I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings vs The Chronology of Water: Which Should You Read?
Both live on shelves: American Women authors, Childhood and youth, American Authors, Biography & Memoir
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
She was born Marguerite, but her brother Bailey nicknamed her Maya ("mine"). As little children they were sent to live with their grandmother in Stamps, Arkansas. Their early world revolved around this remarkable woman…
vs
The Chronology of Water
This is not your mother's memoir. In The Chronology of Water, Lidia Yuknavitch expertly moves the reader through issues of gender, sexuality, violence, and the family from the point of view of a lifelong swimmer turned…
The verdict
- Readers rate I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings highest: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings 4.4 · The Chronology of Water 4.2.
- The Chronology of Water has the widest readership — 19498 ratings behind its score.
- The Chronology of Water runs the darker storyline; I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings stays the lighter read.
How to choose
Want the crowd-tested pick?
The Chronology of Water
19498 ratings vs 1395 for I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
In the mood for something dark?
The Chronology of Water
a darker storyline than I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
Want something lighter?
I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings
an easier tone than The Chronology of Water
Scores by source
| I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings | The Chronology of Water | |
|---|---|---|
| Goodreads | — | 4.2 (19498) |
| Hardcover | 4.2 (390) | 4.2 (23) |
| Apple Books | 4.5 (1395) | — |
Reception
| I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings | The Chronology of Water | |
|---|---|---|
| Ratings | 1395 | 19498 |
| Editions | 81 | 8 |
| Film adaptations | 1 | 1 |
| Want to read | — | 44927 |
| Reading it now | — | 1411 |
| Written reviews | — | 2931 |
| Wikipedia attention | 12039 | 27827 |
| Pages | 281 | 296 |