
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
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Narrated by:
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Maya Angelou
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By:
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Maya Angelou
About this listen
Sent by their mother to live with their devout, self-sufficient grandmother in a small Southern town, Maya and her brother, Bailey, endure the ache of abandonment and the prejudice of the local “powhitetrash”. At eight years old and back at her mother’s side in St. Louis, Maya is attacked by a man many times her age - and has to live with the consequences for a lifetime.
Years later, in San Francisco, Maya learns about love for herself and the kindness of others, her own strong spirit, and the ideas of great authors (“I met and fell in love with William Shakespeare”) will allow her to be free instead of imprisoned.
Poetic and powerful, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings is a modern American classic that will touch hearts and change minds for as long as people read - or listen.
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Amazing
- By psiegler on 07-25-18
By: Toni Morrison
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A Song Flung Up to Heaven
- By: Maya Angelou
- Narrated by: Maya Angelou
- Length: 4 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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This is the next installment in a six volume autobiography that began more than thirty years ago with the appearance of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. In A Song Flung Up to Heaven Maya Angelou describes her poignant encounters with Martin Luther King, Jr.; her work with the civil rights movement; and witnessing the Watts riots. Battered by the loss of revered black leaders, it takes writer James Baldwin to finally force her out of isolation with a dinner party that inspired her to write.
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best book I have listened to
- By Cynthia on 03-18-03
By: Maya Angelou
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Mom & Me & Mom
- By: Maya Angelou
- Narrated by: Maya Angelou
- Length: 4 hrs
- Unabridged
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The story of Maya Angelou’s extraordinary life has been chronicled in her multiple best-selling autobiographies. But now, at last, the legendary author shares the deepest personal story of her life: her relationship with her mother. For the first time, Angelou reveals the triumphs and struggles of being the daughter of Vivian Baxter, an indomitable spirit whose petite size belied her larger-than-life presence - a presence absent during much of Angelou’s early life.
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Never Enough Mom Books
- By Syd Young on 02-04-14
By: Maya Angelou
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Even the Stars Look Lonesome
- By: Maya Angelou
- Narrated by: Maya Angelou
- Length: 1 hr and 19 mins
- Abridged
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Even the Stars Look Lonesome is Maya Angelou talking of the things she cares about most. In her unique, spellbinding way, she recreates intimate personal experiences and gives us her wisdom on a wide variety of subjects. She tells us how a house can both hurt its occupants and heal them. She talks about Africa. She gives us a profile of Oprah. She enlightens us about age and sexuality.
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amazing
- By Amazon Customer on 02-28-17
By: Maya Angelou
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Maya Angelou: The Autobiographies
- Six BBC Radio 4 Dramatisations
- By: Maya Angelou
- Narrated by: Pippa Bennett-Warner, Indie Gjesdal, full cast
- Length: 6 hrs and 52 mins
- Original Recording
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The books that make up the life and times of Maya Angelou are some of the best, most beautiful and haunting pieces of autobiography written. They run the gamut from life affirming to tragedy and back again with a tone that is a joyous, direct and searingly honest and are an extraordinary portrait of 20th century black America.
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That was the best books I never read. Amazing,
- By D on 12-07-19
By: Maya Angelou
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Wouldn't Take Nothing for My Journey Now
- By: Maya Angelou
- Narrated by: January LaVoy
- Length: 1 hr and 19 mins
- Unabridged
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Maya Angelou, one of the best-loved authors of our time shares the wisdom of a remarkable life in this bestselling spiritual classic.
By: Maya Angelou
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The Color Purple
- By: Alice Walker
- Narrated by: Alice Walker
- Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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Celie has grown up poor in rural Georgia, despised by society and abused by her own family. She strives to protect her sister, Nettie, from a similar fate, and while Nettie escapes to a new life as a missionary in Africa, Celie is left behind without her best friend and confidante, married off to an older suitor, and sentenced to a life alone with a harsh and brutal husband. In an attempt to transcend a life that often seems too much to bear, Celie begins writing letters to God. The letters, spanning 20 years, record a journey of self-discovery and empowerment guided by the light of a few strong women.
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way better than the movie
- By Ms. Blacq on 10-13-19
By: Alice Walker
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Amazing Peace and Other Poems
- And Other Poems by Maya Angelou
- By: Maya Angelou
- Narrated by: Maya Angelou
- Length: 29 mins
- Unabridged
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"Amazing Peace" is a beautiful and deeply moving poem from Maya Angelou. Here she inspires us to embrace the peace and promise of Christmas, so that hope and love can once again light up our holidays and the world. "Angels and Mortals, Believers and Nonbelievers, look heavenward," she writes, "and speak the word aloud. Peace." "Amazing Peace" is Maya Angelou's radiant affirmation of the goodness of life and is a touching celebration of the "Glad Season" that will resonate with people of all faiths.
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Spoken Beauty
- By Chandra on 01-05-06
By: Maya Angelou
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Beloved
- By: Toni Morrison
- Narrated by: Toni Morrison
- Length: 12 hrs and 3 mins
- Unabridged
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Sethe was born a slave and escaped to Ohio, but eighteen years later she is still not free. Sethe has too many memories of Sweet Home, the beautiful farm where so many hideous things happened. And Sethe’s new home is haunted by the ghost of her baby, who died nameless and whose tombstone is engraved with a single word: Beloved.
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Author-read Books
- By John R Williford on 07-14-06
By: Toni Morrison
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Their Eyes Were Watching God
- By: Zora Neale Hurston
- Narrated by: Ruby Dee
- Length: 6 hrs and 44 mins
- Unabridged
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Their Eyes Were Watching God, an American classic, is the luminous and haunting novel about Janie Crawford, a Southern Black woman in the 1930s, whose journey from a free-spirited girl to a woman of independence and substance has inspired writers and readers for close to 70 years.
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perfection
- By Mel on 04-06-15
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The Two Pillars of Power
- Rein in Your Physical Health and Mental Health to Supercharge Your Life in Less Than 7 Days
- By: BV Healthy Living
- Narrated by: Steve Stansell
- Length: 3 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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A famous Hippocratic saying goes: The natural healing force within each of us is the greatest force in getting well. This healing force rests on two important pillars–your mental health and your physical health. Unfortunately, in today's busy world, achieving a healthy mind and body appears to be a fleeting dream. What you really need is a simple, accessible approach…one that supercharges your two pillars of power, and only takes seven days for you to get started. And that’s what this guide is all about.
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Success & Happiness starts with your Health!
- By John McCann on 02-21-24
What listeners say about I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
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- Irene
- 06-29-14
Lovely Maya
What did you love best about I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings?
The voice of Ms. Angelou.
What was one of the most memorable moments of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings?
Of course, the most memorable moment has to be her being molested. It is the moment that the book builds up to and that everything falls down from.
Which character – as performed by Maya Angelou – was your favorite?
Ritee had such a wonderful relationship with her brother. He was her only real "connective tissue," so to speak. He was the one thing that was always there, whether she was going to live with her grandmother with a note attached to her as a very small girl or being sent back and forth between her parents and grandmother as a growing child, he was the one thing she could always count on. I think he was my favorite because he was a constant.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
I re-read this book, this time right after Ms. Angelou died. I think my reaction this time was much less extreme as it was when I read it when I was much younger. I was remembering the times - her childhood and how she was such a strong person, living through so much, and how she got to be that way. This time reading the book, didn't make me laugh as much as smile when she did the things she did. Her determination, for instance, at becoming a money taker on the trolley cars.
Any additional comments?
I will miss Maya Angelou's voice so much. She had such a great talent and this book was one I turned to when she died to say goodbye.
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14 people found this helpful
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- C.C.
- 09-08-13
Really good book!
What made the experience of listening to I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings the most enjoyable?
Maya Angelou was reading the book.
What other book might you compare I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings to and why?
N/A
Which character – as performed by Maya Angelou – was your favorite?
Her GrandMother.
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
It made me laugh and made me upset sometimes. I don't want to give to much detail of the book.
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10 people found this helpful
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- Lynn
- 01-14-14
Insightful and touching
Where does I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?
High!
What was one of the most memorable moments of I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings?
There were many moments or learning and awakening.
What about Maya Angelou’s performance did you like?
I feel like I was with her. So real!
Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?
Both!
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8 people found this helpful
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- Tdlchocolate
- 12-05-19
Thank you for sharing your story!
I had heard Oprah interview Maya Angelou and that's why I looked up this book. I was so mesmerized by her story and especially by her voice and reading it. I love when authors can read their own books.
I want to hug that little girl and teach her so much. Especially that she is beautiful and capable of doing whatever she wants. And that no one ever ever can hurt her or touch her. I would have long talks with her and let her ask me lots of questions. Thank you for sharing your story.
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1 person found this helpful
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- DO NOT BUY
- 04-30-19
Maya- the treasure.
No one could tell this story better than Marguerite herself!! The words positioned in her unbiased perspective was infectious, and from the opening line you knew from the very beginning that she seek to tell the truth. One of the most treasured books I’ve read. I was so inspired by her dedication to draw no pity from readers. She was no one’s victim. Instead, she was Maya and this was her truth. She wore it like a badge of honor. With pride. Such an elegantly rich recount!
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- bshurn
- 08-04-20
It was good
I loved the book but sometimes the details were overwhelming and too intricate for certain parts
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- Ken Barbosa
- 07-28-20
Heart touching story
I loved this book! her story was not only fascinating, but inspiring as well. I highly recommend it.
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- Lisa McKay
- 07-20-21
Incredible. A MUST read
So beautifully written. One book that is arguably better listened to. I finished this book two days after I started it. I couldn’t stop listening. And I dreaded it’s ending.
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- Ms. E
- 04-24-20
SIMPLY WONDERFUL!
I have always enjoyed Ms Angelous books, but to hear voice read her words is just mesmerizing. I thoroughly enjoyed her presentation.
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- HauliSioux
- 01-15-21
Fantastic!
I am grateful for the opportunity to listen to the wonderful Maya Angelou read her story. I cried and celebrated all throughout.
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