Welcome to Litsy!

This book is rather a memoir with heart-wrenching personal stories and some pieces of advice here and there, but Cheryl Strayed definitely writes her answers beautifully, compasionately and with so much common sense and deep empathy.
I've noticed people complained that most of her recommendations were not easily applicable, but hey, these are not psychotherapy sessions, but simply an advice column and for that matter an exceptionally done one!

I have never read the Dear Sugar column before. I find it annoying that people are apparently writing to her with real problems, and she always responds with some long rambling story about her own life, and no real advice. The book started to feel repetitive after just a few short chapters.

#ItTakesAllKinds Day 12: #WithTherapist - the best kind there is, bar none. Sugar of Tiny Beautiful Things. More Sugar-isms in my post: https://wp.me/pDlzr-hEC

Starting this today. This is not my usual genre but I‘m in the mood for something different.

#ReadAway2024 @Andrew65 @DieAReader @GHABI4ROSES
#52bookclub24 @BarbaraBB
Number 30-picked without reading the blurb
I know the author wrote Wild, which I haven't read, just randomly picked this since it was an audiobook. I find out its a selection of her advice column 'Dear Sugar'! Interesting questions and answers. Can't say I agree with all her ideas. But worth reading! Lots of intimate questions, lots of people struggling with so much.⬇️

Sharing the beauty of early morning as I sit on my enclosed porch listening to above book and watching the sunrise

My first cry of the year! In just 30 pages, an awful lot is said. Very poignant and so personally relatable. I cared for my own mother-in-law in my home during her final days. And currently my mum is close to her end, though fundamentally lost to me already , due to the bastard that is early on-set. Complicated feelings, love in all its forms, and utterly human. Beautiful. Thanks for the recommendation @britt_brooke 💕

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ A compilation of “Dear Sugar” columns covering heavy topics: love, grief, guilt, depression, sexual abuse, and much more. As a whole, this really brings home the concept of radical empathy. Strayed is so poignant and thoughtful in addressing each letter. I found myself uncomfortable a few times, but in a way I needed. A very cathartic listen. #bookclub

After traveling last week, and more travel coming up, my husband suggested I escape to a bubble bath while he makes dinner, and prepares some more meals for while he‘s gone. I am truly spoiled and so intensely grateful!

#bookandbath #bookclub

I finished my 10th and final book of the #SummerEndReadathon. See tagged book, which was ok. This means I officially finished my goals for the readathon: 10 books, well more than 1k pages read, attended 2 book clubs, and posted throughout the month. @TheSpineView

This was my front porch view yesterday afternoon during my coffee reading break. I always love watching a storm roll in.

I started this years ago, but it went the way of most nonfiction books I try to read in print (I lose interest). Decided to do the audio instead - who wouldn‘t love Cheryl Strayed reading to them? I admit the steady stream of relationship issues was a bit much 🤦‍♀️
But I came for the advice, and Cheryl delivered. Watch the series on Hulu btw, it‘s fab!

Honestly? This was just okay for me. I really wanted to love it, but I didn‘t. I get why it is so beloved, I just don‘t think it was the book for me. I‘ve picked it up several times and am happy to finally finish it. #BookspinBingo @TheAromaofBooks

This one is tricky. I thought the problems people submitted were highly relatable. I benefitted from her good advice in response to those letters. For some, I was highly invested, and for some, I was quite bored. It is all in whether you enjoy reading a book in the letter format. It is hit or miss for me. I am eager to see how this got adapted and will be tuning in.
I would still recommend it for the solid, relatable human experience.

Fantastic. Love her outlook and how frank she is with her advice.

March 20, 2023 Done. I would give the book 4/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️. I felt like the stories were very personal but also on the repetitive side. Lots of the stories were about love (breakup, short term relationship, long term relationship, divorce, marriage, ex gf and ex bf etc) I could not really relate to any of the stories but still a decent read

March 20, 2023 Happy Spring Litsy Community! I am almost done with Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed aka Sugar OR Ms. Sugar. I feel like the book is a list of letters written by anonymous people and opinionated advice from Sugar. She does not say WHAT to do but she does provide her own perspective on issues that people are struggling with. My next read will actually be Eat a Peach (memoir) by David Chang

Next up.

March 13, 2023 I am probably halfway through the book. I wasn't sure if I would Iike this book but I am starting to like it. I can't say that I love it because it has a lot of similar stories by anonymous people. Most of them are about exes, boyfriend, girlfriend, marriage, divorce, etc and it seems kind of repetitive. Not sure if I would enjoy the rest but I will give it a chance

March 12, 2023 I know it has been a while since I came on here but I wanted to share what I have been reading and aslo where I am in the book. I am on page 100 and the stories are very true. When I read them, I feel sympathy for the people who wrote letters (pretty personal ones) to Sugar. It is nice though to read her responses and what she would suggest

I liked this book. I cried a few times with question and answers that resignated with me and things I've also endured. I think this book is beautiful. But also the negatives. I felt like the question answer style, got to be a little too much in one sitting and repetitive. Also I did feel like the author talked a little too much about her own life, and I feel like some questions still went without answers at the end of her life story. 3/5

February 26, 2023 Started reading this book. Began to take in the advice that she gives her anonymous writers who write letters to her. The first few letters that she received were very deep and personal. Reading the letters, even though I do not know the individuals is touching. It gets emotional. Watch out

February 25, 2023 Beyond words!!! ♥️😭😭😭😁 Thank you for all the followers. I didnt think that I would get this many followers and that the books I share inspire you too #litsycommunity

February 25, 2023 My next TBR for February. This is a nonfiction book compared to a ficition book. I felt like I needed a break from ficition although they are probably my favorite genre. Nonfiction books are very informative and can teach one many new things and things that we may have thought of before but in a different light.

#Essence #InQuotes
@Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @Eggs

The thing about advice columns is that you don't have to agree but that the act of sharing with a stranger and being "heard" is its own therapeutic journey. While I've never read Dear Sugar alone from this title, I was transported through Cheryl's advice with tidbits from her own life, almost like memoir essays.

Recommend-- Dear Highlights: What Adults Can Learn from 75 Years of Letters and Conversations with Kids by Christine French Cully.

It‘s fun to report a grid on a Sunday. And as I typed that sentence, I realized, wait, it‘s Monday. Somehow, I lost a day! Tagged my favorite!

5* = Loved It, want to shout out loud about this book! I do/will own/keep a physical copy. A+
4*= I liked it, would love to discuss. Solid B
3*=Meh, no need to discuss. Average C
2*=Nope D
1*=DNF F

2012 was a year of transition for me so this book was not on my radar, so I‘m thrilled it‘s gets new attention with a 10 yr anniversary addition. As Ms Sugar, Cheryl‘s receives some gritty life questions, and she responds with love and eloquence - and a few f*cks :). Her advice is exampled by her own life experiences, but rather than coming off as self-absorbed, it just works.

This genre is pretty far outside of my comfort zone, but I loved Wild and this one gets rave reviews so I took a chance on it, and I‘m glad I did. It was surprisingly well written, incisive, and compassionate. Most columns and essays of this type don‘t leave you with any real sense of the author, but at its heart this book is all about “Sugar” and she‘s someone you want to spend time with.

I started listening to this audiobook tonight, so completely convinced it wouldn‘t live up to the hype, that I almost let it pass me by in the library queue. Boy was I wrong! In the first hour it‘s already made me laugh and cry. Such a great surprise!

Hi! I‘m totally using Moxie‘s cuteness to snag your attention!

Someone close to me recently asked me for a book rec. Can you help me help her? Aside from the tagged (which is so tangentially-related), I don‘t have personal knowledge of any texts that might help. She said,

“I want a book about addiction - but one to read from my perspective- the family member of an addict/alcoholic - something REAL & how to cope with their narcissistic actions.”

5⭐️s! This book is incredible. Sugar shares hard truths directly with empathy, candor, wisdom, & wit. I worked my way through the letters slowly, leaving plenty of time to reflect & let Sugar‘s beautiful words really sink in. This tenth-anniversary edition even features some new columns. I think this would be an amazing book to give as a gift to anyone trying to make sense of & survive this magnificent, terrible, interesting life (so, everyone).

The letters chosen for this book are all ones about issues that I can confidently say face people every day. There were some that almost made me cry and a few anecdotes that made me laugh. But it wasn't until close to the end that I found one that relates to my own personal issue right now that really struck a chord with me. I'll definitely have this book around to give me hope anytime another issue may come up that this book can relate to.

Boundaries teach people how to treat you, and they teach you how to respect yourself.

I‘m so glad I finally got around to listening to this book that‘s been sitting on my Kindle for years!!! Cheryl Strayed aka Dear Sugar is such a force of compassion, reason, humor and insight. While some letters were more compelling than others, each one was answered with such genuine care and thoughtfulness & Cheryl is so willing to bare her own scars that I was often moved to tears. #nonfictionnovember Loved it @KarenUK 💗#BirthdayGirl xxx

You were SO RIGHT @KarenUK this book is FABULOUS, especially on audio 💕💕💕and thanks to @NikkiKey94 for reminding me this was on my #ReadersRadar - I‘m loving this one for #NonFictionNovember
It‘s part advice column, parts memoir and all parts heart affirming.

I didn‘t really think I would like this when I started listening to it but it was full of great advice! I think everyone needs to read or listen to this book because there were several topics that I could relate to. I loved all of the advice that Sugar gave and it helped knowing it was actual people needing the advice.

I started this on Tuesday when the book was announced and leisurely read it between other books I was inhaling. This one is by turns sweet, sad, hysterical but at its core true. This is a compilation of several letters written to Sugar an advise columnist who is actually Cheryl Strayed…Wild‘s Cheryl. Such a good read.

Ya‘ll, thank you for your kind messages about the passing of my friend & colleague, Mimi. I appreciate all of you. The pic is of Mimi. Here is the link for the “Mimi Recommends” list. ❤️ Please let me know if you cannot access the document: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EQmHd-JRXqWANXO8ppfYUmJq7pBBsez9NMomtzLRsv8/...

I have a feeling I will revisit this book in the future when I find myself flailing in the mire of life rather than just wading in the shallow end, as I currently (and gratefully) am. Some letters and responses hit harder than others, as is to be expected, but overall, I appreciated the patient, loving, insightful, and no BS tone Strayed took here. Glad I finally got around to listening to this one!
June #bookspin complete!

This book made me cry. It's such a beautiful reflection on life, love, and loss. Strayed answers tough questions for advice with honest answers and candid stories of her own life experiences. Readers can relate to these letters in ways you wouldn't expect.

👌👌

What a hard question! I try to base my recommendations on what genres the other person likes. Audiobooks are another can of worms on top of that! 😂

Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed (my most gifted book)
Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel
Loner by Teddy Wayne
Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain
I am, I am, I am by Maggie O‘Farrell

We‘ll see what shakes out from last year, but these are all-time recs. #SundaySoapbox

Trying to distract myself from unpleasant realities right now, so an audiobook and gift wrapping for all my special littles it is. Looking forward to seeing my nephews and God children over the next few weeks - they always make me smile.

Don't do what you know on a gut level to be the wrong thing to do. Don't stay when you know you should go or go when you know you should stay. Don't fight when you should hold steady or hold steady when you should fight. Don't focus on the short-term fun instead of the long-term fallout. Don't surrender all your joy for an idea you used to have about yourself that isn't true anymore.

"Don't be strategic or coy. Strategic and coy are for jackasses. Be brave. Be authentic. Practice saying the word 'love' to the people you love so when it matters the most to say it, you will."

"Attention is the first and final act of love...The ultimate dwindling resource in the human arrangement isn't cheap oil or potable water or even common sense, but mercy."

I think Strayed is an intelligent and insightful writer. I enjoyed her advice on numerous issues and problems that people wrote in about. From young people to older people, the letters she chose to respond to were for the most part entertaining and her advice was elegant but bluntly put. I loved how when she could she used examples from her own life to answer peoples questions, it made her advice that much more authentic and truthful. #bookreview

I'm celebrating my #10K milestone with a #giveaway

This one will be open to anyone with a #Canadian mailing address (promise the next giveaway will be wider ranging) - winner will be chosen randomly.

To enter, just comment on this post stating which of the two pictured books you would want. Winner will be drawn at 9:00 am EST on Saturday, March 20th.

Feel free to share and invite others to enter!

Advice columns by the author of Wild, I‘ll admit I was curious. Strayed shares her personal life struggles and triumphs as she relates to the letters she receives, and always encourages advice seekers to follow their guts, often pointing out to them that in their own original letters to her they said what they wanted and hoped for.
Follow your heart, and don‘t let your head reason you out of it. #SomethingAboutLove #Nonfiction2021