Customer Reviews

Scream When You Burn: A Pound of Sacred Flesh from the Lap of Coffee Culture

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I, too, am a contributor to this anthology, but I can speak objectively. This is a wonderful time-capsule of what was happening in Los Angeles in the 1990's. Poetry was going through a Renaissance. This was long before poetry slams, and coffee houses were just starting to pop up. Notice there is no mention anywhere in this book of Starbucks. You'll see. It's worth the price of admission.

I am a contributor (one of 75 or so) so therefore biased, but I think this book is a great compilation. Having attended an endless number of open mikes, I find about two or three pieces at each one that really speaks to me. This book is like having all those moments mushed together in one place. There are moments of pure grace and moments I could do without, but overall, it's a great read and an honest look at pop culture. With luminaries like Bukowski and Lifshin and a pretty neat interview with Allen Ginsberg, I think Scream When You Burn is required reading for the modern poet.

This book is an absolute must have for any reader! I must warn you that it does have curse words and other mature content in the poetry, but when you don't look at the words on the page, but at the meaning behind them, the emotions that they have put into words is absolutly astonishing!