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Life is Sad and Beautiful: The Debut Poetry Collection from The Original Mummy's Boy
** THE SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER **
THE DEBUT POETRY COLLECTION FROM THE ORIGINAL MUMMY'S BOY, HUSSAIN MANAWER.
'I remember the day I wrote my first ever poem, I was sitting on my bed in the attic and started jotting down lines on this little notepad, little did I know where it would lead me professionally, personally and also psychologically. This is my life's work to this date, all my notes, my favourite pieces that have served me through my darkest nights and carried me through every moment of pain, suffering, anxiety, panic and hardship .'
Hussain's debut poetry collection will invite readers on his journey through depression and grief, and out the other side to a better place - there will be joy, hope, tears and laughter - the emotions that make up the fabric of human experience. His words will remind readers, that even in your lowest moments you can find the gold dust, Life is Sad and Beautiful will shift outlooks and stand as a powerful vehicle for growth and change.
ABOUT
Hussain Manawer is a globally acclaimed Poet, Mental Health Advocate and Producer - who was born in Newham and shortly after grew up in Ilford, Essex. Tagged 'The Original Mummy's Boy', Hussain derives much of his inspiration from his own experiences and intense grief at the sudden loss of his mother. Dignitaries, major brands and broadcasters seek him out to articulate the mental health struggles our world is facing. Amongst the credits to his name, commissions and collaborations include The Royal Family, The BAFTAs, The FA, Global Citizen, One Young World, Burberry, Anthony Joshua, Marcus Rashford, Tyson Fury, England FC, Peaky Blinders, Soccer Aid For UNICEF, Apple TV+ and many more.
He most recently appeared alongside Prince Harry and Oprah Winfrey in the mental health docu-series, ' The Me You Can't See ', alongside Lady Gaga, Glen Close and others. Hussain's poetry can also be heard on the Archewell Audio Podcast Christmas Special with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Manawer was called upon earlier this year by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to create the 'Mental Health Minute' which was broadcast on all radio stations with an all-star line-up including David Beckham, Joanna Lumley, Shirley Bassey, Jessie Lingard, Jamie Oliver, Anne Marie and Charles Dance.
THE DEBUT POETRY COLLECTION FROM THE ORIGINAL MUMMY'S BOY, HUSSAIN MANAWER.
'I remember the day I wrote my first ever poem, I was sitting on my bed in the attic and started jotting down lines on this little notepad, little did I know where it would lead me professionally, personally and also psychologically. This is my life's work to this date, all my notes, my favourite pieces that have served me through my darkest nights and carried me through every moment of pain, suffering, anxiety, panic and hardship .'
Hussain's debut poetry collection will invite readers on his journey through depression and grief, and out the other side to a better place - there will be joy, hope, tears and laughter - the emotions that make up the fabric of human experience. His words will remind readers, that even in your lowest moments you can find the gold dust, Life is Sad and Beautiful will shift outlooks and stand as a powerful vehicle for growth and change.
ABOUT
Hussain Manawer is a globally acclaimed Poet, Mental Health Advocate and Producer - who was born in Newham and shortly after grew up in Ilford, Essex. Tagged 'The Original Mummy's Boy', Hussain derives much of his inspiration from his own experiences and intense grief at the sudden loss of his mother. Dignitaries, major brands and broadcasters seek him out to articulate the mental health struggles our world is facing. Amongst the credits to his name, commissions and collaborations include The Royal Family, The BAFTAs, The FA, Global Citizen, One Young World, Burberry, Anthony Joshua, Marcus Rashford, Tyson Fury, England FC, Peaky Blinders, Soccer Aid For UNICEF, Apple TV+ and many more.
He most recently appeared alongside Prince Harry and Oprah Winfrey in the mental health docu-series, ' The Me You Can't See ', alongside Lady Gaga, Glen Close and others. Hussain's poetry can also be heard on the Archewell Audio Podcast Christmas Special with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Manawer was called upon earlier this year by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge to create the 'Mental Health Minute' which was broadcast on all radio stations with an all-star line-up including David Beckham, Joanna Lumley, Shirley Bassey, Jessie Lingard, Jamie Oliver, Anne Marie and Charles Dance.
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 12, 2022
20 people are currently reading
248 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
August 10, 2024
2.5 / 3🌟
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would - Hussain’s navigation of grief was both unimaginable and extremely relatable. It was a definite reminder that as hard as it is, you will make it to the other side of grief.
I find it hard to ‘rate’ poetry as it’s such a personal/subjective experience and poems will resonate differently at different points of your life. However, notable passages were:
- The Playground
- The Artistic Community
- Animal Kingdom
- The Distance
- The Best of The Last
I enjoyed this more than I thought I would - Hussain’s navigation of grief was both unimaginable and extremely relatable. It was a definite reminder that as hard as it is, you will make it to the other side of grief.
I find it hard to ‘rate’ poetry as it’s such a personal/subjective experience and poems will resonate differently at different points of your life. However, notable passages were:
- The Playground
- The Artistic Community
- Animal Kingdom
- The Distance
- The Best of The Last
November 19, 2022
I do feel remorseful giving this 2 stars, because the author so evidently poured himself into this book. Let me explain broadly how I score poetry to try and explain myself:
1* - it was published
2* - it was genuine, with a clear ‘voice’
3* - it was surprising
4* - it used language in a way I wasn’t expecting
5* - there are pages I want to tear out and take with me
Sadly this only got to the second wrung.
Manawer has a wonderful message in this collection and I applaud him for writing such a heartfelt, hopefully letter in legacy of his mother. However, it was too predictable for me I’m afraid. Not ‘subject’ wise, but language wise. Sorry Manawer, but I will be following you and look forward to see how your poetry develops.
1* - it was published
2* - it was genuine, with a clear ‘voice’
3* - it was surprising
4* - it used language in a way I wasn’t expecting
5* - there are pages I want to tear out and take with me
Sadly this only got to the second wrung.
Manawer has a wonderful message in this collection and I applaud him for writing such a heartfelt, hopefully letter in legacy of his mother. However, it was too predictable for me I’m afraid. Not ‘subject’ wise, but language wise. Sorry Manawer, but I will be following you and look forward to see how your poetry develops.
May 10, 2022
An incredible collection of moving poetry that explores the themes of grief, loss, love and how connected they all are. Absolutely powerful.
February 25, 2025
una verdadera obra de arte
October 9, 2022
I shared lots of the poet's cultural references. For example, some of the early poems made me reminisce about how I felt during my school days.
There were some observations that for me were spot on, such as this line from I'm Ashamed:
"I'm ashamed our phones connect quicker to the internet
in someone's home then our hearts do with each other".
He's put so much of his heart in to the poems, especially those about the loss of his mother and his experience of depression. I found some of them touching, such as Fridge Magnets in which he describes visiting Paris after his mother's death and being hit hard after remembering he didn't need to buy a fridge magnet for his late mum, who had treasured gifts like this from her children and never threw them away.
I also really liked the last two lines from this poem of the same name. I've had a similar thought about my grandparents; they live on through us:
"I just really wanted you to know
You may have died
But you are still alive."
The lower rating isn't about how I connected with the emotion, but more about how I connected with the words in the majority of the poems. I'm unsure if they were written as songs with a chorus, but I didn't enjoy the repetition in some of them either.
One of the last thoughts we're left with is something the poet's mother told him about how she'd like her family to approach her death, after her experience of losing her own father when she was young. Her words were an encouragement for him to keep living:
"Cry and get over it."
There were some observations that for me were spot on, such as this line from I'm Ashamed:
"I'm ashamed our phones connect quicker to the internet
in someone's home then our hearts do with each other".
He's put so much of his heart in to the poems, especially those about the loss of his mother and his experience of depression. I found some of them touching, such as Fridge Magnets in which he describes visiting Paris after his mother's death and being hit hard after remembering he didn't need to buy a fridge magnet for his late mum, who had treasured gifts like this from her children and never threw them away.
I also really liked the last two lines from this poem of the same name. I've had a similar thought about my grandparents; they live on through us:
"I just really wanted you to know
You may have died
But you are still alive."
The lower rating isn't about how I connected with the emotion, but more about how I connected with the words in the majority of the poems. I'm unsure if they were written as songs with a chorus, but I didn't enjoy the repetition in some of them either.
One of the last thoughts we're left with is something the poet's mother told him about how she'd like her family to approach her death, after her experience of losing her own father when she was young. Her words were an encouragement for him to keep living:
"Cry and get over it."
August 7, 2022
This book has genuinely helped me so much. I've fell inlove with poetry even more and I can't express how much of an impact this book has made on me. I'm starting to notice things I wouldn't before and find myself appreciating even the smallest of things - more than I normally would. I struggle a lot with my mental health and this has given me confidence and more of a reason to continue down the road of recovery. I thank myself for buying this book and taking my time when reading it - relating to myself.
December 21, 2022
Do you ever pick up a book seemingly at random right before you leave the library then set down to read it and immediately regret it? This was that book
The poetry is really not my style at all - full of forced rhymes and strange tempo.
The poetry is really not my style at all - full of forced rhymes and strange tempo.
November 2, 2024
As someone who lost a parent when I was in my teenage years, much of Hussain’s work provides a basis for reflection for me. The work is well written and poignant and a very real depiction of loss and grief from an Asian perspective. I thoroughly look forward to reading his future work.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews