A Coney Island of the Mind: Poems (New Directions Paperback No. 74) | 
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Customer Reviews:
• Thank You, Mr. Ferlinghetti 31 March, 2006
I first read Lawrence Ferlinghetti's poem, "Constantly Risking Absurdity" when I was 26 years young. I am now 41 and I still read that poem to remind me that even though my body may be taking on the appearances of getting older, my mind, my spirit, and my soul are just as young as ever.
I believe we grow old not because of time, but what we do or don't do with our time. We let our beliefs become rigid, we let our attitudes harden, we forget what it was like to be flexible and youthful and optimistic about life.
This book opens the mind. It expands the heart. It flows through the soul like honey and lets the "imprisoned splendor" escape through the cracks of the entire psyche. I would suggest reading this book by candlelight with maybe some Lee Morgan or John Coltrane in the background.
It's a book of prayers written by a Beat Priest and every day I thank God that I came across that poem I mentioned earlier in this review it changed my life in a million ways known as well as unknown.
If you are looking for something to bring you to a place of youthful vigor, give this book a try. Remember it's never to late to have a great life.
Peace & Blessings
- Reviewed by customer ID: A1AT0GONN4A9NA
• "i Am Perpetually Awaiting A Rebirth Of Wonder." 20 March, 2008
I love Lawrence Ferlinghetti and I always have ever since a friend first read number 5 to me in college. It happens to be a wonderful allegory to Jesus and one of my favorite lines from it is "they stretch him on the Tree to cool." The author's language is exquisite although sometimes his wordsmithing manages to out-resonate his message. This is poetry at its best as it is both challenging and accessible. Practically every entry in "A Coney Island of the Mind" captures one's interest. Even the introductory phrase from this collection, "In Goya's greatest scenes we seem to see," is highly memorable. Some of the later poems are excellent such as the anti-materialistic "Christ Climbed Down" and "2" from Pictures of the Gone World. What Ferlinghetti offers up is life lessons along with a treasure trove of human feeling and description. I read poetry rarely but still savor the works of this twentieth century master.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A34PAZQ73SL163
• Great 22 January, 2008
Great poems by one of the best of the Beats. I love the way he pulls stuff straight from other poems and maybe even songs. I also couldn't help but notice several lines that other authors and musicians had stolen from him in turn. A beautiful piece of a great big poetic puzzle.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A1YC6AHVLLD7UK
• A Distant Man With A Personal Message 21 March, 2006
Ferlinghetti is strange in that he considers himself a man of the people, yet works in a field in which the common man wouldn't normally participate. He writes so that academics won't like him, and fans of bukowski or ginsberg won't necessarily like him. The only poet REMOTELY like him could possibly be Bob Hicok.
Ferlinghetti developed his own style of poetry that's (to paraphrase) not constrained by the limits of the poetic line. It's all over the place, in form and in content. This is his seminal work, and the modern version even contains the best from his previous: Pictures of the Gone World.
He has a sensibility for the turn of a phrase, as we see with "The poet's eye obscenely seeing" and "cast up / the heart flops over / gasping 'Love'. He is in tune with the alienation of the modern age, and although he's far from a "people person", his quiet insights have proven inspiring and invaluable.
His next-best work is probably "starting from san francisco", which contains my favorite poem, "overpopulation" (an oft-overlooked, but great piece of poetry to read aloud). This one, however, is a must-read if you're into a populist aesthetic for poetry. If you like poetry that you can read on fifteen different levels, and isn't really saying anything, this is NOT the book for you.
- Reviewed by customer ID: A3VGTWY7PUXJA2
• A Wonderful Book -- But 12 July, 2008
I wish those who praise Ferlinghetti and his work (or even those who disparage them) would LEARN from HIM that he, by his own repeated statement, is NOT a "Beat".
Such guilt by association is an insult to him: unlike so-called "Beats," including vapid wind-bag Ginsberg, Ferlinghetti REWRITES.
He has expressly said that the "Beat" ethos -- "First thought, best thought" -- is instead "First thought, WORST thought."
Regardless whether you respect him or not, at least give him his due and respect his word: he is NOT a "Beat".
As for this book: wonderful. It is one of the few best-selling books of poetry, and deserves to be, with its fresh style and imagery -- and energy. A lovely follow-up to the equally magical "Pictures of the Gone World" -- also a continuing seller, and recommended. Open the book and marvel at the exploding fireworks.
- Reviewed by customer ID: ASS1P2AA9MSY5
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