The Moments, the Minutes, the Hours: The Poetry of Jill Scott (Hardcover)

~ (Author)
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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

With a couple of platinum-selling "neo-soul" records to her name, Scott doesn't have much to prove, but offers this cull from a parallel life—the poetry she's written on and off, with varying degrees of public exposure, since middle school—in the hopes that poets everywhere will "continue to insight, ignite, and recite this blessed, raunchy, wild ride of a craft." The book reads like an ecstatic but disciplined panoply of influence and inspiration. Love poems, break-up poems, short-of-money poems, weariness poems, Christian poems, celebratory poems: all have an immediacy and short-lined honesty that reflects a deep appreciation of everyone from Nikki Giovanni to Emily Dickinson (just two of the poets mentioned in Scott's introduction). Better than the average coffeehouse fare, the poems probably would not have seen print without the records. That won't bother fans, and it shouldn't bother readers who come upon them not knowing who Scott is, and enjoy the poems anyway. (June)
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Review

"Jill Scott's fans will enjoy...her defiant and vulnerable poems."---Essence

"Love that's tough and hard and has to be earned and paid for every step of the way is the stuff of Scott's soulful poetry. We look forward to her next book. She knows how to write." ---Rocky Mountain News

"Like her music--soulful, erotic, and honest--Scott's collection of previously unpublished poetry delivers the goods." ---Uptown Magazine

"Jill Scott can now add the title 'author' to her list of accomplishments." ---Philadelphia Daily News

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details Hardcover: 144 pages Publisher: St. Martin's Press (March 31, 2005) Language: English ISBN-10: 031232961X ISBN-13: 978-0312329617 Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #272,702 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

30 Reviews 5 star:  (24) 4 star:    (0) 3 star:  (2) 2 star:  (2) 1 star:  (2)           Average Customer Review 4.4 out of 5 stars (30 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 40 of 42 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars A discovery, April 7, 2005 By  Kevin Killian (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)    Jill Scott is a singer and performer, though I have only rarely heard her music. Sonia Sanchez wrote a wonderful encomium for Scott, saying, "I know Jill Scott. She is pot liquor and cornbread. She is caviar and champagne. She is a blues song and a spirtual. She is Nina, Leontyne, Sarah, Aretha." Sanchez' poetry is one of the wonders of the 20th century so I decided to give her protégé a try. It wound up with me liking the book and I imagine many will too. Unlike Sanchez, her subject matter is not very variegated. It's all about love, love, and more love, and then there's some about feminism and black pride. She can compose infinite variations on these three topics, but after awhile you're like, "Oh, not another haiku about crazy love." However in a later section of the book Scott experiments with taking on different personae and these are much stronger. One poem takes the point of view of the adult looking back to days of childhood and realizing her mother loved her. "She cries when she sees me/ holds me close when she knows I need me/ "Mommy" I say/ "Mommy" I say/ Smells so good/ Reminds me to go out and play/ makes me strawberry lemonade." The sights and sounds of ordinary life are wistfully accounted for, almost as though she wasn't a star and just Jill from the block you might say. There's another poem that alludes to the pain of having lost a child, rather like Joni Mitchell's poignant "Little Green." And the best of all she speaks from the perspective of a roughened, overworked street prostitute with a broken soul whose age becomes the turning point of the poem's final, shocking lines. In her preface, Scott gives credit to her forebears, including Langston Hughes and Emily Dickinson. This poem "One of the Reasons" will remind readers of some of the soliloquy poems of Sapphire. 10 of 10 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional Read.., April 20, 2005 By  Honey (Heaven) - See all my reviews I purchased this book of heartfelt poems at a recent Jill Scott concert. I started reading it the next day and found I was taking a ride on an express train to expressionisms! She's not only a talented singer and performer, but also a very gifted and talented writer ...and I am so very happy, she allowed me to step (albeit briefly) into her world of words and glimpse her poetic soul as she lays down layer upon layer of the (3) L's: Love, Life and Loss. She covers the long and short of them all! There is no fluff here...all emotions are accounted for and I promise, you will enjoy the journey just as I have! Great job Ms. Scott...thanks for sharing a very big part of you, with a very small part of me! Your talent is remarkable! 9 of 9 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars It's good poetry for where I am in my life, July 5, 2005 By  merlot (Texas) - See all my reviews Let me start by saying I've not studied poetry in depth. I have read Maya Angelou and other things that are required in school and when I took my African American literature and philosophy classes in college. I've gone to spoken word events and I've watched Def Poetry. That said I'm not a true "student" of poetry and I only think about writing my own poetry (it never comes out on paper). I do however keep a journal and one of the main reasons I bought this book is because I'm going through a period in my life where I wanted to read something to uplift me and let me know that love and relationships and all that will all turn out okay (although there are times of sadness). I enjoyed this book and it actually helped me in the sense that it gave me some thoughts of things to explore as I wrote in my journal. I read in another poetry book that I bought at the same time that you shouldn't read the poems all at once because it is to be savored like fine chocolates and that poetry/words are the same so I didn't even attempt to read it all at once but what I've read so far is good (for me) and if you like Jill, are a black woman or appreciate poetry then I think this is a nice book to have. It probably makes a nice gift too.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 3.0 out of 5 stars Raw and real Jill In 2005, Jill decided to bless us with her poetry skills. The results are mostly great, but sometimes a bit TOO real. Read more Published 12 months ago by rmcrae 3.0 out of 5 stars I LOVE Jill Scott, but I didn't get it! I LOVE Jill Scott, I'm probably one of her biggest fans. I see her in concert every chance I get, I think she's magical and wonderful. But the book....I DON'T GET IT. Read more Published 18 months ago by T. TURNER 5.0 out of 5 stars songtress poetry It should have been expected that a great musical artist would be a great poetic artist...sort of goes hand-in-hand. Short poems with a powerful punch. Read more Published 19 months ago by D. Karen James 5.0 out of 5 stars Poetry that reads like music Ms Scott has really penned a spectacular collection of poems. I loved every one. Published 20 months ago by Susie McCray 1.0 out of 5 stars I was expecting so much more from Ms.Scott This has got to be the worst poetry book that I have ever read in my entire life. And I am in no way exaggerating my experience with this book. Read more Published 21 months ago by K. Johnson 5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing This book is incredible!!! i always knew from her music that she was an intense poet, but this book was the most inspiring read i've come across yet. Read more Published 21 months ago by Trini Girl 5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent! Jill Scott's so eloquent and real in all of her compositions. This book is a testiment to that! A must have for true art lovers and those who appreciate inspiring poetry. Read more Published on December 23, 2007 by angelface 5.0 out of 5 stars Jill does it again!! This is the best poem book EVER!!! I am in Iraq right now and when I get a spare moment I sit down and read this book. Read more Published on December 7, 2007 by Coty A. May 5.0 out of 5 stars It's worth reading - definately. Amazing woman wrote an amazing piece of poetry - so true, so real and so incredible personal. Can't do nothing more except recomending it to you all!! Published on March 17, 2007 by Irena Knap 5.0 out of 5 stars delicious i can only read a few at a time because they're just too too good. anyone that loves jill scott, anyone that loves jill's lyrics, ought to get this book... Read more Published on November 14, 2006 by S. M. Hughes Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press (March 31, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031232961X
• ISBN-13: 978-0312329617
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #272,702 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A discovery, April 7, 2005

By	Kevin Killian (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

Jill Scott is a singer and performer, though I have only rarely heard her music. Sonia Sanchez wrote a wonderful encomium for Scott, saying, "I know Jill Scott. She is pot liquor and cornbread. She is caviar and champagne. She is a blues song and a spirtual. She is Nina, Leontyne, Sarah, Aretha." Sanchez' poetry is one of the wonders of the 20th century so I decided to give her protégé a try. It wound up with me liking the book and I imagine many will too. Unlike Sanchez, her subject matter is not very variegated. It's all about love, love, and more love, and then there's some about feminism and black pride. She can compose infinite variations on these three topics, but after awhile you're like, "Oh, not another haiku about crazy love." However in a later section of the book Scott experiments with taking on different personae and these are much stronger. One poem takes the point of view of the adult looking back to days of childhood and realizing her mother loved her.

"She cries when she sees me/ holds me close when she knows I need me/ "Mommy" I say/ "Mommy" I say/ Smells so good/ Reminds me to go out and play/ makes me strawberry lemonade."

The sights and sounds of ordinary life are wistfully accounted for, almost as though she wasn't a star and just Jill from the block you might say. There's another poem that alludes to the pain of having lost a child, rather like Joni Mitchell's poignant "Little Green." And the best of all she speaks from the perspective of a roughened, overworked street prostitute with a broken soul whose age becomes the turning point of the poem's final, shocking lines. In her preface, Scott gives credit to her forebears, including Langston Hughes and Emily Dickinson. This poem "One of the Reasons" will remind readers of some of the soliloquy poems of Sapphire.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exceptional Read.., April 20, 2005

By	Honey (Heaven) - See all my reviews

I purchased this book of heartfelt poems at a recent Jill Scott concert. I started reading it the next day and found I was taking a ride on an express train to expressionisms! She's not only a talented singer and performer, but also a very gifted and talented writer ...and I am so very happy, she allowed me to step (albeit briefly) into her world of words and glimpse her poetic soul as she lays down layer upon layer of the (3) L's: Love, Life and Loss. She covers the long and short of them all! There is no fluff here...all emotions are accounted for and I promise, you will enjoy the journey just as I have!

Great job Ms. Scott...thanks for sharing a very big part of you, with a very small part of me! Your talent is remarkable!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's good poetry for where I am in my life, July 5, 2005

By	merlot (Texas) - See all my reviews

Let me start by saying I've not studied poetry in depth. I have read Maya Angelou and other things that are required in school and when I took my African American literature and philosophy classes in college. I've gone to spoken word events and I've watched Def Poetry. That said I'm not a true "student" of poetry and I only think about writing my own poetry (it never comes out on paper). I do however keep a journal and one of the main reasons I bought this book is because I'm going through a period in my life where I wanted to read something to uplift me and let me know that love and relationships and all that will all turn out okay (although there are times of sadness). I enjoyed this book and it actually helped me in the sense that it gave me some thoughts of things to explore as I wrote in my journal. I read in another poetry book that I bought at the same time that you shouldn't read the poems all at once because it is to be savored like fine chocolates and that poetry/words are the same so I didn't even attempt to read it all at once but what I've read so far is good (for me) and if you like Jill, are a black woman or appreciate poetry then I think this is a nice book to have. It probably makes a nice gift too.