Soul Rebuttals [Paperback]

Pierre L. Sutton Jr. (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 2001 | ISBN-10: 075962092X | ISBN-13: 978-0759620926

Considered to be an instant classic by many, Soul Rebuttals is Pierre Sutton Jr.’s groundbreaking debut bringing the African American Vernacular tradition back to the forefront.

When he was compiling his new book, he decided to reject the “traditional chapter by chapter format” and aim for a “creative and unique challenge.” The result? A unique and lyrical blending of the best of his “mind stimulating” free verse poetry with a selection of short stories and lyrics. In Soul Rebuttals, Sutton examines the effects of two spiritual entities, P.E.T.E.Y., the guardian angel conscious, and Pdanzig, the vessel of self destructive urges, on the psyche of one man, Pierre. Using a variety of forms to bring the voices of P.E.T.E.Y., PDanzig, and Pierre to life, Sutton examines the effects of these spiritual forces on one man’s life.

With a brilliant sense of history, time and innovative penmanship, Sutton versatility leads us seamlessly through the moods of Pierre the man, whose psyche is the stage for this unfolding drama. From the jazzy rhythms of an old jook joint to the moan of self-hatred in a tormented soul, Sutton carries us through the endless landscape of one man’s mind, revealing the good, the bad and the confused alike. A must have!!

Editorial Reviews

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Old Man Jazz

This old man he played trumpet,

All the realms of jazz he encompassed.

This old man didn’t waste his time

Listening to hip-hop or watching Soul Train,

Instead he spent his early mornings

Listening to Miles Davis and John Coltrane.

On Sunday’s, after giving the Lord his praise,

Through old recordings of the precursors he would graze.

The tunes of Jelly Roll Morton,

King Oliver and Duke Ellington

Would bring upon reminiscent memories

so fond to this old man

Days when Chicago’s south side was the only to stand,

As the capital of the brass band and Syncopated Symphony.

Where amateurs and pro alike would come to get down.

Where the classy ladies were good and plenty.

This old man when he died,

Was believed to be dancing in his grave.

To the somber accent the trumpet boy played.

Elevation

Trying to reach my highest potential – Elevation.

Taking care of myself better & respecting my body as a temple. – Elevation

Constantly striving for betterment & not settling for less. – Elevation

Not getting upset when I lose, especially after giving my best. –Elevation

Dwelling more on the good than the bad. – Elevation

Not dwelling on what was & what was once had. – Elevation

Recognizing what goes on around me more. – Elevation

Realizing that I’m not grounded to the floor. – Elevation

Realizing that I can rise to the heavens above. – Elevation

Becoming conscious that it is okay to love. –Elevation

Not caring about what others say. –Elevation

Understanding, no matter what I do, they would say it anyway. – Elevation

Coming to grips that good people die. –Elevation

Coming to grips that through the living they survive. –Elevation

Growing out of the shell of boyhood and into a man. –Elevation

Realizing that age doesn’t make you a man. –Elevation

Understanding that everything green isn’t grass. –Elevation

Not letting the past cripple me like a cast. – Elevation

Realizing that good things don’t only happen to those who wait. –Elevation

But that good things happen to those who make the least mistakes. –Elevation

Realizing that talking is the alternative to doing. –Elevation

Spending less time talking and more doing. –Elevation

Comprehending right from wrong. –Elevation

Knowing that it is right to stop whenever doing wrong. –Elevation

Realizing that life is too short for bitterness. –Elevation

Realizing that the greatest power is that of forgiveness. –Elevation

Not being afraid to break free. –Elevation

Not being afraid to become me. –Maturity

Product Details

• Paperback: 98 pages
• Publisher: Authorhouse (June 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 075962092X
• ISBN-13: 978-0759620926
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #10,567,385 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars HE IS HERE!, May 3, 2002

By 

Revis (Cambridge, MA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soul Rebuttals (Paperback)

Three egos all speaking truths from the soul make Pierre Sutton's first book remarkable. Anyone who reads Soul Rebuttals will be drawn into the honesty, wisdom and realness of Petey, P'danzig, and Pierre's character. His style and presentation is refreshing and the perspectives in the book are enlightening. I highly recommend this book; once you pick it up you will not want to put it down. With this work Pierre is off to a good start and I look forward to his next book, but I wonder can the old soul of a young man get any deeper?

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars MUSINGS OF THE SOUL, April 7, 2002

By 

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soul Rebuttals (Paperback)

Soul Rebuttals is a collection of poetry by Pierre Sutton which ponders the
emotions of some of life's most perplexing issues. Sutton digs below the
surface of problems and tries to uncover the underlying issues and raw human
emotions that exist at the roots.

He explores a myriad of issues that range from religion and spirituality, drug
abuse, unwed pregnancy, love and betrayal. Inclusive in the collection is a
short story, Sight and Seeing, which is broken into three parts and tells the
story of three troubled souls. The story is told in three parts by each of
the characters. Sight and Seeing is a sad tale of betrayal and loneliness.

Pierre Sutton has a flare for descriptions and metaphors which explode from
almost every entry in the collection. It appears that Sutton is trying to
evoke thought and emotion from readers . However, at times his abundance of description and metaphor leaves the reader wondering what his point is. That
aside, Soul Rebuttals is a respectable collection of poetry.

Reviewed by Diane Marbury (HonestD)

5.0 out of 5 stars Conceptual Poetry at it's best, April 25, 2002

By 

Lamont (Washington, DC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Soul Rebuttals (Paperback)

I recently just finished reading Soul Rebuttals and I must say, Pierre Sutton is a very young and gifted writer. I was thoroughly expressed by his sense of consciousness in poems like 'Chicago Times', "Between the Cracks" and "Elevation". I simply loved the Aimless Amos poems, they remind me so much of myself and people I know. The Sight and Seeing short story was definitely interesting and gripping. I read the other review by HonestD and I do agree that 'Sight and Seeing' is a kind of sad at times but it is also very uplifting and optmistic, especially the one which showcases the character Barren Deluse. All in all an astounding first effort!