 Amy Strong of The Library Journal , perhaps because Angelou 's life during the time the book took place was full of more personal loss than conflict and struggle , considered Song less profound and intense than the previous books in Angelou 's series . She predicted that Song ′ s direct and plainspoken style would be popular . Publishers Weekly , in its review of the book , agreed with Strong and saw " a certain resignation " in Song , instead of " the contentiousness " in Angelou 's other autobiographies . The reviewer also stated that those who lived through the era Angelou described would appreciate her assessment of it , and that Song was " a story of tragedy and triumph , well stated and clearly stamped by her own unique blend of Afro @-@ Americanism " . The assassinations in Song provided the book with depth as Angelou described the events of her life , which would be " mere meanderings " if described by a less skilled writer . The reviewer was able to see Angelou 's " gracious spirit " and found the book " satisfying " , although he considered it a " sometimes flat account " that lacked " the spiritual tone of Angelou 's essays , the openness of her poetry and the drama of her other autobiographies " . 
