Slam [Paperback]

Various Authors (Author), Cecily Von Ziegesar (Editor), Tori Amos (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 7, 2000

NEW book

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: Alloy Books (August 7, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0141309199
• ISBN-13: 978-0141309194
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.5 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,192,679 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not what I'd hoped for, February 12, 2002

By 

"paradise_found" (Musicland, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Slam (Paperback)

I bought this book hoping for a wonderful, enlightening, lively poetic slam between various poets or at least a free-flowing verse extravaganza. What I got was bad teen angst poetry.

The book begins with the history of the poetry slam. (Which is an intense poetic competition) Well, most of the poets out there already know what a slam is, but this seemed quaint at the time. Then came the poems. Possibly written by groundsquirrels, most of the words come off as desperate attempts to make it rhyme, or (even worse) bad writing dressed up with big words.

The only poem with any meaning whatsoever is "She Bites Her Tongue" located in the middle of the book. The rest of this is just... ugh.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars not for serious poets, May 25, 2005

By 

Lena "[e-mail]" (Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Slam (Paperback)

I'll give this book two stars: one for the excellent lay-out (the pictures and the quotes and the basic way the book is presented), and another one for the poems that were done by seasoned poets. The rest of the poetry that was published in this anthology is by teens and it is HOR-EN-DOUS! HORRIBLE! This is definitely a good one for, like, 10-16 year olds, but even so, not if you really are a serious poet and, at least, know what poetry is all about.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Shakespeare, Hip Hop Fest, May 20, 2001

By 

shoutgrace "savedbyhisgrace" (Charleston, WV United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Slam (Paperback)

Of all the classic and modern poetry I've read doesn't compare to this book of contemporary poetry. It is completely different in it's expression of emotions, thoughts and words. One slam poet sees it if one didn't express themselves in writing, they would express it in songs or poems.
This book of slam poetry, a "traditional" relevant, now scene art with soul is like no other poetry as it is part of you. How you feel. How you express yourself. By the life you live. How you see it. How you breathe it. That opens you up inside and examines how we all tick. Saying it better in the words of Michelangelo, "I saw the angel in the marble and carved until I set him free." If I were to recommend a book of poems to make you feel good, I would recommend this book.
Not only is this little book a big inspiration to write and look at life at a whole new prospective. It is a book that will follow you wherever you go. It has great writing tips throughout. A big plus, some tidbits of the modern artistic gurus that shape every part of our everyday life, and help shape your own world. Such names like Tori Amos, Maya Angelou, Emily Dickinson, W. H. Auden (who believed in the notion of poetry as a therapy similar to psychoanalysis), Cibo Matto, Bob Dylan, Allen Ginsberg, Aimee Mann, Frank O'Hara, Jimi Hendrix , Hole, John Lennon, J. D. Salinger, Walt Whitman, Dylan Thomas, Rob Thomas (Matchbox 20) and much more explode from the pages as you pick up the fragments and run with it. It's that good!