Great Stories in Not So Great Circumstances

Some of the best stories have been written under not so great circumstances. The apostle Paul wrote half of his epistles while in jail. Many wonderful songs have been written during much heartache and loss. I never ever minimize any situation because I believe there is a story to be
told.

At present I'm living in temporary housing. I see the many lives that I have crossed. I'm developing characters and scenarios for later stories. Take advantage of every situation that comes your way. Write down characteristics, mannerisms, and above all the redeeming qualities
the characters you developing possess.

~Genevieve

NuyoricanPoetsCafe

The Nuyorican Friday Night Poetry Slam
Every Friday Night>@10pm> $10 admissionCurrent Schedule:

Sep 24> Spotlight: Anwar>$10
Oct 1> Spotlight: Oosagyefo/Kevin Sandbloom>$10
Oct 8> Spotlight: Simply Rob>$10
Oct 15> Spotlight: Lauren Whitehead>$10

The Nuyorican Friday Night Poetry Slam is pretty popular and fills up fast, so please get in line early. (suggested arrival latest 9:15pm). Hosted by Mahogany Browne.

Note: Semi-Final Slams>$12 Admission (5 times a year, see schedule)Grand Slam Finale>$15 Admission (yearly event, usually April, see schedule)

If you are interested in becoming a Friday Night Slam Spotlight, please send samples of your work both written & recorded (MP3 or provide video links, etc.) to slamspot@nuyorican.org

located at 236b East 3rd St. bet. Avenues A & B.

Words of Wisdom

It is very near impossible to become an educated person
in a country so distrustful of the independent mind.

~James Baldwin

Book Review

Nine Lives

By Dan Baum

Rating: 4

Nine Lives by Dan Baum is a book that interviews nine residents of New Orleans before, during and after Hurricane Betsy and Katrina. The backgrounds of the people were diverse and different as night and day.

I liked Wilbert Rawlins, Jr., a no-nonsense black man who was a father figure to boys who were fatherless or parentless. Billy Grace was an interesting man who cracked into high society from a working class background. He never digressed from his roots, seeing the snobby and bigoted side of the who’s who of New Orleans. I most identified with Joann Guidos, a male to female transsexual. I am a gender variant person who started out as a cross dress to where I am now a transsexual. Joann kept me interested in reading this book.

What interested me in this book is the city. I wanted to travel to New Orleans before Katrina. Now I want to go there more than ever. From what I read in Nine Lives, there’s still much work to be done especially in the Ninth Ward.

I felt as if I was in New Orleans when Katrina near wiped out the city. I could feel Wil Rawlins' intensity and as he tried to keep a ragtag bunch of kids together. I felt as if I was there with him. I felt the same way about Billy Grace and especially Joann Guidos.

What I enjoyed reading Nine Lives is that the people interviewed spoke in their own narrative. Each character was so different and having someone else speak for them who have done a grave injustice to them, I believe.I rate this book a four because I love being involved with the characters. They were people we all can identity with in some way.

~ Genevieve

Alternative Reading

As a fan of the alternative and the unusual, the website below has some goo listings and information.


www.newpages.com

Words of Wisdom

He listens well who takes notes.

~Dante Alighieri