Book: Have a little faith by Mitch Albom

Just finished this book the other day. Another beautifully told story following Mitch’s quest to write the eulogy for his Rabbi. Having drifted away from the Jewish faith and its community the call from his Rabbi to provide the eulogy when the time came, was an unexpected one.
Mitch and the Reb ponder many issues over the eight years until the time comes to give the eulogy. You can’t help but smile at the journey that happens during this time for these two men and the intersecting story of Mitch and Henry, the Pastor of “I am my brothers keeper” ministries. I find that Mitch’s writing gets you so involved with the story that you can’t help but dread the end. I knew what was coming but it didn’t make it any easier to finish the book. This was a great reflective read that I know I will revisit time and again just as I do his other books “Tuesdays with Morrie”. “Five people you meet in Heaven” and “Just one more day”. As Mitch writes in his blog (a link to his website is below) “the spirit of the book “Have A Little Faith” is that faith can be what connects us instead of what divides us.”

Have a little Faith – Mitch Albom

Book review: The Bookseller of Kabul

It has been a while since I finished a book in full. I have started many and have them stacked next to my bed to complete one day. For some reason I find many other things to do besides read which is rather tragic as I enjoy a good book.

Someone from work loaned this book to me. Written by Asne Seierstad it is set in Kabul where she was lucky enough to live with an Afghan family for a few months. If what I read is correct there has been a fair bit of fall out from this book since.

Asne lived with the family for several months where she has focused on portraying the family life. The book tells the story of Sultan Khan (not his real name) a bookseller in Kabul and his family. The business has managed to survive through book burnings, censorship and much more as the country’s political regime continued to change throughout the years. The book also tells the story of the Khan family – mother, wives, sisters and children that live under Sultan’s roof. We see the struggle that Sultan has undertaken to keep his business and the struggle that his family have against his power over them and that of the social and political aspects that they must also comply with to in order to get through each day. We also see the changes occurring in Afghanistan with the departure of the Taliban.

I am still mulling over what I take away from this book besides the obvious thankfulness for the choices I have as a woman in the western world. I also take away a tiny bit more of an understanding of the Islamic faith. It has made me curious to read some more of her work though.