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Singin' and Swingin' and Gettin' Merry Like Christmas
Singin' and Swingin' and Gettin' Merry Like Christmas | Maya Angelou
12 posts | 15 read | 14 to read
In this third self-contained volume of her autobiography, which began with I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Maya Angelou moves into the adult world, and the white world as well, as she marries, enters show business, and tours Europe and Africa in Porgy and Bess. As the book opens, Maya, in order to support herself and her young son, gets a job in a record shop run by a white woman. Suspicious of almost any kindness shown her, she is particularly confused by the special attentions of a young white customer. Soon the relationship grows into love and then marriage, and Maya believes a permanent relationship is finally possible. But it is not to be, and she is again forced to look for work. This time she finds a job as a dancer in a sleazy San Francisco bar. Her remarkable talent, however, soon brings her attention of a different kind, and before long she is singing in one of the most popular nightclubs on the coast. From there, she is called to New York to join the cast of Porgy and Bess, which is just about to begin another tour abroad. The troupe's joyous and dramatic adventure through Italy, France, Greece, Yugoslavia, and Egypt becomes the centerpiece of Singin' and Swingin'. This remarkable portrayal of one of the most exciting and talented casts ever put together, and of the encounters between these larger-than-life personalities and audiences who had rarely seen black people before, makes a hilarious and poignant story. The excitement of the journey -- full of camaraderie, love affairs, and memorable personalities -- is dampened only by Maya's nagging guilt that she has once again abandoned the person she loves most in life, her son. Back home, and driven close to suicide by her guilt and concern, she takes her son with her to Hawaii, where she discovers that devotion and love, in spite of forced absence, have the power to heal and sustain. As always, Maya Angelou's writing is charged with that remarkable sense of life and love and unique celebration of the human condition that have won her such a loyal following. From the Hardcover edition.
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review
andrew61
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Pickpick

Not sure if this will be the last read of 22 but if so the 3rd part of the autobiographical series is a glorious final bk. Maya Angelou moves in the 1950s from single parenthood struggling to pay rent to touring the world as a star in Porgy + Bess. This extraordinary life is one of resilience in the face of racism, sexism. Written with humour and self awareness I loved the scenes around Europe, and the musicality. A joy, role on book 4.

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Lcsmcat
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1. It was a close thing between the tagged book and Priestdaddy.
2. I‘m finally tackling Don Quixote, and I can‘t wait!
#two4Tuesday
Want to play? @Graywacke @batsy @barbwire

TheSpineView I have never read Don Quixote so I will be interested to know what you think about it. Thanks for playing! 2y
batsy Thank you for the tag. I'm also planning to tackle Don Quixote and that's the book I'm looking forward to the most in 2022! I think it was @vivastory who mentioned that he started off a new year reading DQ and I'm hoping to do the same :) 2y
vivastory @batsy I have read DQ & loved it. But I only read it once. I do start every new year w/ a brand new read. For '22 it's going to be Matrix. Looking forward to your thoughts on DQ! 2y
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batsy @vivastory I've got Matrix lined up for next year, too 🤞🏽Planning to do my nun books as I call it lol with Matrix and this one 2y
vivastory @batsy Stacked! I've been meaning to read more Warner since we read Lolly 2y
Lcsmcat @batsy Yay! I‘m glad to have someone to discuss it with, as I think Don Quixote will be better if I have someone to bounce ideas off of. Have you picked a translation? @vivastory What translation did you read, and do you recommend it? I currently have two - Putnam in hardback and Ormsby on kindle - but I‘m not opposed to buying another one. 😀 2y
vivastory @Lcsmcat @batsy I read the Edith Grossman & I highly recommend it 👍 2y
Lcsmcat @vivastory Thanks! 2y
BiblioLitten DQ is one of my favourite books! Hope you enjoy it 😊 2y
BiblioLitten @batsy The tagged book sounds good! 2y
Lcsmcat @BiblioLitten I‘m looking forward to it! 2y
batsy @Lcsmcat Oh yes, I'd love to have someone to chat with as we make our way through it! I have the Edith Grossman translation. 2y
29 likes12 comments
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Lcsmcat
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Pickpick

This was an amazing read, about an amazing woman. Angelou was so talented! Picture, from the internet, is of her in Porgy and Bess, which takes up a good part of the book. Four ⭐️

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Lcsmcat
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Truer words have not been said.

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Lcsmcat
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This third volume of Angelou‘s autobiography seemed appropriate to start this time of year.

megnews I always tell people not to stop after the first volume. It just gets better and better. 2y
Lcsmcat @megnews I liked the first better than the second, but this one is back up to the quality of Caged Bird. 2y
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Booksnob
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Maya‘s 3rd autobiography. The one where she gets to travel and dance and sing for audiences.

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cathipink
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Pickpick

Picked this up at my local used bookstore (love the address label the previous owner had on the cover, and inside on a manuscript page). I didn't realize it was the 3rd of her memoirs 😬 but I think this works as a standalone. Looking forward to listening to I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings soon.

Theaelizabet I loved I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, then for some reason went no further with her books. I should rectify that some day. 5y
cathipink @Theaelizabet I'm definitely hoping to read the full set, although maybe not all in a row. Interesting how Caged Bird is so popular but the other titles are harder to find. 5y
15 likes2 comments
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Peaslady
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Panpan

Very disappointed. Loved her first, liked her second, but had to force my way through Angelou's third autobiography. I think the problem was a lack of character development. Whilst undeniably an incredible story it read like a list of roles she performed, countries she visited and people she met. Other characters were given mere hints of personality through an affectation or fashion choice, but I struggle to remember a single name in retrospect.

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PaperbackPirate
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Pickpick

This is the third installment of Maya Angelou‘s memoirs, mostly covering her tour with Porgy and Bess. It was very entertaining and recaptured the feeling of thespian life for me.

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TheNextBook
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I think I can finish this book before the new year begins! I‘ve got a few days and I think it‘s worth a try! I hope everyone that celebrates is enjoying the holidays. And I hope everyone is ready for the mew year! Here‘s to hoping it‘s not a complete dumpster fire!

Dragon Merry Christmas 🎄! 💚🐉 5y
TheNextBook @dragon Merry Christmas!!!! 5y
55 likes1 stack add2 comments
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GypsyKat
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This is my #BookHaul stack! I‘ve never heard of the tagged book, but I‘m a huge Maya Angelou fan and I love Christmas, so I‘m excited about it! ❤️

(Not pictured are several gifts 😁, and a stack of books from Thrift Books that I‘m sending back. I forgot that what they consider “good condition” I consider unacceptable. Ahh well.)

SMayWrites I've been eyeing Paula Brackstons books for a while. I see you have two in your pile! Have you read any? What did you think? 6y
GypsyKat @SMayWrites I‘ve never read any, but these were on my TBR list and they were a steal on Book Outlet. 6y
SMayWrites @GypsyKat I may just have to check that out! 6y
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GypsyKat @SMayWrites I like to have Witchy reads for October. 🎃 6y
Elma I just had the same thing happen with Thrift Books. The copy was supposed to be 'very good' but was somewhere between 'fair' and 'good'. So disappointing. 6y
GypsyKat @Elma That‘s how they always are for me. They‘re “like new” are more like good to very good. I used to only buy “like new” on there because of that, but it‘s been a while since I ordered and I forgot. 🤷🏻‍♀️ 6y
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ValerieAndBooks
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I think this may be my most long title in my library. This is # 3 in Maya Angelou's autobiography series and covers the part of her life as a singer, dancer, and being in the cast of Porgy and Bess as it toured the world. Fascinating but her first "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" is the strongest in the series. #longtitle

RealLifeReading I didn't know that there was more to I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings! I'll have to go check these out 7y
ValerieAndBooks @RealLifeReading I did not know myself for the longest time either. Once I did, I devoured them all! I'll post a pic 😊 7y
59 likes5 stack adds3 comments