Blues: For All the Changes: New Poems (Hardcover)

by Nikki Giovanni (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Social and/or political poetry often fails because it loses touch with humanity; it gets distracted by issues and forgets about the impact of things on people. Giovanni never loses sight of the people in her work. In poems built with broken lines and paragraphs of prose, she spars with the ills that confront us, but every struggle has a human face. Ask Roger Woody, of the Woody Pipe and Excavating Company, who is destroying the wonderful woodland adjacent to Giovanni's home and readying it for a new housing development. When a young basketball star is harassed for his youth and style ("Iverson"), she assumes the role of compassionate but stern sister. She is no less forthcoming with her opinions of the President and his woes. At times you wonder what makes these soapbox oratories poems. You will not find many familiar rhetorical devices here, but you will want to dance to the music, the rhythms and language, the sound and exacting energy of these poemsAwhich is more than enough.ALouis McKee, Painted Bride Arts Ctr., Philadelphia
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews
The much-published Giovanni has been amply rewarded for a career thats been spotty to say the least. Unlike fellow doggerelist Maya Angelou, Giovanni has no prose works of distinctionher Racism 101 (1994) hardly measures up to Angelous moving memoirs. So her reputation rests largely with her poetry, which, given this latest volume, is a sad spectacle: a lazy collection of prose rants with lots of ellipses to disguise the scatter-brained thinking. Her litanies of racist episodes from history, her ghetto-thug affectations, and her Oprahesque bits of uplift are all tired rhetorical devices and rely on a vocabulary of pop journalism and advertising (No problem / No Sweat / Just Jazz). Things turn so embarrassingly strange here that Giovanni mentions five or so times her personal animus toward a real-estate developer in her hometown who threatens the view from her backyard. A typical stream-of- consciousness bit links Lena Horne, Billie Holiday, black holes in science, and Sally Hemmings. Another celebrates the author and other revolutionary poets for understanding the power of a poem, with asides on the Nation of Islam and dietary habits. Giovannis political views become seriously discomfiting when her peroration on civil rights devolves into a chilling prescription for utopia. Elsewhere, she defends the presidential penis and offensively attacks anti-rap crusader C Delores Tucker . . . fuck her fuck her fuck her. Despite the infantile politics, Giovanni includes many short and light ditties, with their schoolgirl rhymes, that suggest her one strength: simple childrens verse that jumps and jives. -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 112 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow; 1 edition (April 21, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688156983
• ISBN-13: 978-0688156985
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #562,469 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #14 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > Authors, A-Z > ( G ) > Giovanni, Nikki
  #14 in	Books > Literature & Fiction > United States > African American > Giovanni, Nikki

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Princess of Black Poetry does it again!, April 3, 2001

By	thegritsdotcom (Texas, United States) - See all my reviews

Nikki Giovanni, often referred to by fans as the "Princess of Black Poetry," is back on the scene with another brilliant collection of poems titled, BLUES FOR ALL THE CHANGES. Anyone who knows music and about the Blues in general will find all the poems in this book to be in some way a lyrical and rhythmic statement not only about this radical poet's life, but about some of the best and worst moments in Black America.

This book is divided into two main sections. The first 32 poems are called 'flatted thirds and sevenths.' Some of the poems in this section are short elliptical pieces that are hard-hitting while others are long flowing prose pieces without any punctuation --meant to be read with the natural breathing rhythm of the reader. My favorite in this section is 'Visible Ink'(p.15) This poem which starts out describing the imperfections of folks from the Bible to Hollywood is a an extension of the blues being " . . . about truth-telling." Yes, we all have imperfections, but it is through those imperfections that we learn what true living is all about. Through imperfections, real heroes arise and become the forerunners in the necessary changes we see and need in our lifetime. Other great poems in this section deals with topics that range from the Underground Railroad, civil rights, and hatred to special tributes to key people in our society like Betty Shabazz and Jackie Robinson.

The final 20 poems in this book are called 'fugue.' All of the poetry in this section depict the daily rhythm of human life coming together as we know it. These poems reflect our changing seasons, our dreams and aspirations, as well as our transient from this life to the next. This book is filled with poetry for every mood, emotion, and celebration!

Despite some critics believing that BLUES FOR ALL THE CHANGES is just another book about black anger in poetic form; or that Giovanni's opinions, though based in reality, are wrong subjective conclusions . . . I find her work representative of the emotions and ideas that many Black people have about life in this country. I believe BLUES FOR ALL THE CHANGES resonants in truth and is an excellent read for National Poetry Month!

5.0 out of 5 stars Nikki Giovanni's New Poems, October 20, 2007

By	Chase von (California) - See all my reviews

I have to say, that I wish I would have known more about this woman many years ago. I'd heard of Langston Hughes, I had heard of Maya Angelou, I'd heard of Kahlil Gibran and Javan and many others. But it was only a few years ago that I truly remember hearing the name Nikki Giovanni. This is the first book of hers I have ever actually read. Back then I was content to find out who she was via viewing some web sites. I have to tell all reading this review, I cheated myself. It is no wonder she receives all the praise she receives. There are people I admire and then there are people I look up to and prior to reading this book, I admired her from her web pages. Enough so to include her in a book forward. I now look up to her as the icon she deserves to be called. Not everyone is going to like Nikki, which is one of the reasons I've went from admired to look up to. This is REAL POETRY which I have to say the world needs more of!!! It isn't make you feel good poetry, although some of it indeed does. I think the one that had me laughing the most was ~Opening Day or Hey! Start a Contest! Because she pulls no punches! When I read "I know I would have a fit if it was call the Atlanta Nigxxxx" I have to admit I wasn't expecting it... Some might take this out of context but when it comes to why Native Americans take offense to some sports teams carrying Indian names it makes perfect sense, and I do have Native American blood, but I am by no means racist. I am however, a realist and the fact that racism is alive and breathing is undeniable. Let's face it! And the one that calls it like it is, shouldn't be ashamed or silent or ridiculed. They should be listened to, by all sides. I've learned she was a huge voice in the revolution, and although she holds nothing back, for my part, I think that is the only way true understanding will ever be reached. To say that inequality didn't exist is a lie. To say racism didn't exist is a lie. To say it doesn't currently exist is a bigger lie. (Every day it seems there's a story in the news to confirm it). And to say that it shouldn't be spoken of, is in my opinion an abomination. I want a better world for all people and all races, and I personally believe that isn't going to be achieved by ignoring and burying the obvious.

Myth; America was discovered... Fact, America was invaded...
Myth; "If you don't like it here, you should go back to Africa!
Fact; Most if not all of the people that say that, weren't born when previous people were bringing our ancestors here against their will to begin with. And aren't carrying blood that originated on these lands either.
I carry both, but I am not hating. I am saying deal with what has taken place honestly, and move forward from it.

America's past is not the thing of fairy tales. For my part my world is good people, bad people. But I am also not in denial or amnesia as to what has occurred. I close with this...

Truth can be many things
Ugly or beautiful
Horrendous or lovely
Sickening or stupendous
But from it
You can move on
A Lie
Can be all the above things as well
But you cannot move on from it
Into truth
Until it is realized
That it is a lie

By myself

Keep telling it like it is Nikki, in so doing, you are keeping us moving forward, all of us, into truth and light. It's not a complaint, just an observation. I think the book could have been called "New Poems and Short Stories" because some read more like stories than poems to me...

Chase von
tlp
The Last Panther (Something else from my Indian heritage by the way)

Your Chance to Hear The Last Panther Speak

5.0 out of 5 stars Author of Poetic Thoughts From the Heart of a Woman, April 7, 2007

By	Kathryn S. Carrington "Author/Freelance" (Laurel, Maryland) - See all my reviews

Fun! Exciting! Serious! Real! Powerful! I felt all of these things and more, reading this particular book by Nikki Giovanni that often lifted my spirits to the top of mountains high and then slowly drifting me down to the valley of reality. I am such a big fan of this poet who has proven through time, that saying what you mean and meaning what you say can be a phenomenal characteristic, allowing one to free the mind, body and soul.