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48th out of 143 books
—
153 voters
The House of Belonging
by
David Whyte
Paperback, 98 pages
Published
December 1st 1997
by Many Rivers Press
(first published June 1996)
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To start, I want to note that this book was already reviewed this year by Annie:
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/8...
But I found I had somewhat different things to say about it so rather than commenting on her review, I decided to write my own in full.
David Whyte actually made/makes money taking poetry (Dante particularly) into corporations to help move leadership teams out of ruts. Crazy huh? Yes. But he did it and did it successfully. His focus was on the ability of some poetry to move peop...more
http://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/8...
But I found I had somewhat different things to say about it so rather than commenting on her review, I decided to write my own in full.
David Whyte actually made/makes money taking poetry (Dante particularly) into corporations to help move leadership teams out of ruts. Crazy huh? Yes. But he did it and did it successfully. His focus was on the ability of some poetry to move peop...more
As usual, a disclaimer: While I enjoy poetry, I cannot say I seek out poetry books to read, and often when I hear poetry, like for presidential inauguarations, I have no idea what they mean.
But I read this book the day before I left for Israel. The themes of finding a place where you feel you belong and actively seeking your life's goals and dream resonate. But more than that, they seem to fulfill what I think of as "the power of poetry" -- the choice of a rhythm and very particular words make t...more
But I read this book the day before I left for Israel. The themes of finding a place where you feel you belong and actively seeking your life's goals and dream resonate. But more than that, they seem to fulfill what I think of as "the power of poetry" -- the choice of a rhythm and very particular words make t...more
I felt a connection with this book of poetry from the opening poem - which wasn't even by David Whyte but a poet named David Wagoner. Wagoner's poem is called "Lost," and it sets the tone for a very introspective collection of poems that read like a meditation.
The House of Belonging is set up in four parts: Belonging to the House, the Night, Places and Those I know. Throughout the collection, Whyte expresses the importance of finding and knowing one's true self and living the true expression of...more
The House of Belonging is set up in four parts: Belonging to the House, the Night, Places and Those I know. Throughout the collection, Whyte expresses the importance of finding and knowing one's true self and living the true expression of...more
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The House of Belonging is to me an appreciation of life. Theses poems by David Whyte are a collection a of observations on life and the world we live.My favorite poem is the same as the title of this book "The House of Belonging" David Whyte explores the innocence of life and how the subtle things can changes our live in one direction or another. He goes on to say that love is a lesson in which we are always learning in life, and sometimes it takes use longer than others to fully appreciate that...more
I wanted to like this book, but I just couldn't. I couldn't even read it completely, and wound up skimming the last few poems. It seemed too self-consciously poetic and unsurprising to me. I can relate to the subject matter, but something seems cheesy in its contentment and wonder. Also, the line breaks seem arbitrary in a bad way, forced, too short, distracting. Without fail, I would break almost every line differently. And it's not like some poetry where breaks don't matter-- there seems to be...more
What an elegant, awe-inspiring book of poetry. Whyte explores the philosophical concepts of home, aloneness, nature, and connectedness. I recommend this book to the lonely as well as the joyfully alone. It teaches the meaning and necessity of solitude. It showed me how solitude can best lead to joyful relationships and overall connections with the natural world. Whyte is using his poetry here as a vessel to understand himself and his surroundings. In turn, his poetry has inspired me (and I'm sur...more
I have my friend Sharman to thank for introducing me to David Whyte. At our last book club we shared favorite books/authors and she talked about Whyte. She even brought a CD for us to listen to the author reading several of his poems. In the end, I borrowed this book from her and rediscovered the joys of poetry.
The House of Belonging explores the themes of aloneness and connectedness - connections with self, with place, with nature and with others. Whyte's language is both simple and powerful an...more
The House of Belonging explores the themes of aloneness and connectedness - connections with self, with place, with nature and with others. Whyte's language is both simple and powerful an...more
Deeply touched.
The Winter of listening
No one but me by the fire,
my hands burning
red in the palms while
the night wind carries
everything away outside
....
Even with summer
so far off
I feel it grown in me
now and ready
to arrive in the world
All those years
listening to those
who had
nothing to say
All those years
forgetting
how everything
has its own voice
to make
itself heard
......
So let this winter
of listening
be enough
for the new life
I must call my own.
The Winter of listening
No one but me by the fire,
my hands burning
red in the palms while
the night wind carries
everything away outside
....
Even with summer
so far off
I feel it grown in me
now and ready
to arrive in the world
All those years
listening to those
who had
nothing to say
All those years
forgetting
how everything
has its own voice
to make
itself heard
......
So let this winter
of listening
be enough
for the new life
I must call my own.
One of my absolutely favorite poetry books. David Whyte touches on all manner of human relationships; to each other and to the soul.
A friend gave me The House of Belonging for Christmas. Whyte's work is worth reading for the title poem and The Truelove alone.
Belongs next to our esteemed Mary, Rumi, Stafford and Berry...and he's a local whidbey islander to boot!
Simple, Stunning, his words as well as the concepts/ideas he expresses bring me to tears
David Whyte like Emmanuel Gentinneta brought me back to poetry.
currently...favorite poet!!! honest, vivid, inspiring work!
This book will send your heart off a cliff- breathtaking wordsmith
One of my favorite poetry books
Uninteresting, drab.
Enchantingly beautiful poetry
mesmorizing
The overall melancholy mood of this collection fits well into an evening of wine and soft jazz. These poems make good sense and make me want to thank the world for what it has given (to me).
I absolutely loved reading this.David Whyte is an amazing poet.This book made me think and I found myself constantly stopping to write down my thoughts after I would come across some profound truth that would resonate with me.I also have his cd's and they are awesome.
I love this collection of poems, these struggles with belonging. Do we feel that we belong in our aloneness, our houses, our families, our own bodies? Do we allow ourselves to belong? And I would add, to heal and to belong.If that is ever possible.
...and the geese travelling south are like the shadow of my breath flying into the darkness on great heart-beats to an unknown land where I belong.
...and the geese travelling south are like the shadow of my breath flying into the darkness on great heart-beats to an unknown land where I belong.
totally wonderful, gorgeous words, heartful subjects
I excerpted from "The Truelove" for Julia and Scott's anniversary good wishes.
I excerpted from "The Truelove" for Julia and Scott's anniversary good wishes.
What a wonderful book. "Brendan" makes me cry. It's about his relationship with his son. So many great poems. It touched me deeply.
Nice poetry but not as compelling as his genre counterpart, John O'Donohue. Not as spiritually imbued so perhaps that is the difference in my preference for O'Donohue to Whyte. But worth checking out.
This is the book that I credit with prompting me to finally get divorced.
It is also one of the most singularly moving books of poetry I have ever had the pleasure of perusing.
It is also one of the most singularly moving books of poetry I have ever had the pleasure of perusing.
as a collection it's fair, but the title poem is outstanding and depicts a sense of longing very well...
Exquisite and moving, esp. the last poem, "Truelove."
A collection of poems. Contemporary.
At once accessible and deeply heartfelt, these poems seem to give voice to what is in my heart. Soulful and wise, Whyte reminds me to pay attention to what matters in my life: hearth and home, the garden, family and friends, the soul's quiet stirrings.
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“Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet
confinement of your aloneness
to learn
anything or anyone
that does not bring you alive
is too small for you.”
—
61 people liked it
More quotes…
confinement of your aloneness
to learn
anything or anyone
that does not bring you alive
is too small for you.”
