Letter to My Daughter

Brilliant

Maya Angelou is a world renowned poet and cultural icon. Most people are drawn to her because she is deep like the ocean, and I'm not being cute. You see, she doesn't have a daughter, but instead (in this book) speaks to the young women across the world about what she's learned in life. From memories, to poems, to reflections on life, this book is inspiring because it shares the beauty and the blemishes to deliver an uplifting dose of reality. She doesn't preach, she just shares what she's seen. It's not a long book, but it's chock full of wisdom.

8 out of 9 people found this review helpful.

Letter to my Daughter

I find it important to learn about the lives of others. While a teacher and later an English professor, an assignment that I often chose was a reading about the life of outstanding individuals. Students were to be able to see themselves; learning that some of the same life-failings and successes in their own lives were in the life of people who were in fact outstanding. Being an African American female, I wanted to know why this lady (Maya) was so respected as an author. I wanted to know about her personally. This very well-written book gave me a look inside the life, values, character, dislikes and so much more of Maya Angelou. Even with the writings of trama in her life, I found this book to be relaxing, easy reading, informative and life-changing. Maya Angelou comes away as a woman of faith, without being a religious woman only. A woman who knows how to take life's experiences and turn them into positive lessons for self and others. One comes away from this book with a desire to read more of her works. I listened first to the reading of this book by the author on cd and was compelled to buy the hard copy. While this book was suggested for my book club, I believe I would have selected this book for personal reading.

3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

It was on Oprah!

This is definitely a really good book! It is so captivating and enlightening to read! You really do learn a lot of lessons through this book and I recommend it 100%.

3 out of 5 people found this review helpful.

Sorry Ms. Angelou

I absolutely love Maya Angelou but was completely disappointed in this book. It just doesn't compare to anything I have read of her's before. I found it to be just a bunch of random thoughts she has had and of little or no value to me.

1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Get Over Yourself!

This book is completely overrated. It is merely Maya telling about how wonderful she thinks she is. I, and my book club, were not at all impressed. The letters did not give me any deep insights into anything except what Maya thinks about herself. Don't waste any money on it!

1 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

Very helful book

I read this book and found alot the topics heplful. I always wanted to purchase one of Maya Angelou's book, finally I did. If you are the kind of person that enjoys being around your wise individuals and gathering information this is a must read. I enjoyed this book. Now I have a great peace of wisdom on my bookshelf. Great book!!!!

1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Intriguing

Very informative. Great dialogue.

Awesome!

This book is awesome. Couldnt keep my hands off off it.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

MrsDamita

This is a great book for every woman to read. It's a look into the life of Maya Angelou. It willl make you laugh and cry, but most of all it will make you think.

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0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Incredibly moving...

Maya Angelou is so honest in recounting the lessons she's learned throughout her life. I found this book moving and relatable. Angelou is a complex combination of confident and humble, a woman with wisdom to share, but who understands she has more to learn about life and humanity...I was inspired...

Not what I expected.

I looked forward to reading this book, as Ms. Angelou is one of my favorite authors. Unfortunately, this is not her best work. It seemed hurriedly put together and disjointed. A few of the narratives that caught my attention seemed to be chopped to an abrupt end. That said, a little Maya is better than none at all. I could see what was the intention of the book, but it should have developed much further.

Another great read from Maya Angelou

**spoiler alert** It would be hard to imagine anyone who's had more varied life experience than Maya Angelou--writer and Poet Laureate; professional actor, dancer, and singer; political activist; single mother; scholar. It's no wonder that she's able to continue turning out collections of wonderful personal essays like this latest. The "Daughter" in the title refers to all women around the world, with whom she hopes to share wisdom gleaned from her extraordinary life.

Once again, she relates a range of experiences--from the humiliation of being relegated to the Black-only balcony of an Arkansas movie theater, to the embarrassment of committing a faux pas at a dinner party in Senegal--with her trademark resilience and good humor. And I've always loved Angelou for her independent streak. (In this volume, for example, she shares her unconventional view of what rape is.)

While I recommend this book, she's written other essay collections that I liked better, such as Hallelujah! The Welcome Table. For that reason, I give this book a (solid) four stars.

Thank you Ms. Angelou

I once heard Maya Angelou read from her most famous book "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings." Her presence is commanding her voice thick with empathy and deep understanding of life. She was in the looking back phase at that time and I was deeply moved by her insights. As a parting note she has penned a letter to the daughters she never had, whether they be black, white or a nice mocha color. My own mother's recent passing made her honest, soulful, revealing, unique well of ancient wisdom even more poignant. I was touched by her humility, stunned by the violence she endured, amazed at her many accomplishments, and emboldened by her brave stance. This is one daughter who is truly grateful she took the time to send a letter to me.

www.LindaBallouAuthor.com
Wai-nani, High Chiefess of Hawaii
Lost Angel Walkabout-One Traveler's Tales

waste of brain cells

I agree, this book was very disappointing! Self indulgent on Maya's part. The title had NOTHING to do with the contents of the book. Alot of scattered thoughts with no real value lesson learned.( Why would someone purposely walk on a rug when it is obvious NO ONE ELSE WAS? I knew better when I was five years old..)I was really disappointed in this writting, felt it was such a waste of my time and the cost of the book. I even felt guilty leaving it at our vacation condo and exchanging it for another book that was left there.....

0 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

Good Book as Usual

I love her books and her writing is so personal, it's like she's talking to me in person.

0 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

Letter to my daughter

I truly enjoyed this book and the thoughts it provoked. I found myself underlining phrases throughout so that i may one day share with my daughter.
Writing style was very colorful and vivid.

Letter to My Daughter

Thought provoking! Maya weaves her personal life experiences both viewed as good and bad into thought provoking stories that opens one's mind to see self then others. I admire her candor about her life, choices, and reasoning for being. Life lessons shared are so very precious for the heart because it exposes true living. Outstanding book to read!

Wonderful book

I thought this was a wonderful book. I do not have any girls; however, the message in this book could be to any girl or woman in your life. This would be a terrific gift for any mom to be, especially if she is having a girl!

Lessons from Maya Angelou

I actually purchased this book for a friend after receiving it myself, as a gift from my mother. I had not read Maya Angelou's works before receiving this book; however, this book has intrigued me to read others. "Letters to My Daughter" is a compilation of short stories that provide lessons learned based on her Maya Angelou's life experiences. Maya Angelou does not tell you what lesson you should have learned, rather you establish your own lesson based upon your life. Some of the lessons are quite evident and common; self-pride, humility, and determination. Other lessons did not seem relevant in my life; however, they did provide an opportunity to understand others based on Maya Angelou's insight. This is a great gift for mothers to daughters, fathers to daughters, sisters to sisters, friends to friends, etc. It's thought provoking and some of the stories could be great conversation starters at social gatherings. Thank you Maya Angelou.