Follow Your Heart

I cannot convey or elaborate on all the various emotions, feeling, and thoughts that have raced through my mind, nor can I concisely explain the variations of my spirit as I have worked through about half of this book, plus one chapter I received for free. I am aware of the Voice of the Martyrs and their ministry. I have, in a time much past read some short interviews/stories of those persecuted...no. read short interviews/stories of those brutalized because of their Christian faith. I want this book to humble me. I want the atrocious offenses to make me pray for the Hindu, Buddhists, Communists, and in particular Muslims who beat and tortured these remarkable women, (and a young girl) because they chose to pick up the cross of Christ and follow him in spite of the brutality. I well know that previous sentence is not politically correct. I am sure there are hundreds, thousands who would tell me for example, "The Quran does not speak of such things." But this is what I will say. Judge not by what someone says a book says. Judge rather by the actions of the many. I include those who say the Quran is all about peace, yet do not speak out against the violent who commit the horrendous acts, faithfully following their reading of the same book. For all of those who say the Quran is all about peace I say this: The one who sees evil and does nothing is the same as the person committing the evil. So all of your who would say, “The Quran is all about peace, and yet you do not act or at minimum speak against the tens of thousands of Muslims committing this violence against others – be they Christian or just different. Then I say to you that you are NO DIFFERENT them the perpetrators of violence. Perhaps you are worse. You are even more cowardly than the zealots who behead Christans, who beat women for wanting to be educated, for girls over 13 who want to learn in a school. You are just as bad or worse because you hide your real feelings behind words that blow away like dust in a tornado.Like I said I wanted this book to humble me. I wanted it to take me back to my room in the NCO Quarters in Wiesbaden, when I fell on my knees and cried out to God to forgive the man who raped and murdered my mom. My mom who I found after school. I tried and sometimes I was successful, but I honestly do not know why I struggled so. I can turn on a proverbial fire hose of guesses - stuff like, "These women were already living in such rough conditions." I can say, "But that young girl was 14 when she was beaten mercilessly for her faith." But I think it was how quickly their own family turned against them that cause my mind and heart to be angered so. I look at my own son, and although I am conservative, a Christian, there is not ANYTHING, and people, I mean ANY. THING. that would cause me to turn my back on him. Yet that's what I read, in a somewhat consistent manner. I think except for Communism, the people of SE Asia and the ME, those parents turned their back on their own children. Their own daughters. Why? FEAR.If that doesn’t give you a clue to the truth of their Book, then nothing will. All because they chose to believe in something their parents refused to accept – again out of fear. Fear of what you ask? Fear that they themselves would be punished as severely as the Christians. What religion instill such fear? That’s a good question. Perhaps explain how a Muslim father and brother, beat their sister with a lamp cords, only because she believed DIFFERENTLY. Because she believed in the Prince of Peace? Where was her peace in that moment? Well, read the book and you'll find out. The peace, joy, and love these women (and one girl) experienced and SHOWED to others who persecuted them is the most absolutely delineating point between the Christian faith we know today, and the other religions that are doing the same evil deeds they did 10, 20, 100, 1000 years ago. If that ain't a pattern, then I can't help you.I firmly believe that my review will be rejected. I will likely say something that Amazon AI, CoPilot, GPT-4 or something will absolutely reject this review. If Amazon isn't using AI to filter "not approved comments" then it will be a person who clocks me into a particular segment of American society. The same person who believes that Socialism never leads to Communism, and everyone's religion is "OKAY!!!" To that reviewer, I would simply ask. Read this book. For this book paints a very different picture and really from my 2nd or 3rd sentence I knew I was likely wasting my hearts time, I still chose to write what I wrote. Call it an American Veteran expressing the very 1st Amendment right that he gave so much of his life, his friends, his heart, and his body for.Let's see how it fleshes out, but honestly regarding Amazon, I have no hope they believe in such trivial things. As Freedom.Buy the book. Read it as I did - sometimes a paragraph or even a sentence at a time and just STOP. Think about what you read. Think about your current life. Think about all the complaining you do about your oh-so-imperfect life. Then read that passage again. Let God soften your heart. Let Him lead you into prayer for that person. Let Him, as I have really tried to lead your heart into prayer and supplication for those lost, blind, consumed by hatred people who leveled so much hurt to these women. Let Him set your heart on FIRE.Wrap up:Did my journey in this book take me to a place of forgiveness for the men who tortured and beat, and abused these women (and one young girl)? I'm getting there. I am remembering my own pain, recognizing that I really don't know what persecution is. (HINT: It is NOT getting your X or IG account canceled." (Oh man A LOT of people could read that last sentence and take it to heart.)I'm getting there. I’m trying, and most importantly, I'm not quitting.I love you all.

Our book club just finished reading Tamaro's "Follow Your Heart." The general concensus was that this very unasuming little book is a powerhouse. The saying "Still waters run deep" is so applicable here. The author uses a letter, which might never reach its destiny to entangle readers in a cross-generational web. A grandmother writing to her estranged granddaughter, (it can't get any simpler than that) and Tamaro takes her readers on a journey through four generations to teach us some very important life lessons. A most definately enchanting strategy."Follow your Heart" is a testimony for all women, everywhere. Mothers and daughters should read this book together and behold the unquestionable power that women have on each other, their marriages, and children. This influence is so very powerful that as Tamaro shows us it travels from one generation to another.If you are looking for insightful reading, yet simple prose,"Follow Your Heart" is an excellent choice.

I actually would not normally read a book like this as it isn't my typical read. However, I am glad I did. It was an easy read (it only took about 3 hours) and enjoyable. I liked her use of metaphor and the lovely images she describes. And the flawed nature of every character as presented by one person. It was good, not great or earth-shattering. But if you want something interesting and easy, it's worthwhile.

This is must read for anyone who cares to think deeply and be a better person

This was a book club pick for us and it was good but I have read better, more interesting books recently.

Follow Your Heart is a tale of emotion, honesty, regret, and unconditional love that, as a grandmother, I wish I had written it. I will think about this book for a long time and personally recommend to others.

This is one of my favorite books in the world. I have bought it for numerous friends, and I've read it many times and continue to find nuances. And it's translated from the Italian into beautiful flowing English...I only wish I could read the original!

A book written from the heart. Spiritual. I will read it again!

What a wonderful book with so much depth, evokes so many emotions, touches my heart, help me understand human nature. I am very impressed. This is the first book I have ever read from this writer and it was a bit of a coincidence as I misunderstood a friend's recommendation. But I am very glad I did. I found this wonderful gem.

同名で著者が別の本がたくさんあります。Susanna Tamaro 著のこの本は、まご娘に人生の先達としての自分の半生をつまびらかに語る形式で展開されていきます。これから人生を学ぶ若い女性、人生を渡ってきた女性にお勧めです。はっきりいって深いです。

I really like this story of a Mother, a daughter and a grand daughter. It was written quite some time ago but certainly stands the test of time. I have recommended it to many people

This book is sad and in some way dated. - I liked itt better many years ago!I felt it was too sentimental for no real reason.

An interesting reflection about life and the decisions to be made while living. The decisions that matter are the ones made by the heart.