Tiny Beautiful Things

This is a book, narrated by the author herself, with the letters she received and the answers she sent back to many people in her column, Dear Sugar.

She usually first tells some stories about her own past to explain what she is trying to say, and some of the stories are simply heartbreaking. Others are hilarious. The letter/answer that touched me the most deeply, that made me stop what I was doing so I could listen more carefully, was The Baby Bird. Another letter that was absolutely beautiful was her response to the father who had lost his son. The letter to the woman who just didn’t know how to find the strength to go on (working as a nurse during the pandemic) made me cry.

The people who wrote letters were scared, lonely, cheating on someone, on drugs, cheated on, hating themselves or other people, in pain, jealous, discouraged, jerks, heartbroken, lost, ugly, menopausal, stupid, self-deprecating, or they didn’t know what to do with their lives, were angry, depressed, miserable, with crazy and horrible and funny and sad and happy stories…

Sometimes I didn’t really like what she said, but most of the time, I really did. At first, I didn’t always understand what her personal stories had to do with the letters she received, but after listening to the whole thing, I always did. And even when I disagreed with a few of her answers, I always found her to be kind and patient and funny and respectful and sincerely trying to help. And very down to earth and not afraid to say things people really needed to hear!

Beautiful.