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shannanh's review against another edition
4.0
A new set of poems by the phenomenal Nikki Giovanni. Can't say which one I liked the best, because I enjoyed all of them.
booksbythecup's review against another edition
Thank you @tlcbooktours @williammorrowbooks for gifted book.
—
In Autumn the leaves fall
And turn
And ultimately trees will be bare
Awaiting the snows of winter
It's all so beautiful
And quiet
And we are a part of it
Because someone had vision
—A Good Cry, by Nikki Giovanni (excerpt from The Old Man of The Mountain)
There is something special when you hear an author/poet read their work. Doesn't it evoke another level of understanding and connectedness?
And so it begins. I've already looked up and listened to Giovanni read, I Married My Mother & Black Lives Matter, from this collection. I read several others while sipping my tea and I can tell, there is more Giovanni in my future reading.
I watched her speak and read some of her poetry (on YouTube) to an audience at the Schwartz on the Emory Campus on February 26, 2020.
Watching this event, she's hilarious, wise and so much more.
She said a few things I had to write down but this, can we just appreciate this?
“We live in a country that everyone's supposed to be thin and young. I do not recommend either.”
Who says you have to start at the beginning of a poetry collection and work your way to the end? I'm here no there, but believe I will read and revisit this collection and acquire the rest in short order.
Picking this collection up as I convalesce this weekend, Giovanni's work, soothes and calms. Other times it calls upon you to reflect on what's changes and what remains the same. The sweet memories of childhood, growing up with our grandparents who nurture and tend to our needs. Who instill in us values that sadly have been lost in each passing generation.
Remembering friendships, "learning to cry" because for so long we've been told not to, it will be all right, when really it's not and we need to cry. Remembering the landscape of domestic violence, finding safety in the home of one's grandparents. How I miss my great grandparents and a pm reminded to treasure my living grandparent NOW.
2 Giovanni collections in one month, with another waiting for me on my shelf.
—
In Autumn the leaves fall
And turn
And ultimately trees will be bare
Awaiting the snows of winter
It's all so beautiful
And quiet
And we are a part of it
Because someone had vision
—A Good Cry, by Nikki Giovanni (excerpt from The Old Man of The Mountain)
There is something special when you hear an author/poet read their work. Doesn't it evoke another level of understanding and connectedness?
And so it begins. I've already looked up and listened to Giovanni read, I Married My Mother & Black Lives Matter, from this collection. I read several others while sipping my tea and I can tell, there is more Giovanni in my future reading.
I watched her speak and read some of her poetry (on YouTube) to an audience at the Schwartz on the Emory Campus on February 26, 2020.
Watching this event, she's hilarious, wise and so much more.
She said a few things I had to write down but this, can we just appreciate this?
“We live in a country that everyone's supposed to be thin and young. I do not recommend either.”
Who says you have to start at the beginning of a poetry collection and work your way to the end? I'm here no there, but believe I will read and revisit this collection and acquire the rest in short order.
Picking this collection up as I convalesce this weekend, Giovanni's work, soothes and calms. Other times it calls upon you to reflect on what's changes and what remains the same. The sweet memories of childhood, growing up with our grandparents who nurture and tend to our needs. Who instill in us values that sadly have been lost in each passing generation.
Remembering friendships, "learning to cry" because for so long we've been told not to, it will be all right, when really it's not and we need to cry. Remembering the landscape of domestic violence, finding safety in the home of one's grandparents. How I miss my great grandparents and a pm reminded to treasure my living grandparent NOW.
2 Giovanni collections in one month, with another waiting for me on my shelf.
tiffanyslack's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this mixed collection of poetry and memoir and a bit more. It was thoughtful, joyful, sorrowful, and celebratory.
laurend's review against another edition
4.0
Lovely, lovely stuff. Need to read more poetry more often.
littlebookjockey's review against another edition
3.0
Full review at Little Book Jockey. I read this because I wanted to be uplifted. And I was. I am such a crier–for good things, bad things, silly things. It’s like I can’t contain my heart. It’s good to be reminded that it’s okay.
csamura's review against another edition
4.0
This was an introduction to Nikki Giovanni for me, and what an intro it was. This collection was brilliantly written and seamlessly set up in a way that took the reader on a journey through the south of decades past in the eyes of a young black girl, all the way to the lessons and experience of old age. It was a refreshing collection of poetry in an era when many contemporary poets bring to the table little of the wise nuance and joyful reflection that Giovanni presents. I enjoyed this collection and will be looking to read more work by Ms Giovanni.
rkirk012's review against another edition
5.0
It's always beautiful/refreshing to read Nikki Giovanni poems and this book is no different.