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Ten Poems to Change Your Life
by
Roger Housden (Goodreads Author)
This is a dangerous book. Great poetry calls into question not less than everything. It dares us to break free from the safe strategies of the cautious mind. It opens us to pain and joy and delight. It amazes, startles, pierces, and transforms us. It can lead to communion and grace.
Through the voices of ten inspiring poets and his own reflections, the author of Sacred Amer...more
Through the voices of ten inspiring poets and his own reflections, the author of Sacred Amer...more
Hardcover, 144 pages
Published
December 18th 2007
by Harmony
(first published June 26th 2001)
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this was a fabulous little book i read a few years ago that made me fall in love with poetry, all over again. every poem included here carries with it a powerful message of love, faith, loss, recovery, adventure, reflection and gratitude...and i really enjoyed reading roger housden's commentary on each of the poems. since there are only ten pieces in the entire book, my suggestion would be to read one poem per day and letting the themes of the piece marinate with you for a while. i'd also sugges...more
Not being in school anymore, I've discovered I love anthologies as a great way to find writers I might not have otherwise and Housden does not disappoint with his selection and discussion. Will definitely be checking out his other books. Some of these poems arrest you and demand half an hour's thought before you've realized what's happened, or that you've reread the poem a dozen times and loved it more each time. Would be a fantastic add-on gift or stocking stuffer. Seriously...what can I wri...more
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If I had to choose a series of books as my all time favorite, it would be Roger Housden's Ten Poems to....
I've discovered my all time favorite poet (Naomi Shihab Nye) because of these books! He chooses the most exquisite, sublime, challenging and inspiring poetry, and his commentaries are superb, analysis that truely gets into the marrow of a poem. This is the perfect series, the perfect gift - boxed set of Roger Housden's Ten Poems... will be life-changing (and I don't use that word lightl...more
I've discovered my all time favorite poet (Naomi Shihab Nye) because of these books! He chooses the most exquisite, sublime, challenging and inspiring poetry, and his commentaries are superb, analysis that truely gets into the marrow of a poem. This is the perfect series, the perfect gift - boxed set of Roger Housden's Ten Poems... will be life-changing (and I don't use that word lightl...more
i received this as gift from someone who did not know me very well, but never got around to reading it til now. there are some excellent poems included here, even from poets i'd never heard of before, though i could do without the excessive commentary (and pretty much all commentary is excessive when it comes to poetry) from the editor. poetry, for me, is an intuitive thing, and speaks for itself more often than not.
What a great, great book. Better than any self-help book, this set of poems reminds you of the beauty, of the power, of the wonder, and of the reality of life and love. From the Introduction, through each poem and its related essay discussing the poem, all the way through the Epilogue, just a fantastic look at life. As Housden suggests, reading these poems every morning is not out of the realm of possibility. If I can be allowed to quote from his Epilogue: "Above all, they weave in and out ...more
The Journey, a poem by Mary Oliver, is a piece I return to again and again...it's a call to listen to your own heart, to follow your own internal compass, no matter what the world around you is saying..."But little by little, as you left their voices behind, the stars began to burn through the sheets of clouds and there was a new voice which you slowly recognized as your own..."
This was a wonderful book, glad I found it in a used bookstore on Easter. I couldn't put it down. It had many of my favorite poets from Whitman, Rummi, Neuredo and St. John of the Cross. The author offers wonderful commentary on each poem. I will keep this close by for years to come!
A fine selection of poetry with accompanying ruminations by the editor. I don't know if these ten poems, worthy of remembrance (and memorization) changed my life, but I will say that reading this elevated my spirit. I am reminded that I adore the (beautifully) written word.
I used to love reading poetry but hadn't done so in quite a few years. The selections were diverse and got me to read authors I never would have otherwise. I enjoyed the discussion, and maybe this will motivate me to get back into reading poetry.
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The ten poems, while they didn't change my life rather than waste a bit of time that I can't get back, aren't too bad. I figured even though I wasn't a huge fan of poetry I could knock off 10 poems. It was Housden's wacky dissection of each poem that bored me to death. I decided to just stick to reading the poems after I had read 2 of his regurgitation of the poems, and that was enough!
The ten poems, while they didn't change my life rather than waste a bit of time that I can't get back, aren't too bad. I figured even though I wasn't a huge fan of poetry I could knock off 10 poems. It was Housden's wacky dissection of each poem that bored me to death. I decided to just stick to reading the poems after I had read 2 of his regurgitation of the poems, and that was enough!
The author has chosen ten thought-provoking poems, which he then writing narratives about. Interesting, but a bit like being back in English class. Also, none of the poems had that much of an impact on me.
Beautiful heart opening poems by such poets as Mary Oliver, Rumi and Neruda which the author expounds upon with his own explanations of meaning. All in all very uplifting and thought provoking.
The title of this book is not misleading... it inspired me to pack up the family and move across the country... to start my own business... to fall in love all over again with my husband.
This is a fabulous collection of contemporary poems that has the potential to truly change your life. The one that did it for me was the Mary Oliver poem "The Journey".
You will find this book will become a door way to poetry and a new view of the world. I have many of the selectead poets part of my library.
Ten poems, ten reflections and oh, so much more. Opened me up to the world of poetry and inspired me to read (and write) poetry regularly.
This is my favorite poetry book and introduced me to new poets that I now love. Good way to begin to read modern poetry.
These are fabulous selections for both poetry novices and those who have parsed a stanza or two themselves. Highly recommended.
Was surprised at how much I enjoyed this book. Always thought I was afraid of poetry. Not after reading this
I keep rereading it after a few years of owning it, but now I just read the poems.
beautiful introduction to poetry with a synopsis after each to "break it down"...
The author's commentary/insight regarding the 10 poems featured in this book was much more interesting to me than some of the poems themselves. I got a lot out of the interpretation, even if it was nothing life changing. :)
This book came at the perfect time. I really enjoyed the choice of poems.
Includes "Journey" by Mary Oliver, one of my favorite poems.
Excellent choice of poetry. I liked to hear the authors perspective on the pieces. I didn't agree with him . . . well, quite a lot, but it was still a great read. It was not a book to win you over to his perspective, it was just sharing. The writing was entertaining and the poems were awesome.
a wonderful exploration of poems that speak to you.
Heavy syrup is really good in very small doses.
I reach for this collection of poems frequently.
One of my favorite books
Not a real fan of poetry but I found these handful to be very good. I remember reading them for the first time, the clouds were stretched gray from east to west pelting the earth with its tears... I remember whilst I read, the sensation of awe enveloped me. To say the least, I found respect and appreciation for this form of literary art.
I especially liked Mary Oliver's "The Journey" and Rumi's "Zero Circle." Excerpts from Whitman was swell as swell.
I especially liked Mary Oliver's "The Journey" and Rumi's "Zero Circle." Excerpts from Whitman was swell as swell.
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Roger Housden is the author of some twenty books of non fiction, including the best selling Ten Poems series. His new book, SAVED BY BEAUTY: ADVENTURES OF AN AMERICAN ROMANTIC IN IRAN, comes out on May 17 2011 with Broadway Books.
More about Roger Housden...
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