Poems of Life, from the Heart

By Mitchell England

This book is a compilation of poems written by Mitchell while studying nature during walks in his woods, or fishing in some of Michigan's many lakes."

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 29, 2014
• ISBN: 9781499032130

Book preview

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Reviews for Poems of Life, from the Heart

[acqwoods · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I'll keep it simple: everyone needs to go read this now. I thought this was a novel but it turns out to be true. The author spent three months living with an Afghani family. The patriarch is a bookseller in Kabul (I'm sure you wouldn't have guessed that) and is in some ways very modern and liberal. However, in his home life he is very traditional. It was fascinating to learn more about the culture but I also became completely swept up in the lives of these real people. I had about 10 pages left when we got off the plane and I hurried to the baggage claim so I could sit down and finish it!

[sandradoran · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book has changed my life forever. I generally lack the ability to connect in any real way with what is happening on the news. Now I stop what I am doing when Afghanistan is mentioned and think about the very real people described in this non-fiction book. It's hard to believe that the author actually gained the privileged of living in an Afghani home. What's even more incredible is that she simply recorded, in fluent, lucid language, what she experienced every day.

[estellen_4 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Pretty good look at Muslim culture and life with the Taliban, but not as engrossing as I had hoped.

[replay_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

In the heart of an Afghan family. Unbiaised depicting of daily life in one of the most mysterious country in the world. Magic, discreet.

[alic_77 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Part of its appeal is the fact that it opens a door on a world that is totally alien to us, and part is because it shows a world (that of the family) that is so familiar.

[niecierpek · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Even though very interesting, this book was disturbing to me on many levels. The poverty is disturbing, the patriarchal, hierarchical family structure, the oppression of women and child labour, the way the book is written, and above all, the way Seirstad used the family, are all very unsettling to me.

[unlikelyaristotle · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I'm torn when it comes to books like this. I do realize the importance of having 'unbiased' people coming into an oppressive regime like the one in Afghanistan, and making the world aware of such an important political situation, but at the same time I cringe at the thought of all the pre-judging that such a person would do, and the ramifications it has on readers who don't know anything about Afghani culture and religion. I much prefer books by people who actually lived the life they write about, and although Asne Seierstad did live it for months, there's a difference between her living and the living of people who suffer through the trials and fears of living under a Taliban regime, such as Khaled Hosseini's "Kite-Runner". In any case, any book that helps to shed light on a darkened part of the world is a book that I hope will bring people closer together in understanding each other, rather than backing up old prejudices.

[jayne_charles_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A fascinating look at a real family living in Kabul shortly after the fall of the Taliban. The author portrays them skilfully and honestly, each chapter focusing on a different member of the family. Particularly heartrending were the women’s stories. I had always supposed that in a culture where polygamy was practised, everyone would be comfortable with it, but not so. Hoping to learn more about a country so much in the news, but of whose people we understand so little, I was surprised by the vast differences between Western culture, and that in Afghanistan. Talk of the ‘religious police’ and reference to ‘everyone watching one another’s morals’ reminded me of the novel ‘Nineteen Eighty Four’. I have read all this before in the Kite Runner but this packed an additional punch, being hard fact.

[indygo88 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I felt the title of this book to be a bit misleading, as the story centers more around various members of the bookseller's family & didn't particularly focus on books, & only briefly touched on the impact books had on the people of Kabul & surrounding areas. However, that didn't particularly bother me. But this was yet another eye-opening book about Muslim culture. The more I read, the angrier I get. I've noticed a difference in male/female authors, as the oppression of women is much more evident when the book is written by a woman, as this one is. There was not so much a single plot to this story -- it was more like a sliver of the lives of various members of an extended family. I had trouble keeping some of the names straight, but that may just be me (& the fact that I read this on audio, which makes referencing back more difficult). All in all a very good read, although disturbing & unsettling.

[ariadnearanea · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Bookseller Sultan Khan invited Norwegian journalist Åsne Seierstad to live wtih his family for a while, and to write a book about them. This is it - a documentary novel, the story of one Afghan family as told to or experienced by the author over four months in 2002, and re-told by her so as to edit herself from the picture.As with all works written from a single point of view, especially that of an outsider, you don't get the full picture - but you get enough of it to have a hard time remembering that this particular family is unusually privileged and well-educated. There are no easy answers or happy endings - just a slice of life, a portrait of Afghan society (and women's place in it) that is touching, depressing, and important.

[lmonch_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Very good!

[tandah_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

If I had not read other books about recent Afgani history, I think I would have enjoyed this book so much more. It's a great concept, describing contemporary life and culture largely through the lives of a family who, one is set up to believe, is educated - but it is so unremittingly bleak, and whilst the men are not quite as cruel as the (fictional) characters in 'Kite Runner', and 'A Thousand Splendid Suns', this books describes a situation that ultimately is even more hopeless, because it's real. It's well written, and worthy of its many accolades, but I did not like reading it.

[meredithyvonne · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

READ THIS BOOK!! The bookseller of Kabul one of the best books I've ever read (it swaps places with Memoirs of a Geisha for my absolute favorite book). It's the true story of a bookseller in Kabul who endures jail and the oppression of the Taliban in order to preserve his country's written history (the Taliban outlawed all books besides the Koran during their rule). Yet although he fought the Taliban for freedom he is very oppressive of his entire family. It's a really interesting look at Afganistan post Taliban rule. READ THIS BOOK!!

[creighley_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The author lived with an Afghan family and was later sued by the person who invited her to stay. The head of the family, the Sultan, a bookseller who is determined to save the literature of his country at great risk, is also very much embedded with the standard treatment of women and his family. After the printing of this novel, the Sultan sued the author. He didn't like what he saw. Take heed, Women! Read this book. We do not want to continue to go backwards! The book itself could have flowed better and the ending was rather abrupt.

[sovranty · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

It is difficult to become emotionally attached to any of the characters in this story. However, it is just the opposite when discussing emotions attached to the characters' daily struggles and joys. This is an extremely quick read and can serve as a superficial introduction to the lives at every level within the hierarchy of a patriarchal family struggle emerging from a religious and personal oppression forced on the country.

[monicabrandywine · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I need to re-read this, there is much I don't recall. I do remember enjoying it and learning much about Afgan life and the women who live there.

[marient_5 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A mesmerizing portrait of a proud man who, through three decades and successive repressive regimes, heroically braved persecution to bring books to the people of Kabul. It is a revelation of the plight of Afghan women and a window into the surprising realities of daily life in today's Afghanistan.

[traczy555 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The title is completely misleading. I thought this was going to be a true story about a book seller in Afghanistan. Instead it is a true account of how a white woman from a first world country interprets/views the lives of the booksellers family members. It was interesting from a cultural education perspective, but dull beyond that.

[dcarchitect_1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Ms. Seierstad, a journalist, gives us the story of Sultan Khan and his family as they survive the drastic changes Afghanistan has experienced. Her story is based on the time she spent living with the Khan family after the fall of the Taliban.

[goldiebear · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The Bookseller of Kabul was an excellent, excellent read! I loved it. The writing style was suprub and I loved the story line. It was great getting a different view point from different memebers of the family each chapter. It ceses to amaze me how people of different parts of the world live in such different ways and believe such different things.I also find it very interesting that Seierstad is being sued by "sultan". I suppose it's not very surprising, as I am sure that he thought this book was probably going to be taken in a different angle than it was... but still fascinating...

[fetchseven · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A look into the lives of the members of an Afghani family. Shows the desires and frustrations of the family members while providing an insight into the rituals and character of a changing Afghani culture. Entertaining and insightful.

[mercef_9 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Hard to believe this depiction of Afghanistan is in 2001- it sounded like it was set in biblical times. The misogyny, the poverty, lack of education…suffice to say, I will never be tempted to visit, even if it ever became safe.

[stephengoldenberg · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Asne Seierstadt uses her first hand experience of living with an Afghan family to weave her experiences and her research into a novelistic account of one extended family's experience of post-9/11 Afghanistan. Her sympathies lie, for obvious reasons, with the women in the family and she paints a portrait of their struggles and, at times, remarkable resilience in fighting for some kind of freedom and independence in such an overwhelmingly patriarchal society.
Much of the book is taken up with the feuds within the family and the central importance of arranging the right sort of marriage for the young women. Surprisingly, the war and the resulting power struggles between the Taliban, the western invaders post-9/11 and the various tribal factions takes a backseat. This book is about how ordinary families struggle to survive in extraordinary circumstances.

[bibliofemmes · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Not as well written as Nine Parts of Desire or even Three Cups or Tea, this book is interesting for its examination of Muslin family life in Afghanistan from one European woman's perspective. The ensuing lawsuit by Sultan Khan helps remind readers that it is all about perspective. cp

[mabe_10 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Deeply depressing book. The oppression of women is condonned by other women as well as men. Young women are completely devoid of any control over their own lives, considered as property to be bartered

[kaebs · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed getting to know the family of the bookseller and learning a lot about Afghanistan's history, traditions and people. For a non-fiction book, this is very engagingly written. Interesting is also the setting of Afghanistan AFTER the Taliban have left.

[smits_52 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

a portrait of life inside a Kabul family. Very real.Learn about the role of women from staying at home to trying to become a teacher to marriage proposal to wearing the burka. Sultan's sons manage the book store and never get to go anywhere. They struggle with rules, no drinking, total obedience to their father. Just a real good read on what life was like after the Talaban left with glimpse into what it was like during the Taliban

[carothelibrarian · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The author of this book is a journalist who has been based in Afghanistan. Fascinated by the lives of Sultan, a bookseller she meets, she spends time living with him and his extended family. Through their eyes and experiences she writes about life in Afghanistan both before, during and after Taleban rule. It is a fascinating inside view, although the number of characters ca, be rather confusing. Maybe I just wasn't concentrating, but list of characters or Khan familt tree might have helped me keep track.

[timj_586242 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Fascinating to read, but at the same time depressing. Explains better than any politician could, just why it is so important to strive for a society that is liberal, tolerant and not at the mercy of religious fundamentalism. Also seems to clearly indicate that on the whole women are less than happy with their subjugation in this particular Islamic world.

[nlavery_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Good book, but definitely seen through western eyes. The repression of women by the more traditional Islamic patriachal society certainly sticks in my throat too, but I found the reading a bit too shrill, as opposed to Shirin Ebadi's "Iran Awakening" who tends to use satirical humor to mock the dinosaur men who use Islam to control their family, but importantly highlights the point that good men, who do not do this, exist in all societies.