Letter to My Daughter

This is one of the best books I have ever read. Easy to read, draws you in as though it speaks to concerns that may affect anyone. Would make an excellent gift

I got this book as a gift for my daughter and she loved it! Maya Angelou is a great poet and this book represents her style and her identity. Sweet and emotional. Love it!

Maya Angelou is a must-read author. And this book, being accessible and honest for any audience, is an excellent way to introduce yourself to her work.But that's not why I bought this book over and over. I give this book away, to my friends, to my family, to coworkers. Once I donated a copy to a community center. It's a book meant to be shared, so I buy it and give it away to people who are important to me. It's a book to read when you feel lost in the world, and in times when you're at peace with life.Angelou shares her past and her hopes for the future. She talks about her most painful moments and moments of incandescent happiness. In these stories and essays, she shares experiences from her life that have shaped her and that she has grown from, experiences she wants to pass on that others might benefit from.It's like a love letter to the world.This passage is a good summation of the general theme of this book:"When I decide to write anything, I get caught up in my insecurity despite the prior accolades. I think, uh, uh, now they will know I am a charlatan that I really cannot write and write really well. I am almost undone, then I pull out a new yellow pad and as I approach the clean page, I think of how blessed I am.The ship of my life may or may not be sailing on calm and amiable seas. The challenging days of my existence may or may not be bright and promising. Stormy or sunny days, glorious or lonely nights, I maintain an attitude of gratitude. If I insist on being pessimistic, there is always tomorrow.Today I am blessed."

I’m still reading and I am loving the book otherwise, but i MUST say this!!On Chapter 8 Violence, Maya is very very WRONG. Rape is NOT about sex; rape IS about a need to Violently Violate the victim. Is that power? Yes. If it were about sex the rapist would simply find a sex partner or even a prostitute. They don’t.Also note that many rapists cannot orgasm or even sustain an erection. Having been raped multiple times I can personally attest to this.Maya is allowed her opinion, but to publicize her opinion as if it were fact is simply wrong. Not only that, it is evil to those of us who have been raped for she puts the blame back on victims and survivors for having somehow “turned on” our rapists on. Obviously untrue.Is it sexual when an elderly woman is raped, or a 5 month old baby? Is it sexual when the rapist kills the victim after the rape? Or worse, kills the victim and then rapes the corpse? No. In all cases this is about the rapist’s power to Violently Violate his Victim. Calling rape exactly what it is does NOT in any way, shape, or form, trivialize it. In fact it tells us that rapists cannot be reformed and will never be safe to release into the general public. I believe ALL rapists who can be proven with physical evidence, (DNA or other appropriate evidence), as the rapist, on two rapes should be executed promptly without appeals.I ask the publisher to remove this chapter from Maya’s book in order to save Victims and Survivors of Rape. This opinion could be the undoing of their hearts, minds, and souls. It has the possibility of pushing some over the edge and Causing Suicides. Her opinion means nothing, nada, zero, zip, zilch, against the mental health, wellbeing, and actual lives of those who may be harmed.

I enjoyed this book. My only complaint is that it was too short! It felt like being spoken to by one’s mother attempting to pass on her wisdom. There were some stories repeated from Angelous previous works, but there were more new stories told than old. There are so many short stories in the book that display not only Angelous wisdom but her desire to share her wealth of knowledge with her inherited daughters. Wonderful read.

Good read, very educational woman!

There's not much one can say about Maya Angelou that hasn't already been said. However, if you are a fan, or wondering where to start exploring her body of work, revisit/start here! I am in awe of her beautiful mind!💕 A great book to read and keep for yourself, and to give as a gift.

Maya Angelou is a compassionate and gifted writer, in addition to being an astounding mother, daughter, civil rights activist, educator, and more! This book reveals her motherly wit, intellectual wisdom, compassion towards humanity, as if offers lessons which reveal life's truths, pain and victories. She is truly a child of God sent to share her rainbow with others.

I purchased two of these for my daughters and they both offered rave reviews. I will note that we each have other Angelou titles in our libraries as well. My 5-star rating of "Letters" reflects their respective experiences (which is nothing less than what I expected!)

Not my usual choice of book but its good to visit things out of your comfort zone. I am familiar with Maya Angelou's poetry which I love but hadn't realised she had had such an interesting life.As a White British women of a certain age I couldn't possibly identify with much of her life story. This book reads very much from the American Black perspective. That said, I was touched by her story and my knowledge enriched by hearing her trials and tribulations at first hand. What an amazing women, what a full and interesting life!

Maya Angelou is a visionary especially for women. I love how she writes. Its clearly as if she's telling you everything in person. This book tells about the lessons and sweet nothings she would tell her daughter if she had one. Since she has only a son, the longing of having a daughter and friendship she would have had if she had a daughter is so heartwarming to read as a woman.

Me ha encantado, no quería leer poesía y está opción para conocer a Maya Angelou es maravillosa

The delivery was super quick, I received the book within a day, and finished reading it in another day. It was just perfect and just as I expected.As Maya Angelou is one of my favorite writers and I was as pleased as u can be whilst reading this book.It inspired me and her advice are subtile but just perfect.