A Book Review: Tiny Beautiful Things


For those of you looking for a good read, you must pick this book up.  My friend gave it to me to read and once I started reading, I honestly couldn't put it down.  Tiny Beautiful Things is a book comprised of letters and responses written to an online column called Dear Sugar.  Sounds like an advice or self-help column {like Dear Abbey} right?  Not quite.  The once anonymous "Sugar," now revealed as Cheryl Strayed, responds in a way that you would never expect.

While most advice columns respond with a generic answer, {because how authentic can an answer really be when it comes from an anonymous writer?}, Sugar digs deeper...must deeper.  She relates to the letter writers with her own personal and revealing stories...she shares and she replies from a genuine place.  She does not offer answers as much as she reveals more about the deeper issue.  She hashes things out...honestly...sometimes brutally, but always from a place of compassion.  She seems to have an innate ability to peel back the layers and figure out what the letter writer is really asking...what the core of the issue really is, and then respond in profound way.

I related to so many of the letters...at least on some level, and I marveled over Sugar's responses.  It's like she really knew these people and somehow had a life story to relate back with.  She covers all topics, from love, marriage, death, breakups, and almost everything in between.  Whether you read this book a couple stories at a time or down it in one big sitting, it's beyond intriguing.

I would highly recommend reading it...or picking it as your next choice at Book Club.  And for those of you who are not in a book club...check out this new site my friend launched..leebri.  It's a cool site where you can connect with other readers and share your thoughts on any book you read, while also discovering new books.  Kind of like a virtual book club!  

Have you read this book yet?  Thoughts?!
And...what book would you recommend I read next?

xo natasha

10 comments :

  1. I have been reading so many good books lately, so I will have to add this one to my list!! Have you read Night Circus? I just started it last night!

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  2. Sounds interesting! Will have to add it to my list!

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  3. sounds very interesting! thanks for the review. xo jillian - cornflake dreams

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  4. Wow...sounds super interesting!! Definitely adding this to my list!

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  5. I have been reading this and 3 other books! haha Need to get back into it!

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  6. This looks good and makes me really want to get back into reading. I haven't in so long and really want to! I will keep this in mind for when I do which is hopefully sooner rather than later ;) miss you!

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  7. Oh this does sound good. I read her other book...now totally forgetting the name. Wild? I think? Putting it on my list!

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  8. If you liked that format you might also like Ties That Bind by Dave Isay. I had to read the book in chucks because some of the stories were so profound!

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  9. Will definitely download this one soon! My brother-in-law used to write for The Rumpus actually!

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  10. You know I have! It truly blew me away. I cried through so many of the stories. Very touching and it made me realize that no matter how awful a situation may seem... there is always a light on the other side.

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