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Introducing George The Poet: Search Party: A Collection of Poems

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‘The title is Search Party – the idea being that we’re all out here looking for something, and my poems are my way of finding myself.’ A young black poet blending spoken word and rap; an inner city upbringing with a Cambridge education; a social consciousness with a satirical wit and infectious rhythm – George The Poet is the voice of a new generation.Search Party is a thought-provoking and deeply autobiographical collection. From the overtly political ‘Go Home’ to the deeply personal ‘Full-time’; the narrative poems that offer vivid and unapologetic snapshots of inner-city life, such as ‘His Mistakes’, ‘Believer’ and the anthemic ‘My City’; to the provocative social commentary in ‘Lazy Dog’ and ‘YOLO’; to the inspiring, idea-driven pieces such as ‘The Power of Collaboration’ and ‘School Blues’, George takes poetry into new territories and to new audiences, offering a different way to talk about the things that matter, to explore his own experience and ideas, and encourage others explore theirs.George The Poet’s mesmerising and unforgettable live performances have earned him critical acclaim. From sell-out headline gigs and YouTube hits, to recording his own music, and now his first collection of poetry, George uses his work to speak truth to power and challenge our preconceived ideas about the society we’re living in.Whether you’re searching for yourself, for answers, for change – join the search party.

130 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 19, 2015

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5 stars
95 (33%)
4 stars
120 (42%)
3 stars
54 (19%)
2 stars
11 (3%)
1 star
3 (1%)
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews
Profile Image for Georgia Stephenson.
18 reviews8 followers
March 24, 2016
I absolutely loved this collection. George is wise beyond his years and has many important things to say in Search Party. He puts his points across so well. I listened to this as an audio book and I think I really benefitted from hearing it read by George himself, but I will be buying the physical version soon because I'd really like to reread some passages.
Profile Image for Fern Adams.
840 reviews59 followers
March 1, 2019
This is a collection of activist poetry/rap. I’d really recommend the audiobook version as hearing George perform his own work really adds to it. Shows poetry can still be very relevant.
50 reviews4 followers
December 29, 2021
Topical and refreshing but the poems are much stronger spoken aloud with his timbre and charisma
Profile Image for Jadaine.
7 reviews1 follower
April 8, 2015
If you would like to truly echo the flow in all of what George writes on paper, listen to his EP album entitled 'The Chicken and the Egg'. You need a highlighter for this poetry book, as the thoughts he ignites in you are unreal! Well done George! Defo food for thought.
Profile Image for Michelle.
58 reviews10 followers
February 25, 2016
A book that should be used for teaching in schools as it's something kids can relate too
Profile Image for Sam.
437 reviews4 followers
February 2, 2016
Wow! I read this in 48 hours.. Georges' verses are so well crafted. He really captures the gritty, communal, urban environment. My kindle version of this book is covered in yellow highlighter.
Profile Image for Katie (readingwithkt).
160 reviews51 followers
September 4, 2020
I have admired George Mpanga (George the Poet) since my teen years. A quote from one of his TV performances still hangs in my bedroom at my parents house - it was about dreams and while I don’t recall the full thing by heart, I remember the line “a dream is a birthright”. Anyway, I was glad to see the audiobook of his collection, Search Party, appear in my library catalogue! Mpanga has such talent for spoken performance and I always appreciate the way he masters language to present some really powerful political messaging. He is a true gift to the world of art/literature/poetry. Highly recommend this as an audiobook! If it weren’t on a 7 day loan I’d start from the beginning and listen again.
Profile Image for Snoakes.
910 reviews33 followers
May 19, 2017
Everyone should hear what George the Poet has to say. He's an inner-city black kid with a Cambridge education - unfortunately that makes him pretty unique, but it means he has a voice for everyone. Passionate and hugely conscious of his social responsibility, his poems are lyrical and often witty but they also hit home. Yes they should be taught in schools - what a fantastic role model for us all.
Profile Image for MrsB.
710 reviews
January 14, 2018
I really enjoyed this collection by ‘George the Poet’. The poems are quite long but the subject matters are interesting, despite being difficult. There was a great musicality to the collection and a wonderful rhythm throughout. Long sentences that run quickly and get you involved with the text. I would definitely read more by George the Poet.

Three of my favourites were:
Full-time
The Ends of the Earth
School Blues
87 reviews2 followers
November 7, 2021
George the Poet Laureate

Another book for the National curriculum, full of wisdom, humour, and heart, but most of all heart. In these days of anti-woke here is an antidote here's a bloke that gets my vote. This is what a poet does, makes you laugh, makes you cry, makes think, makes you care.
1,101 reviews7 followers
August 28, 2020
Will inspire a generation of young black writers and thinkers. Full of aphorisms and support, as if he is talking to you through the page. Never aggressive, always suggestive (that's his style, by the way, heavy on hard rhymes).
Profile Image for Holly.
107 reviews
August 2, 2022
Sealey Challenge book 2 - This was a bit hit and miss for me. Some of it I really enjoyed, I think I would have liked it to maybe have had a stricter editor to condense the length of the collection and really make the great poems stand out. Would try more of his poetry in the future.
Profile Image for Daisy H.
233 reviews
April 11, 2018
This is an incredible collection of poems- so eye opening and such a joy to read. Would recommend to anyone!
Profile Image for Lucy Miles.
43 reviews6 followers
September 5, 2021
Fave poems
Monsters
His Mistakes
Please Doubt Me
One number
Life on Mars
Impossible
The Way I Am
1 review
July 22, 2022
George writes from his heart and soul. He tells his life story, ideas, hopes, dreams and perceptions through intricate wordplay and sincere rhymes. I'm sure you'll love this
Profile Image for Faye.
75 reviews2 followers
March 5, 2023
A really interesting collection that I’ll be sure to share some of it with students.
Profile Image for hawk.
287 reviews26 followers
February 17, 2023
rhyming and rhythm

experience, observation.

survival, masculinity,
family and relationships.

city, home, history...

"see my city has many faces, 4 of them belonging to Big Ben, the rest of them are hidden behind Big business, and Big Brother ensures all of them are monitored... "

a good collection 🙂
I think the first I've seen 'in print', having previously enjoyed some of this author's poetry/spoken word on YouTube, etc.

accessed as an audiobook, from the National poetry library, read by the author 🙂
13 reviews1 follower
December 2, 2022
'The bottom line is I refuse to be beaten.'

poet reminded me that you shouldn't have to strip yourself of your experiences or culture when you enter certain spaces like academia, no matter how strongly you are made to feel like it. the singular image of what is 'academic' effectively invalidates the lived experiences of people such as Poet - and so he makes sure to place them at the forefront of 'Search Party.' I enjoyed it because it was real, something I relate to, and something I want to see more of.
Profile Image for Jack Edwards .
31 reviews1 follower
June 28, 2021
I love this book because it tackles the issues that face people living in poverty, and the problems that people living on council estates face. As a middle class person who is looking at private schools I could not imagine what they go through where they live. The book was split into three parts and it showing the progression of George’s life. How he was raised in a council estate to going to a free grammar school, to then going to Cambridge. I think this book is great for all. For middle class people, to know what happens on council estates, to people living on a council estate showing the aspirations that they should have.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 34 reviews

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