Mom & Me & Mom

I loved listening to Maya Angelou read Mom & Me & Mom. Although who are we kidding, I'd love to hear her read a Pizza Hut menu.

As always, this book offered beautiful storytelling and was by turns heartbreaking, poignant, funny, and serious.  Starting from childhood when she and her brother were taken to live in Stamps, Arkansas, with their paternal grandmother (Momma) for ten years, the complicated relationship between Angelou and her mother is delved into deeply.  It's interesting to see how their relationship changed when Angelou became a mother herself at age 17. And how even as an adult, Angelou had revelations about the importance of mothering.

If you're already familiar with Angelou's other books, then this book is a little treasure.  If you haven't read any of her other books (why not?), this book wouldn't be nearly as enjoyable since you wouldn't know her story.  Start with I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and go from there.