Burning Down the House : Selected Poems from the Nuyorican Poets Cafe's National Poetry Slam Champions [Paperback]

Roger Bonair-Agard (Author), Stephen Colman (Author), Guy LeCharles Gonzalez (Author), Alix Olson (Author), Lynne Procope (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 4, 2003

In the summer of 1998 they took the belt at the National Poetry Slam, the first team from the Nuyorican Poets Cafe. These five New York poets stand at the vanguard of the slam movement, with verse that is passionate, tight, political and lucid.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A poetry slam has at least some rules, but Burning Down the House flouts even those. -- Gay & Lesbian Times, April 2001

The[se] poets, Roger Bonair-Agard, Stephen Coleman [sic], Guy LeCharles Gonzalez, Alix Olson and Lynne Procope, are all consummate performers and writers. -- freshpoetry.com, May 2000

[BDTH] anthologizes the first [Nuyorican Poets Cafe] team to actually win the competition, and it shows why the city’s poets are so highly regarded. -- Orange County Weekly, July 28 - August 3, 2000

Product Details

• Paperback: 186 pages
• Publisher: Soft Skull Press; 1st edition (August 4, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1887128484
• ISBN-13: 978-1887128483
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,341,210 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Guy LeCharles Gonzalez works in publishing by day, world domination by night. Over the years he's lived in Staten Island and South Beach Miami; served in the Jehovah's Witnesses, US Army, and Dennis Kucinich's '04 Presidential Campaign; won poetry slams, founded a reading series, co-authored a book of poetry and believes in the power of publishing as a community service. He prefers Pumpkin, Barley Wine and India Pale Ales, Dona Paula Shiraz Malbec, and Four Roses and Buffalo Trace bourbons, and is a devout Mets and Jets fan from the Bronx now living in New Jersey with his beautiful wife and two amazing kids. For more information: http://loudpoet.com

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Slammin', June 15, 2000

By 

Jan "jmo41" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Burning Down the House : Selected Poems from the Nuyorican Poets Cafe's National Poetry Slam Champions (Paperback)

A couple of weeks ago, I was lucky enough to happen upon the book release party in New York that accompanied this amazing work. It features a selection of poetry from the 1998 National Slam Champion team, whose members have roots in the Nuyorican Poets Cafe in New York City. Compelled to buy this book immediately, I haven't been able to put it down since. The magic of this work truly has to do with the ways in which the words leap off of the pages. They are not limited by their printed form - each poem is inextricably connected to its spoken word beginnings, evident in the bebop rhythms and flowing verses. The flavor of each individual poet is magnificently displayed in each and every selection in this work. In their selections, Lynne Procope's lyrical rhythms lull you into the fire of her pride as a Caribbean woman. Guy LeCharles Gonzalez tells us tales of his Bronx upbringing. Steve Colman's rules of grammar would floor any high school English teacher. Alix Olson's cutting edge verse would make Mayor Giuliani's toes curl. And the patriarch of it all, Roger Bonair-Agard, weaves stories of his own childhood in which you can positively smell the islands. This work of art is highly recommended to any fan of spoken word, poetry slams, or to anyone who is simply interested in poetry by young, fresh, political voices. It is a beautiful book from start to finish.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book should be more widely known, May 19, 2006

By 

IssVictorian "IssVictorian" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Burning Down the House : Selected Poems from the Nuyorican Poets Cafe's National Poetry Slam Champions (Paperback)

I won't call the works in this book poetry, although I know that is the "general" term for what is written here. Call it artistic expression due to the fact that most people have a preconceived notion of what "poetry" is. THIS ISN'T YOUR RUN OF THE MILL POETRY - Lets get that out right now. I read this not really knowing what to expect and to say I was pleasantly surprised is an understatement. Thought provoking line after line, at times I found myself wanting to put the book down and clap out loud. Roger Bonair-Agard SHINES with his works in the book, namely "Jennica - The Anti-Barbie." Can you relate? Guy LeCharles Gonzalez is a highlight as well with his in your face approach. This book makes you think on another level. There are no mediocore authors here. Simply great writting.

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Poetry Book Ever, November 21, 2011

By 

Matt Bissonnet - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Burning Down the House : Selected Poems from the Nuyorican Poets Cafe's National Poetry Slam Champions (Paperback)

The poets that make up this book are all unique and interesting but the compiler did i great job when he started out the book with a poem by Steven Coleman, calle "I wanna hear a poem." It really gets the reader into the mind set that poetry is what you make it and the limits are only thpose which we put on our selves.