Even the Stars Look Lonesome Book

I'm not the biggest Maya Angelou fan. I must admit that. I am, however, a fan of deckled edges. What is a deckled edge? A deckled edge is the term used for the technique of making the pages of a book look torn and ragged. I'm not sure why, but I've always liked the idea of reading books that look and feel old and worn-out.

To be honest, this was the only reason that I picked up this book. After admiring the edges of the pages for some time, I read a random paragraph on a random page and then decided to read the entire essay. In it, Angelou blames her home for the downfall of her marriage. She insists that the house's many modern amenities reduced the need for arguments about housework, and subsequently opened the door for arguments about more significant issues.

The essay on her marriage's breakdown lays the groundwork for other personal experiences, as well as the lessons learned from them. Ranging from faux pas at parties, to estranged ex-husbands, her stories are very personal and yet still approachable. Angelou manages to intertwine her anecdotes with poetry and proverbs, and in doing so, teaches several valuable lessons.

There is, coming from these deckled pages, a feeling that someone much older and much smarter than you is trying to tell you something very important.