A Song Flung Up to Heaven

by Maya Angelou

Book Overview

A memoir of politics and activism, from the bestselling and beloved author of I KNOW WHY THE CAGED BIRD SINGS 'A brilliant writer, a fierce friend and a truly phenomenal woman' BARACK OBAMA It is 1964... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0375507477
• ISBN13: 9780375507472
• Release Date: April 2002
• Publisher: Random House
• Length: 212 Pages
• Weight: 0.84 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.9" x 8.6"

Customer Reviews

Notes from an eyewitness to history

"A Song Flung Up to Heaven" is the continuation of Maya Angelou's series of autobiographical narratives. This volume opens in the mid 1960s as Angelou returns to the United States from Africa with the intention of working with Malcolm X. The narrative follows Maya's life in Hawaii, California, and New York.Maya reflects on her work as a stage performer and aspiring writer, and reminisces about her relationships with her son, her mother, and her friends. The book is really fascinating as it tells of her relationships and encounters with many noteworthy people: Martin Luther King Jr., Nichelle Nichols, Rosa Guy, and others. The author paints a particularly warm and moving portrait of the great writer and activist James Baldwin."Song" continues to explore many of the important themes of her other books, such as the relationship between Africans and African-Americans. Angelou does a good job of capturing intimate human relationships and placing them in the context of great movements in history. The book also looks at the genesis of her celebrated book "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings."This is a well-written, very engaging book; I read all 212 pages in literally a single evening. I recommend as companion texts to this wonderful book the following: the previous volumes of Angelou's autobiography, the essays of James Baldwin, the autobiography of Malcolm X, Audre Lorde's "Zami," and any good collection of King's essays and speeches.

Proof that she reamins PHENOMENAL

I truly enjoyed this most recent addition to my Angelou library, "A Song Flung Up To Heaven". Dr. Angelou continues to grace us with her smooth as cream use of words. She is able to educate me, through her delicate choice of language, honesty, & humor, about an America that existed long before I was born. She stimulates thought about how much our attitudes and behaviours as people in this country have or have not changed over the decades. Dr Angelou shares some extremely painful and prolific life experiences -the contributions of true friends to her life and her successes, the loss of dear ones through violence, the ups and downs sometimes created by love interests, the rock strong relationship she shares with her family, her worries about her only child evolving into manhood, and the neverending shaping of her womanhood. This is a story of hope.As has been previously written by others, the ONLY negative about this book is that is was over way too soon. I read this in less than four hours. Dr. Angelou leaves me wishing for more of her knowledge and insight and guidance as an African American woman. If a standing ovation could be heard by her - I would certainly give it.

A SANKOFA brother.

My Dear Dr.Maya Angelous:I have just finished reading your A SONG FLUNG UP TO HEAVEN. (Which I am recommending to all my friends as a must-read) and thank you for bringing us, your SANKOFA friends, up to date since your return to America... I began reading it this morning around 9:30am and finished at 3:15pm. Only hunger encouraged me to pause long enough to eat lunch, so intensely it had my interest. I had often wondered whatever happened to you and those of us that lived in Ghana before and during the times of Dr. Nkrumah. after our return to America, only a few of us have written of our experiences of living there. I have also read your ALL GOD'S CHILDREN NEED TRAVELING SHOES; but then I've read all your books. I pray you have had time to read my RETURN OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN, which covers my eleven years, (1965 to 1976) of continuous SANKOFA in Ghana and West-Africa.During my SANKOFA there, I was blessed to meet beautiful people like you Dr. Angelou, and other educators such as Professor Julian Mayfield, Dr. Sylvia Boone, Dr. Nell Irvin-Painter, Tom Feelings, Leslie Lacy, Herman Bailey, Dr. Shirley DuBois, Jim Lacy, Dr. Shirley Lewis and of course, Alice Windom. It was Educators like you all, that inspired me to choose this path in life that I now walk... Again, thank you my wonderful soul-sister, for passing my way and inviting me in for some of those wonderful meals you and your peers shared with me. There I would sit, listen, and later make notes. The results is, so far, two non-fiction books... You were all wonderful sources of continuous inspiration for me, as I know you are to many others who read your books... I Love you my Sister. And wish you continuous LOVE, PEACE and HAPPINESS.Sincerely.Curtis J. Kojo Morrow. aka Kojo-Achampong PS: My mission as I am sure is yours, is to enlighten the younger generation to the reality, that The Freedom They Now Enjoy, Was Not Free, Others Fought And Died For It.

Excellent!

A Song Flung Up to Heaven was a quick touching read. It reviews the feelings and sentiments felt by people during the turbulent period of 1964 -1968. We can read what happened to Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. from history books. Many of us can call upon people who were young during this period to draw out their perceptions. Very rarely have those feelings been cast into rememberences of books or autobiographies. Ms. Angelou, through her journey, was able to poignantly express her feelings. Feelings of expectation, utter devistation, sheer shock and wanton disbelief. We are indeed blessed that Ms. Angelou is able to grace us with many more books and poems. I look forward to many more wonderful works such as this.

The Best there is

The only complaint that I have on this book is, I wish it lasted longer. I have always loved Miss Angelou's autobiographies starting from "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" until now, and I truly wished she didn't wait so long to put out this installment. I really enjoyed it. Especially when Make' came to the U.S. to take her back to Africa and the events that unfolded after that. I enjoyed it when she and that other old woman double teamed him, yet it seemed as though he turned back his guilt on the ladies though they didn't deserve it. Also, some of the words she put in her book make you want to keep a dictionary close by. In spite of it, I give it 5 stars. Cause it is simply the best. Don't wait too long for the next installment Maya!!