I won this book from a giveaway on Instagram. I read this a few months ago but I have been feeling so tired lately, actually these past few months, that I have rarely written reviews. I kept thinking, this weekend, I'll write some reviews because I am way behind but when the weekend arrives, I am just too exhausted to do anything that requires any conscious thinking. I'd rather do anything that requires lesser brain usage because I just don't have the energy left. That has been my days lately. I am not sure if it's a health issue or night shifts are just too taxing and the added stress caused by concerns at work just took all the fight in me.
So, with all those things I've said above, this book reminds me that when everything seems to be going downhill or nothing seems to be going as planned, think of one small thing to make you get through the day. Just one small thing. And it usually works. I've tried it.
The book cover says: A Boy. A girl. An impossible situation. These three things exactly sum up this book. What that impossible situation is will definitely blow your mind. It's tragic. It's cruel. You wouldn't wish it to happen to anybody. But it happened to Beth. And just when she thought that their lives couldn't get any worse, she was wrong, because the person who caused everything in her universe to shift from its axis is the same one she wants to spend time with. The only one who seems to understand her. But her friends, her parents and everyone is telling her to stay away from him. What should she do? Follow her heart and break her parents' heart even more or break her own heart?
This story has left me breathless, even hours after finishing it. It broke my heart the same way Beth's heart broke to a million pieces when her sister died and her family fell apart. There seems to be no going back from that. The pain is so immeasurable and comprehensible only to those who have experienced the death of a loved one. Pain that has no plan of ever going away or receding. It's as permanent as the changes it has brought to the lives it has touched. That's how Beth and Chase' life seems to be going until they met and suddenly there seems to be hope. Everything that has lost its color seems to take its hue again. The sun, which seemed to be absent for some time has decided to take a peek from the dark skies again. It looks like everything might just turn out to be all right. Or was it just wishful thinking?
Beth and Chase' life changed in an instant due to one very tragic event. These two didn't know that the instant connection they have is actually going to be either strengthened or broken by the one tragedy they were both victims of. Fortunately, what most people thought should keep them apart was actually the one thing they could actually share to help deal with the pain and the loss. These two found strength in each other instead of destroying each other further.
I think the most admirable character in this story is Chase after the tragedy. When he came back, he was a different person. He grew up while he was away because he had no choice. And in order to survive, he has to dig very deep into himself and find the strength to last each day. One small thing each day is all he needs to survive another day. And that was what he did. He tried, even in his very desperate situation, to find that one small thing each and every day that would give him the strength to keep living for one more day. And that alone is true strength of character for someone at a young age, barely an adult, who had to go through something unfortunate. Hope, even in the most dreary and darkest room is still hope. No matter how tiny or minute it is.
This story may start out as tragic and bleak but it's actually very full of hope. Even when it looks like Beth and her family's life is all going to be looking gray because of the tragedy they experienced. But the truth also has a way of making everything all right. Maybe not back to the way things were but at least, the hatred would be lessen and all the pain would at least be relieved. And then finally lead to healing and forgiveness.
I give this book 5/5 doors. Yes, the door is very significant in this story. It represents the last vestige of freedom Beth has that her parents took away. When that door was taken down, they might have as well taken Beth's life. That was how bleak the story of Beth's life is shaping up to be. Until she met Chase. This book will definitely destroy you. That was what it did to me. I cried like Rachel was my sister and Beth was my only other surviving relative. My heart broke every time Beth's did. But in the end, the story will also build you back up. Repair all the damage it inflicted because that's how love is. That's how love works. It makes the impossible possible and the hopeless alive again.
This story left a permanent mark in my heart and in my head. Every time my day seems to be gloomy or everything is out of control, I think of this book. I'm reminded to remain calm even if I'm more tempted to get hysterical. This story reminds me to think of that one small thing, one tiny good thing that I want to happen or that had happened. That somehow makes the day a little less overwhelming and it helps give me some small measure of strength to at least go through the rest of the day. That "one small thing" idea is actually very powerful. And I want you, the one who happens to read this, to do the same thing when life seems to press you to smithereens. Think of that one small thing and the world won't feel too scary at all on days when you'd rather die than live.
This story has left me breathless, even hours after finishing it. It broke my heart the same way Beth's heart broke to a million pieces when her sister died and her family fell apart. There seems to be no going back from that. The pain is so immeasurable and comprehensible only to those who have experienced the death of a loved one. Pain that has no plan of ever going away or receding. It's as permanent as the changes it has brought to the lives it has touched. That's how Beth and Chase' life seems to be going until they met and suddenly there seems to be hope. Everything that has lost its color seems to take its hue again. The sun, which seemed to be absent for some time has decided to take a peek from the dark skies again. It looks like everything might just turn out to be all right. Or was it just wishful thinking?
Beth and Chase' life changed in an instant due to one very tragic event. These two didn't know that the instant connection they have is actually going to be either strengthened or broken by the one tragedy they were both victims of. Fortunately, what most people thought should keep them apart was actually the one thing they could actually share to help deal with the pain and the loss. These two found strength in each other instead of destroying each other further.
I think the most admirable character in this story is Chase after the tragedy. When he came back, he was a different person. He grew up while he was away because he had no choice. And in order to survive, he has to dig very deep into himself and find the strength to last each day. One small thing each day is all he needs to survive another day. And that was what he did. He tried, even in his very desperate situation, to find that one small thing each and every day that would give him the strength to keep living for one more day. And that alone is true strength of character for someone at a young age, barely an adult, who had to go through something unfortunate. Hope, even in the most dreary and darkest room is still hope. No matter how tiny or minute it is.
This story may start out as tragic and bleak but it's actually very full of hope. Even when it looks like Beth and her family's life is all going to be looking gray because of the tragedy they experienced. But the truth also has a way of making everything all right. Maybe not back to the way things were but at least, the hatred would be lessen and all the pain would at least be relieved. And then finally lead to healing and forgiveness.
I give this book 5/5 doors. Yes, the door is very significant in this story. It represents the last vestige of freedom Beth has that her parents took away. When that door was taken down, they might have as well taken Beth's life. That was how bleak the story of Beth's life is shaping up to be. Until she met Chase. This book will definitely destroy you. That was what it did to me. I cried like Rachel was my sister and Beth was my only other surviving relative. My heart broke every time Beth's did. But in the end, the story will also build you back up. Repair all the damage it inflicted because that's how love is. That's how love works. It makes the impossible possible and the hopeless alive again.
This story left a permanent mark in my heart and in my head. Every time my day seems to be gloomy or everything is out of control, I think of this book. I'm reminded to remain calm even if I'm more tempted to get hysterical. This story reminds me to think of that one small thing, one tiny good thing that I want to happen or that had happened. That somehow makes the day a little less overwhelming and it helps give me some small measure of strength to at least go through the rest of the day. That "one small thing" idea is actually very powerful. And I want you, the one who happens to read this, to do the same thing when life seems to press you to smithereens. Think of that one small thing and the world won't feel too scary at all on days when you'd rather die than live.
I lean into him, borrow his strength, because now that the seal is off, I can't stuff any of this back inside the bottle.
The pain stretches its tendrils, traveling through my veins until every part of my body aches and shudders under its burden.
- Erin Watt, One Small Thing -
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