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Sea Prayer
by
The #1
New York Times
-bestselling author of
The Kite Runner
,
A Thousand Splendid Suns
, and
And the Mountains Echoed
responds to the heartbreak of the current refugee crisis with this deeply moving, beautifully illustrated short work of fiction for people of all ages, all over the world.
On a moonlit beach, a fathe ...more
On a moonlit beach, a fathe ...more
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Hardcover, 48 pages
Published
September 18th 2018
by Viking
(first published August 30th 2018)
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Showing 1-30
Start your review of Sea Prayer
Apr 06, 2019
Lala BooksandLala
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
favourites
Truly one of the best books of 2018. Impactful and difficult, reading this with my 8 year old was a daunting yet necessary task.
Khaled Hosseini's
Sea Prayer
isn't a book—it's a poem. But it's more than a poem—it is, in essence, a letter written from father to son, a prayer lifted up on the eve of a journey away from their war-torn country, a journey which could prove tremendously dangerous.
In less than 50 pages, Hosseini's words and the beautiful illustrations break your heart. This was inspired by the story of Alan Kurdi, a three-year-old Syrian boy believed to have drowned during his family's attempts to flee their ...more
In less than 50 pages, Hosseini's words and the beautiful illustrations break your heart. This was inspired by the story of Alan Kurdi, a three-year-old Syrian boy believed to have drowned during his family's attempts to flee their ...more
I'm really not sure how to describe this book. It's a letter from a father to his son, the night before they leave their war-torn country for a safer place. It's not great and the father is terrified because it involves a great deal of danger (especially for the portion of the trip that's by boat). You can feel his fear and at the same time his knowledge that there's no real good choice. Leaving is dangerous and there's a very real chance that one or all of them will die. But staying isn't a goo
...more
Wave after wave......
From calm seas of memories to the over-powering turbulence of the present, Khaled Hosseini presents a story drifting from father to son in the form of a tragic letter. From the shores of chaos come words that touch the lips and soften the heart in slow steady beats.
What was is no longer and what will be is only for fate to decide.
Hosseini's father figure grasps the small hand of his son and tries to paint within him a canvas of what life was like in his grandfather's house ...more
From calm seas of memories to the over-powering turbulence of the present, Khaled Hosseini presents a story drifting from father to son in the form of a tragic letter. From the shores of chaos come words that touch the lips and soften the heart in slow steady beats.
What was is no longer and what will be is only for fate to decide.
Hosseini's father figure grasps the small hand of his son and tries to paint within him a canvas of what life was like in his grandfather's house ...more
EDIT 3, 3 stars. So I've been thinking about this for a few months now. A few months ago I read Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love and I loved it. I thought if I liked that one, why couldn't I like this one, since they are similar - picture books, targeted mostly at children, but adults can enjoy them too. On one hand it was the fact that I had high expectations from Sea Prayer, based on Khaled Hosseini's previous books, whereas in the case of Julian Is a Mermaid I didn't have any, I went in co
...more
I'm speechless and crying. With a few words and some illustrations this guy told the world all that is to tell
...more
Sea Prayer is a beautifully illustrated short story (very short), where a father reminisces with his sleeping son in his arms. They are refugees waiting for the next stage of their journey. The father recalls how he and his brothers enjoyed their summers at their grandfather’s farm, knowing that his son won’t be able to share this same experience. They are fleeing from Syria, but, it could be any one of several countries.
There are many reasons that people seek refuge in countries other than thei ...more
There are many reasons that people seek refuge in countries other than thei ...more
I read this short offering by Hosseini, an author I very much admire, in a matter of minutes. In the title is the word prayer, and it is a prayer to a child, a people, young people who will never know the country of their birth, Syria, without bombs, towns in ruins and starvation. Not the vibrant place it had been. A prayer to all people for compassion, understanding, for a little hope for the refugees fleeing for their life. The illustrations are beautifully wrought, from color to black and whi
...more
Sea Prayer is like that rare songbird singing on a winter morning, only to fly away in a moment. Inspired by the haunting image of young Alan Kurdi, the three-year-old Syrian boy whose body washed up on the beach in Turkey in September 2015, it is a touching tribute to the families of the refugees who've lost everything but their memories of wartime.
Alan Kurdi, another life lost at sea.
Its only flaw, though, is its incredibly short length. Written in the form of a touchin ...more
Alan Kurdi, another life lost at sea.
Its only flaw, though, is its incredibly short length. Written in the form of a touchin ...more
Let’s Help Them
In the year 2015, Alan Kurdi, a three years old Syrian refugee was drowned in the Mediterranean Sea whilst trying to reach safety in Europe.
The following year, 4176 others died or went missing attempting that very same journey.
The moment Hosseini knew about it, he sent an SOS to World — he wrote a bunch of simple heartfelt words, turned into pictures by the hand of Dan Williams, and that was it!
Now it’s up to us:
The moment we buy a copy of this book, we are helping those syrian re ...more
In the year 2015, Alan Kurdi, a three years old Syrian refugee was drowned in the Mediterranean Sea whilst trying to reach safety in Europe.
The following year, 4176 others died or went missing attempting that very same journey.
The moment Hosseini knew about it, he sent an SOS to World — he wrote a bunch of simple heartfelt words, turned into pictures by the hand of Dan Williams, and that was it!
Now it’s up to us:
The moment we buy a copy of this book, we are helping those syrian re ...more
”This book is dedicated
to the thousands of refugees
who have perished at sea
fleeing war and persecution.”
Khaled Hosseini, author of ’The Kite Runner,’ A Thousand Splendid Suns, and And the Mountains Echoed has combined his writing skills with the artistic skills of Dan Williams, illustrator, for this epistolary poem, from father to son upon the journey which they are about to embark.
As this is a letter from a father to son to young to have his own memories, the content is meant for, and appropria ...more
to the thousands of refugees
who have perished at sea
fleeing war and persecution.”
Khaled Hosseini, author of ’The Kite Runner,’ A Thousand Splendid Suns, and And the Mountains Echoed has combined his writing skills with the artistic skills of Dan Williams, illustrator, for this epistolary poem, from father to son upon the journey which they are about to embark.
As this is a letter from a father to son to young to have his own memories, the content is meant for, and appropria ...more
A moving little story - a letter, really - from a father to his son, as he prays he will survive his sea voyage as a refugee in search of a better life. I just wish there had been a little more substance to it. It's so short that I read it in less than five minutes.
...more
Even amongst the bombs, starvation, and burials, hope never dies. Witness here a father’s prayer that his son shall know safety, security, and home as a place of happiness. A short read that is poignant and powerful.
This book is short but haunting and powerful. I've loved Khaled Hosseini for his other books and his brilliant, meaningful writing definitely shines through in this one even though it's so brief. I can't wait to get my own copy.
...more
Sep 08, 2018
Seemita
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Seemita by:
Bloomsbury Publishing
[Originally appeared here: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/l...]
For long now, Khaled Hosseini has cemented his position as an author who imparts a subtle yet searing voice to the victims of war, riots and displacement, especially in the Islamic countries. We have clutched our hearts and have sobbed silent tears at his Hassan’s redemption and Mariam’s journey. And Sea Prayer, at its core, harbors a similar cry for life.
A father with his young son, Marwan pressed to his chest, is awaiting a sh ...more
For long now, Khaled Hosseini has cemented his position as an author who imparts a subtle yet searing voice to the victims of war, riots and displacement, especially in the Islamic countries. We have clutched our hearts and have sobbed silent tears at his Hassan’s redemption and Mariam’s journey. And Sea Prayer, at its core, harbors a similar cry for life.
A father with his young son, Marwan pressed to his chest, is awaiting a sh ...more
Short and poignant with beautiful illustrations. I wish it was longer.
Only a talent like Hosseini could conjure such poignancy and pain in a few scant pages. Beautiful in the telling, magnificent in its illustrated execution; a reminder that there are so many who will risk everything for refuge. Thank you, Mr. Hosseini.
"Sea Prayer"
Because you,
you are precious cargo, Marwan,
the most precious there ever was.
I pray the sea knows this.
Khaled Hosseini's Sea Prayer is a beautifully illustrated and powerful, but very short message from a refugee father to his beloved son.
The beautiful watercolour paintings by Dan Williams capture the spirit of the contents so well. It would have been more impactful if the book was slightly more longer.
This book is a true dedication to all the refugees who breathed their last trying t ...more
Because you,
you are precious cargo, Marwan,
the most precious there ever was.
I pray the sea knows this.
Khaled Hosseini's Sea Prayer is a beautifully illustrated and powerful, but very short message from a refugee father to his beloved son.
The beautiful watercolour paintings by Dan Williams capture the spirit of the contents so well. It would have been more impactful if the book was slightly more longer.
This book is a true dedication to all the refugees who breathed their last trying t ...more
A short, but impactful read, Sea Prayer is a letter from a father to his son, reflecting on their life up until this point, and the potential hazards as they travel across the sea. You can feel the father’s love for his son, and also sympathize with the dread he must feel as they prepare for the risks that lie ahead, in an effort to escape danger and turmoil, to seek a better life.
Sea Prayer was a very quick read but one I really enjoyed. The illustrations were great as well, with the colors ch ...more
Sea Prayer was a very quick read but one I really enjoyed. The illustrations were great as well, with the colors ch ...more
This short yet very powerful book left me with a broken heart.
In September 2015 a photograph made global headlines which was taken by Nilüfer Demir, a Turkish photojournalist, and photographer based in Bodrum, Turkey. The photograph was of a young boy on a beach, fully clothed but lying face-down at the water's edge, like an exhausted toddler who had awkwardly fallen asleep. The young boy named Alan Kurdi, three-year-old Syrian refugee became a symbol of the plight of so many others fleeing conf ...more
In September 2015 a photograph made global headlines which was taken by Nilüfer Demir, a Turkish photojournalist, and photographer based in Bodrum, Turkey. The photograph was of a young boy on a beach, fully clothed but lying face-down at the water's edge, like an exhausted toddler who had awkwardly fallen asleep. The young boy named Alan Kurdi, three-year-old Syrian refugee became a symbol of the plight of so many others fleeing conf ...more
Oct 11, 2018
PattyMacDotComma
rated it
it was amazing
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
everyone!
5★
“The skies spitting bombs.
Starvation.
Burials.
These are the things you know.”
You do realise, that if these are things you don't know first-hand, you're just lucky, don't you? I sure do!
This is a most moving tribute to the countless, unlucky people displaced by war – which is a polite way of saying to those whose homes and towns have been bombed to smithereens so they have nowhere safe to live.
"I have heard it said we are the uninvited./ We are the unwelcome./ We should take our misfortune else ...more
“The skies spitting bombs.
Starvation.
Burials.
These are the things you know.”
You do realise, that if these are things you don't know first-hand, you're just lucky, don't you? I sure do!
This is a most moving tribute to the countless, unlucky people displaced by war – which is a polite way of saying to those whose homes and towns have been bombed to smithereens so they have nowhere safe to live.
"I have heard it said we are the uninvited./ We are the unwelcome./ We should take our misfortune else ...more
“Sea Prayer” is heartbreaking but I will gladly read it over and over. Dan Williams’ illustrations really convey the message of the poem, and Khaled Hosseini’s words are beautiful, sentimental and tender. It was disconcerting to learn that the hope and the yearning conveyed herein were inspired by such a tragic event. I hope that because of this book, many more positive outcomes will occur in the future.
Impactful, evocative, and profoundly moving!
Sea Prayer is an intense, beautifully depicted story that highlights the plight of thousands around the world who are forced to leave their homes and embark on a perilous journey to find safety and freedom for themselves and their families.
The prose is lyrical and fluid. The narration is unique and powerful and told entirely through a heartfelt letter written by a father to his young son. And the illustrations are a perfect complement to the compelling ...more
Sea Prayer is an intense, beautifully depicted story that highlights the plight of thousands around the world who are forced to leave their homes and embark on a perilous journey to find safety and freedom for themselves and their families.
The prose is lyrical and fluid. The narration is unique and powerful and told entirely through a heartfelt letter written by a father to his young son. And the illustrations are a perfect complement to the compelling ...more
Left heartbroken after seeing the photo of toddler Alan Kurdi's body lying face-down on a Turkish beach, Hosseini sought to express his feelings, as a father, regarding families of refugees enduring physical and emotional loss to reach a potential safe harbor. Sea Prayer is Hosseini's tribute to refugees who have lost their lives and to those who have continued their journey after losing everything else. This short essay, written in the form of a fictitious letter from a refugee father to his sl
...more
Nov 08, 2018
Dave Schaafsma
rated it
really liked it
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
picturebooks-social-justice
"But that life, that time, seems like a dream now.”
Hosseini, an international literary sensation with over 55 million books sold, uses this book to mark the one year anniversary of the death of the 3-year Syrian boy whose body washed up on the shores of Turkey, and to also dedicate it to “the thousands of refugees who have perished at sea fleeing war and persecution."
A short, all-ages picture book, it is the story of a father and his son who, facing “the sky spitting bombs,” become refugees, rea ...more
"I have heard it said we are the uninvited.
We are the unwelcome.
We should take our misfortunes elsewhere."
'Sea Prayer' is a letter a father writes to his son. They are fleeing their home country because life there is not safe anymore. They are seeking asylum and risk everything by boarding a boat that may lead them to a better life. At least, that is what they hope. He can offer no gurantees. He can only pray.
Khaled Hosseini first captured my heart with 'The Kite Runner' and since then I have ...more
We are the unwelcome.
We should take our misfortunes elsewhere."
'Sea Prayer' is a letter a father writes to his son. They are fleeing their home country because life there is not safe anymore. They are seeking asylum and risk everything by boarding a boat that may lead them to a better life. At least, that is what they hope. He can offer no gurantees. He can only pray.
Khaled Hosseini first captured my heart with 'The Kite Runner' and since then I have ...more
“Because all I can think tonight is how deep the sea, and how vast, how indifferent. How powerless I am to protect you from it.”
Heartbreakingly beautiful - reminded me of the Prophet by Kahlil Gibran.
Khaled Hosseini was inspired to write Sea Prayer after seeing the photo of the corpse of 3 year old Alan Kurdi washed up on a Turkish beach in September 2015; he was one of thousands of refugees who died fleeing the war in Syria.
Sea Prayer is a short all-ages book which takes the form of a father writing a letter to his son describing idyllic life in Homs, Syria, before the conflict and then the nightmare it became after.
I’m sure nobody reading this will interpret my low rating in this way but ...more
Sea Prayer is a short all-ages book which takes the form of a father writing a letter to his son describing idyllic life in Homs, Syria, before the conflict and then the nightmare it became after.
I’m sure nobody reading this will interpret my low rating in this way but ...more
Okay, well spent three minutes.
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Play Book Tag: Sea Prayer - Khaled Hosseini - 5 stars | 2 | 13 | Dec 10, 2020 08:23PM | |
| Refugee Crisis and discussing it with children | 3 | 24 | Nov 06, 2019 10:24AM | |
| Hearts and Homes ...: More Thoughts On Sea Prayer | 1 | 7 | May 16, 2019 05:56PM | |
| Hearts and Homes ...: May Book / Sea Prayer | 3 | 6 | May 10, 2019 07:57AM | |
| Refugee Crisis | 2 | 5 | Feb 25, 2019 11:34AM | |
| Play Book Tag: Sea Prayer - Khaled Hosseini - 5 stars | 6 | 17 | Dec 02, 2018 08:57AM | |
| Book for October 2018-Sea Prayer | 3 | 20 | Nov 15, 2018 06:59PM |
Readers also enjoyed
Hosseini was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 1965. In 1970 Hosseini and his family moved to Iran where his father worked for the Embassy of Afghanistan in Tehran. In 1973 Hosseini's family returned to Kabul, and Hosseini's youngest brother was born in July of that year.
In 1976, when Hosseini was 11 years old, Hosseini's father obtained a job in Paris, France, and moved the family there. They were u ...more
In 1976, when Hosseini was 11 years old, Hosseini's father obtained a job in Paris, France, and moved the family there. They were u ...more
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“I said to you,
"Hold my hand.
Nothing bad will happen."
These are only words.
A father's tricks,
It slays your father,
your faith in him.
Because all I can think tonight is
how deep the sea,
and how vast, how indifferent.
How powerless I am to protect you from it.
All I can do is pray.”
—
14 likes
"Hold my hand.
Nothing bad will happen."
These are only words.
A father's tricks,
It slays your father,
your faith in him.
Because all I can think tonight is
how deep the sea,
and how vast, how indifferent.
How powerless I am to protect you from it.
All I can do is pray.”
“I have heard it said we are the uninvited.
We are the unwelcome.
We should take our misfortune elsewhere.
But I hear your mother's voice,
over the tide.
and she whispers in my ear,
"Oh, but if they saw, my darling.
Even half of what you have.
If only they saw.
They would say kinder things, surely.”
—
8 likes
More quotes…
We are the unwelcome.
We should take our misfortune elsewhere.
But I hear your mother's voice,
over the tide.
and she whispers in my ear,
"Oh, but if they saw, my darling.
Even half of what you have.
If only they saw.
They would say kinder things, surely.”
