Customer Reviews

Blues: For All the Changes: New Poems

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Nikki Giovanni's "Blues: For All the Changes: New Poems" opens with the following quote from Alberta Hunter, "People think the blues is sad. They hear people moaning and such. That's not the blues. That's just somebody singing slow....The blues is about truth-telling," which is exactly what Giovanni's collection does-tells the truth. The collection is divided into two sections; "flatted thirds and sevenths" and "fugue." I have to admit, not know much about the blues, I had to look up both of these terms. Flatted thirds and sevenths are blues notes and fugue is a technique of composition for a fixed number of parts. The collection is interpresed with what initially looks like prose but upon closer reading there is a lack of punctuation that forces the reader to read to a certain rhyme and rhythm.

Although I found the entire collection intriguing, one of my favorites was "Writing Lessons." "Writing Lessons" is a poem about (not to sound like a cliché) living life to the fullest. The poem begins by stating all the things there are still to do in life, "There are...still...so many books I want to read...and reread.../There are...still...so many places I want to travel...to..." and ends with this writing advice, "If I were giving advice I would say: Sing/People who sing to themselves/People who make variations on songs they know/People who teach songs to other people/These are the people other people want to be with/and that will let you be a good writer/Because/T here are...still...so many ideas to conceive."

Overall, Giovanni's collection is great not only for those who are already Giovanni fans or those who love the blues, but for anyone who loves poetry. It is not about the blues, it is about truth-telling.

This book is just as wonderfully insightful and emotional as her works always are. Real. Life is not always about being nice and when you've spent your life in the struggle there are going to be times when you feel anger. So, to the reviewer who couldn't understand, maybe it's because you haven't known struggle. Contrary to what was stated, I didn't feel this book was based on anger but rather, as I stated before, it's just REAL.

This book begins with a poem called "The Wrong Kitchen" which talks about self-love. For those of you who know what a "kitchen" is on a black woman then you would know where she is going with it. This poem instantly became one of my favorites. It's not an angry poem but an insightful and emotional piece that is really about the conditions of society that need to be corrected. Two of my other favorite poems in this collection are "Invisible Ink" and "Truman's Baby".

This book is a great buy for any lover of poetry. Giovanni is actually the poet that inspired me to write because she knows how to lay the truth in your lap like a protected child but she also knows how to slap you in the face with truth when it needs to be done.

With that said....BUY THE BOOK!


(I also recommend: Love Poems and Black Feeling/Black Talk/Black Judgement ... all by Giovanni)

Nikki Giovanni, often referred to by fans as the "Princess of Black Poetry," is back on the scene with another brilliant collection of poems titled, BLUES FOR ALL THE CHANGES. Anyone who knows music and about the Blues in general will find all the poems in this book to be in some way a lyrical and rhythmic statement not only about this radical poet's life, but about some of the best and worst moments in Black America.

This book is divided into two main sections. The first 32 poems are called 'flatted thirds and sevenths.' Some of the poems in this section are short elliptical pieces that are hard-hitting while others are long flowing prose pieces without any punctuation --meant to be read with the natural breathing rhythm of the reader. My favorite in this section is 'Visible Ink'(p.15) This poem which starts out describing the imperfections of folks from the Bible to Hollywood is a an extension of the blues being " . . . about truth-telling." Yes, we all have imperfections, but it is through those imperfections that we learn what true living is all about. Through imperfections, real heroes arise and become the forerunners in the necessary changes we see and need in our lifetime. Other great poems in this section deals with topics that range from the Underground Railroad, civil rights, and hatred to special tributes to key people in our society like Betty Shabazz and Jackie Robinson.

The final 20 poems in this book are called 'fugue.' All of the poetry in this section depict the daily rhythm of human life coming together as we know it. These poems reflect our changing seasons, our dreams and aspirations, as well as our transient from this life to the next. This book is filled with poetry for every mood, emotion, and celebration!

Despite some critics believing that BLUES FOR ALL THE CHANGES is just another book about black anger in poetic form; or that Giovanni's opinions, though based in reality, are wrong subjective conclusions . . . I find her work representative of the emotions and ideas that many Black people have about life in this country. I believe BLUES FOR ALL THE CHANGES resonants in truth and is an excellent read for National Poetry Month!

This book is just as wonderfully insightful and emotional as her works always are. Real. Life is not always about being nice and when you've spent your life in the struggle there are going to be times when you feel anger. So, to the reviewer who couldn't understand, maybe it's because you haven't known struggle. Contrary to what was stated, I didn't feel this book was based on anger but rather, as I stated before, it's just REAL.

This book begins with a poem called "The Wrong Kitchen" which talks about self-love. For those of you who know what a "kitchen" is on a black woman then you would know where she is going with it. This poem instantly became one of my favorites. It's not an angry poem but an insightful and emotional piece that is really about the conditions of society that need to be corrected. Two of my other favorite poems in this collection are "Invisible Ink" and "Truman's Baby".

This book is a great buy for any lover of poetry. Giovanni is actually the poet that inspired me to write because she knows how to lay the truth in your lap like a protected child but she also knows how to slap you in the face with truth when it needs to be done.

With that said....BUY THE BOOK!


(I also recommend: Love Poems and Black Feeling/Black Talk/Black Judgement ... all by Giovanni)

I have to say, that I wish I would have known more about this woman many years ago. I'd heard of Langston Hughes, I had heard of Maya Angelou, I'd heard of Kahlil Gibran and Javan and many others. But it was only a few years ago that I truly remember hearing the name Nikki Giovanni. This is the first book of hers I have ever actually read. Back then I was content to find out who she was via viewing some web sites. I have to tell all reading this review, I cheated myself. It is no wonder she receives all the praise she receives. There are people I admire and then there are people I look up to and prior to reading this book, I admired her from her web pages. Enough so to include her in a book forward. I now look up to her as the icon she deserves to be called. Not everyone is going to like Nikki, which is one of the reasons I've went from admired to look up to. This is REAL POETRY which I have to say the world needs more of!!! It isn't make you feel good poetry, although some of it indeed does. I think the one that had me laughing the most was ~Opening Day or Hey! Start a Contest! Because she pulls no punches! When I read "I know I would have a fit if it was call the Atlanta Nigxxxx" I have to admit I wasn't expecting it... Some might take this out of context but when it comes to why Native Americans take offense to some sports teams carrying Indian names it makes perfect sense, and I do have Native American blood, but I am by no means racist. I am however, a realist and the fact that racism is alive and breathing is undeniable. Let's face it! And the one that calls it like it is, shouldn't be ashamed or silent or ridiculed. They should be listened to, by all sides. I've learned she was a huge voice in the revolution, and although she holds nothing back, for my part, I think that is the only way true understanding will ever be reached. To say that inequality didn't exist is a lie. To say racism didn't exist is a lie. To say it doesn't currently exist is a bigger lie. (Every day it seems there's a story in the news to confirm it). And to say that it shouldn't be spoken of, is in my opinion an abomination. I want a better world for all people and all races, and I personally believe that isn't going to be achieved by ignoring and burying the obvious.

Myth; America was discovered... Fact, America was invaded...
Myth; "If you don't like it here, you should go back to Africa!
Fact; Most if not all of the people that say that, weren't born when previous people were bringing our ancestors here against their will to begin with. And aren't carrying blood that originated on these lands either.
I carry both, but I am not hating. I am saying deal with what has taken place honestly, and move forward from it.

America's past is not the thing of fairy tales. For my part my world is good people, bad people. But I am also not in denial or amnesia as to what has occurred. I close with this...

Truth can be many things
Ugly or beautiful
Horrendous or lovely
Sickening or stupendous
But from it
You can move on
A Lie
Can be all the above things as well
But you cannot move on from it
Into truth
Until it is realized
That it is a lie

By myself

Keep telling it like it is Nikki, in so doing, you are keeping us moving forward, all of us, into truth and light. It's not a complaint, just an observation. I think the book could have been called "New Poems and Short Stories" because some read more like stories than poems to me...

Chase von
tlp
The Last Panther (Something else from my Indian heritage by the way)

Your Chance to Hear The Last Panther Speak

Fun! Exciting! Serious! Real! Powerful! I felt all of these things and more, reading this particular book by Nikki Giovanni that often lifted my spirits to the top of mountains high and then slowly drifting me down to the valley of reality. I am such a big fan of this poet who has proven through time, that saying what you mean and meaning what you say can be a phenomenal characteristic, allowing one to free the mind, body and soul.

Nikki Giovanni as a credit to American poetry but one has to realize that what she write is for everybody.To compare her to somebody less controversial like Maya Angelou for example is not unthinkable. She has never written along those lines and at this stage of her life she never will. The beauty in her poetry comes in her raw honesty. Giovanni isn't writing for a particular audience, she isn't reaching out to be the next poet speaking at a presidential convention, she is speaking from her heart. Her experiences are not those of many people, both white and black, so many people can not relate. However for those that can, Nikki Giovanni is more than a writer, she is an American treasure.

Nikki does it's once again. I loved this book. I learn so much from her poetry

Blues...is a collection of short poetry & prose selections, mainly dealing with issues that personally effect the author and her blackness. It's loaded with stereotypes about non-blacks, while being heavy with hatred & condemnation about people who stereotype blacks. Hypocrisy. While some opinions are based in reality, others are just plain wrong subjective conclusions. Aside from the subject matter, the flow of the poems and prose are hit & miss. Some do have a great rhythm & flow, while others just come off as a ripoff of Rabelasian lists and Celineian thought fragments. Instead of getting this non-black reader to understand her situation & sympathize with it, I instead found myself saying "Did you ever think you have so many problems with white people because you have so much hatred and annimosity towards them?" There's definately some "pot calling the kettle black" shenannigans going on here.