42 pages • 1 hour read
Mom & Me & Mom
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Book Brief
208
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
California And Arkansas • 20th century
2013
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Mom & Me & Mom is a memoir by Maya Angelou that explores her evolving relationship with her mother, Vivian Baxter, from initial abandonment to eventual reconciliation. The memoir details Angelou's experiences growing up with her paternal grandmother in Arkansas, her traumatic childhood, her and her brother Bailey's reunion with Vivian in San Francisco, and their complex emotional journey towards mutual understanding and support, culminating in Angelou finding her own identity and strength with her mother's guidance. The book references the sexual assault of a child, child abandonment, and death and depicts physical abuse of a child, domestic abuse, racism, anti-gay bias, suicidal ideation, drug addiction, and lung cancer.
Emotional
Inspirational
Heartwarming
Contemplative
Bittersweet
Reviews & Readership
30,385 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Mom & Me & Mom by Maya Angelou receives praise for its deep emotional narrative and beautiful prose, offering insight into the author's complex relationship with her mother. Critics appreciate Angelou's storytelling and honesty. Some find the memoir less detailed than her earlier works, lacking depth in exploring certain events. Overall, it's a heartfelt and engaging read.
Who Should Read Mom & Me & Mom?
Readers who enjoy deeply personal memoirs with themes of family, resilience, and redemption will find Mom & Me & Mom by Maya Angelou compelling. Fans of Becoming by Michelle Obama and The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls will appreciate Angelou's candid storytelling and insightful reflections on her relationship with her mother.
30,385 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Bailey Johnson Jr.
Bailey Johnson Jr.
Maya Angelou's older brother, who nicknamed her "Maya" and played a significant role in her early life.
Vivian Baxter
Vivian Baxter
Maya Angelou’s mother, whose influence and encouragement play a pivotal role in Angelou's determination and resilience.
Bailey Johnson
Bailey Johnson
Maya Angelou's father, who separated from her mother when Angelou was three, leading Maya and her brother to live with their grandmother.
Anne Henderson
Anne Henderson
Maya Angelou's paternal grandmother, who cared for Maya and her brother in Stamps, Arkansas, and owned a general store that remained prosperous during the Great Depression.
Willie
Willie
Maya Angelou's uncle with whom she lived in Stamps, Arkansas, alongside her grandmother.
Tosh Angelos
Tosh Angelos
Maya Angelou's first husband, a Greek American electrician with whom she shares part of her early adult life.
Vusumzi Make
Vusumzi Make
A South African freedom fighter whom Maya Angelou met in the early 1960s, moving with him to Egypt.
Guy Johnson
Guy Johnson
Maya Angelou's son, whom she supports as a single mother after his birth during her teenage years.
208
Autobiography / Memoir • Nonfiction
California And Arkansas • 20th century
2013
Adult
18+ years
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