inspirational not in its writing but in the fact that Maya Angelou had courage to live this life, to move forward from the events described, and to tell the story in such a public way.

Have a listen to the National Public Radio Broadcast. 

GalleyCat's article, Remembering Maya Angelou Through Her Writing.

Here is a list of 50 books, one for each year from 1963 to the present year, that everyone needs to read. I found this list randomly and I thought it was pretty neat. I might turn this into a challenge at some point.

(Obviously, the books shown here are only a sample of what is on the list)

Here is a list of 50 books, one for each year from 1963 to the present year, that everyone needs to read. I found this list randomly and I thought it was pretty neat. I might turn this into a challenge at some point.

(Obviously, the books shown here are only a sample of what is on the list)