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1 Litre of Tears
This diary written by Aya Kitō (July 19, 1962 - May 23, 1988) was published shortly before her death.
Aya Kitō was diagnosed with a disease called spinocerebellar degeneration when she was 15 years old. The disease causes the person to lose control over their body, but because the person can retain all mental ability the disease acts as a prison. So in the end she cannot eat, walk or talk.
Aya keeps a diary of not only what she does but how she feels and the hardships she must endure. Initially, the diary's purpose was for Kitō to chronicle impressions she had about how the disease was affecting her daily life. As the disease progressed, however, the diary became Kitō's outlet for describing the intense personal struggles she underwent in coping, adapting, and ultimately trying to survive her disease. As she notes in one entry, "I write because writing is evidence that I am still alive."
Through family, medical examinations and rehabilitations, and finally succumbing to the disease, Aya must cope with the disease and live on with life until her death at the age of 25.
Aya Kitō was diagnosed with a disease called spinocerebellar degeneration when she was 15 years old. The disease causes the person to lose control over their body, but because the person can retain all mental ability the disease acts as a prison. So in the end she cannot eat, walk or talk.
Aya keeps a diary of not only what she does but how she feels and the hardships she must endure. Initially, the diary's purpose was for Kitō to chronicle impressions she had about how the disease was affecting her daily life. As the disease progressed, however, the diary became Kitō's outlet for describing the intense personal struggles she underwent in coping, adapting, and ultimately trying to survive her disease. As she notes in one entry, "I write because writing is evidence that I am still alive."
Through family, medical examinations and rehabilitations, and finally succumbing to the disease, Aya must cope with the disease and live on with life until her death at the age of 25.
Paperback
First published February 25, 1986
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December 23, 2017
There is a Japanese series about Aya that I loved so much. It was heart touching, it made me cry many times!
I really recommend watching this before reading this diary.
☙ And here is a link to watch the series.
It's about a 14-year-old girl "Aya Kito" who had a spinocerebellar atrophy which made her lose her body's balance gradually and progressively until she couldn't walk.
Then she lost her ability to eat properly, she could choke and die if she was alone.
And lost the ability to write as usual, and couldn't speak well.
But she didn't lost hope in life to the very end! The diary talks about her suffering with her illness until she died at the age of 25.
And these are some quotes from the diary:
"Everytime I walk, in every step I take, I can feel my unsteady body. it makes me feel weak, and I feel humiliated and miserable not being able to do what everyone else is capable of doing. Is that something you can't understand unless you experience it? Even if you can't feel what that person is feeling, I want you to at least try to think in my point of view.
But I think that's hard to do".
"My illness is worse than cancer!
It stole the beauty of my youth.
If I didn't have this weird illness, I could have had a love life.. I just want someone to rely on.
I just can't take this anymore!".
"Why can't I laugh naturally like I used to? I want to go back to the past!
I wanna make a time machine and ride it to go back to the past. Watch me run, walk, roll around, and play with you.. but then I come back to reality.
Do I have to come back to reality?
I don't wanna grow up!
Time.. please stop! Tears.. stop falling!
Ahh.. Aya just can't seem to stop crying".
"You didn't choose to be sick. There are any things you can do, even if you are handicapped. If you were a person who didn't have the power to think, you wouldn't have been able to feel the kindness, and the warmth that people have, which you first realized after getting sick", says mom.
"I believe in God. Thinking that God is propably testing me through these hardships, made me feel a lot better. Somehow, I do not want to forget this feeling".
"It's okay if you fall.
You can just get up again.
Why don't you look up at the sky, while you're down there.
the blue sky spreads across above you.
can you see it smiling at you?
You are alive".
"I feel loved in the warmth of my home. But I can't express my love to everyone. I can't speak and I can't make any actions to express it.. The best I can do is smile in response to their love".
"I'm living the life of an old woman: no youth, no energy to live, no goals to work toward. All I have is my deteriorating body. Why do I have to be alive? On the contrary, I want to live. The only things I enjoy are eating, reading and writing, I wonder what other 19-year-old enjoy?".
"Gather up your fighting spirit or the disease will defeat you!".
"Each person has unspeakable distress.
When I remember the past,
Annoyingly, I cry;
The reality of today
Is too cruel, too severe,
And doesn't even offer me a dream;
Imagining the future
Brings me yet another kind of tears".
I really recommend watching this before reading this diary.
☙ And here is a link to watch the series.
It's about a 14-year-old girl "Aya Kito" who had a spinocerebellar atrophy which made her lose her body's balance gradually and progressively until she couldn't walk.
Then she lost her ability to eat properly, she could choke and die if she was alone.
And lost the ability to write as usual, and couldn't speak well.
But she didn't lost hope in life to the very end! The diary talks about her suffering with her illness until she died at the age of 25.
And these are some quotes from the diary:
"Everytime I walk, in every step I take, I can feel my unsteady body. it makes me feel weak, and I feel humiliated and miserable not being able to do what everyone else is capable of doing. Is that something you can't understand unless you experience it? Even if you can't feel what that person is feeling, I want you to at least try to think in my point of view.
But I think that's hard to do".
"My illness is worse than cancer!
It stole the beauty of my youth.
If I didn't have this weird illness, I could have had a love life.. I just want someone to rely on.
I just can't take this anymore!".
"Why can't I laugh naturally like I used to? I want to go back to the past!
I wanna make a time machine and ride it to go back to the past. Watch me run, walk, roll around, and play with you.. but then I come back to reality.
Do I have to come back to reality?
I don't wanna grow up!
Time.. please stop! Tears.. stop falling!
Ahh.. Aya just can't seem to stop crying".
"You didn't choose to be sick. There are any things you can do, even if you are handicapped. If you were a person who didn't have the power to think, you wouldn't have been able to feel the kindness, and the warmth that people have, which you first realized after getting sick", says mom.
"I believe in God. Thinking that God is propably testing me through these hardships, made me feel a lot better. Somehow, I do not want to forget this feeling".
"It's okay if you fall.
You can just get up again.
Why don't you look up at the sky, while you're down there.
the blue sky spreads across above you.
can you see it smiling at you?
You are alive".
"I feel loved in the warmth of my home. But I can't express my love to everyone. I can't speak and I can't make any actions to express it.. The best I can do is smile in response to their love".
"I'm living the life of an old woman: no youth, no energy to live, no goals to work toward. All I have is my deteriorating body. Why do I have to be alive? On the contrary, I want to live. The only things I enjoy are eating, reading and writing, I wonder what other 19-year-old enjoy?".
"Gather up your fighting spirit or the disease will defeat you!".
"Each person has unspeakable distress.
When I remember the past,
Annoyingly, I cry;
The reality of today
Is too cruel, too severe,
And doesn't even offer me a dream;
Imagining the future
Brings me yet another kind of tears".
May 5, 2012
إذا نظرت إلى السماء بعد السقوط أرضاً فهي كالعادة زرقاء ..ممتدة بلا حدود ومبتسمة إليّ ..مازلتُ حيّة
يجب على الناس أن لا يبقوا في الماضي .. يكفي أن تبذل جهدك في كل ما تفعله الآن
من الآن فصاعداً بجانبي .. استمر بالابتسام
عندما أغلق عينيّ ,أنت تكون بداخلهما
ايكيوتشي آيا
يجب على الناس أن لا يبقوا في الماضي .. يكفي أن تبذل جهدك في كل ما تفعله الآن
من الآن فصاعداً بجانبي .. استمر بالابتسام
عندما أغلق عينيّ ,أنت تكون بداخلهما
ايكيوتشي آيا
November 3, 2010
The book that I have read is the book called, One Liter of Tears. This is a true story based on the diary of a girl, Aya who was infected to heavy disease, spinocerebellar degeneration that a person's cerebellum and spinal cord stops functioning little by little and the person become physically handicapped as the disease gets worse. I chose this book to read because my father had read this book before and told me that this book teaches many things that I need to know in life. I had other books that I would like to read, but I finally chose this book.
I was surprised to know that at the time when she was infected to this disease, scientists did not know the cause of this disease neither the treatment. Aya writes on her diary how shocked she was and she lost her dream. She was afraid of the death and did not know what she is living for. I was sore at my heart by reading slowly Aya's body becomes weaker and weaker. However, I was moved by Aya's strong intention to live her life as hard as she can until she dies. Aya's strong intention to live has taught me that no matter what happens in my life, I should never give up on anything and keep trying hard.
I was surprised to know that at the time when she was infected to this disease, scientists did not know the cause of this disease neither the treatment. Aya writes on her diary how shocked she was and she lost her dream. She was afraid of the death and did not know what she is living for. I was sore at my heart by reading slowly Aya's body becomes weaker and weaker. However, I was moved by Aya's strong intention to live her life as hard as she can until she dies. Aya's strong intention to live has taught me that no matter what happens in my life, I should never give up on anything and keep trying hard.
April 28, 2020
This is my favorite book of all time. I started with actually watching the japanese drama "1 liter fo tears" and got so inlove ith the story I just needed to read the real story, considering the drama had alot of dramatized and love stories that wasnt completly true.
It took me a LOOOOONG time to get my hands om an English version of this book and it did cost me alot to get it shipped to sweden. But it was 100% Worth it too me and I do come back and read it over and over again when i struggle with my own chronic pain.
It touched me in way that i cant forget and i started to see myself as more than just my sickness after Reading it.
If you havent read it. Do it now! you wont regret it,
It took me a LOOOOONG time to get my hands om an English version of this book and it did cost me alot to get it shipped to sweden. But it was 100% Worth it too me and I do come back and read it over and over again when i struggle with my own chronic pain.
It touched me in way that i cant forget and i started to see myself as more than just my sickness after Reading it.
If you havent read it. Do it now! you wont regret it,
June 10, 2024
Don't ask me how many times I've cried
December 24, 2018
Don't worry, even if you fall over! It's all right. You can just pick yourself up again!
When you fall over, make the most of the chance to look up and see the sky.
You will see the blue sky spreading endlessly above you and smiling down.
Aya, you are alive! -Aya Kito, 1 Litre of Tears
قصه حقيقية عن فتاة يابانيه تكتشف انها مريضه بمرض خطير وتكتب مذكراتها مع هذا المرض .
مؤلمة جدا وتجعل القارئ يذرف اكثر من لتر من الدموع ولكن يوجد بها شيء يجذب لقرائتها .
شعرت كأنني اتمزق اثناء قرائتها تألمت كثيرا " آيا " كلماتك وصلت للقلب وللجميع .
عشت مع آيا تفاصيل حياتها المؤلمة .
اسلوب كتابتها قوي كانت تكتب عبارات جدا جميله لا يستطع اي شخص كتابتها لقد احتفظت بالعديد من جمل واقتباسات من كتابات آيا .
When you fall over, make the most of the chance to look up and see the sky.
You will see the blue sky spreading endlessly above you and smiling down.
Aya, you are alive! -Aya Kito, 1 Litre of Tears
قصه حقيقية عن فتاة يابانيه تكتشف انها مريضه بمرض خطير وتكتب مذكراتها مع هذا المرض .
مؤلمة جدا وتجعل القارئ يذرف اكثر من لتر من الدموع ولكن يوجد بها شيء يجذب لقرائتها .
شعرت كأنني اتمزق اثناء قرائتها تألمت كثيرا " آيا " كلماتك وصلت للقلب وللجميع .
عشت مع آيا تفاصيل حياتها المؤلمة .
اسلوب كتابتها قوي كانت تكتب عبارات جدا جميله لا يستطع اي شخص كتابتها لقد احتفظت بالعديد من جمل واقتباسات من كتابات آيا .
April 26, 2023
الحمدلله الذي عافنا، وأمدنا بكل هذه الطاقة والصحة لمواصلة الحياة كما يلزم، كان النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم يقول "سلوا الله العافية.."
عن العباس: قُلتُ يا رسولَ اللهِ: عَلِّمْني شيئًا أسأَلُهُ اللهَ تعالى، قال: "سَلوا اللهَ العافيةَ". فمكثْتُ أيامًا، ثم جِئتُ فقُلتُ: يا رسولَ اللهِ: عَلِّمْني شيئًا أسأَلُهُ اللهَ تعالى، قال لي: "يا عباسُ يا عَمَّ رسولِ اللهِ، سَلوا اللهَ العافيةَ في الدُّنيا والآخِرَةِ ".
إننا والله في زحام من النعم، في فيض كبير منها
النعم التي تستوجب الشكر ليست التي تجلب لك السعادة فحسب، ليست الأمنيات التي تمنيتها وتحققت، ليست الأمور الجديدة البهيجة، لا.. ليست هيَ فحسب
إنما حتى سريان الدم في عروقك والنفس الذي يخرج منك، وكبدك الذي يغسل نفسه، أعصابك ذهنك قلبك.. كل هذا يستوجب منك الشكر يوميًا
هذه المذكرات من كتابة فتاة أصبحت معاقة بعد العافية..
آيا كيتو فتاة ذكية، مجدّة، صغيرة حلوة، تبدأ صحتها بالتغير شيئًا شيئًا، بدءًا من عدم توازن المشي وانتهاءً بالجلوس على كرسي متحرك، بدءًا من صعوبة التعامل مع عيدان الطعام وانتهاءً بتناول الطعام عبر الأنف، بدءًا بالحركة البطيئة وانتهاءً بالشلل التام، بدءًا بهذا كله وانتهاءً بالموت.. يعود هذا كله لضمور في المخيخ والأعصاب، تخيّل! خلق الله دقيق ما إن يتعطل شيء لديك حتى يفسد معه الكثير من الأمور، تعطلت بعض الخلايا لدى آيا، بعض الأعصاب، وضمر لديها المخيخ، فلم تعد تمشي ولا تأكل ولا تتحرك وحتى لا تنطق الحروف..
بعض الإعاقات تلزم منك الاستعانة بباقي جسدك حتى تعيش، وبعضها كإعاقة آيا لا يترك لك مجالاً للإستعانة بأي عضو آخر..
سلوا الله العافية
عن العباس: قُلتُ يا رسولَ اللهِ: عَلِّمْني شيئًا أسأَلُهُ اللهَ تعالى، قال: "سَلوا اللهَ العافيةَ". فمكثْتُ أيامًا، ثم جِئتُ فقُلتُ: يا رسولَ اللهِ: عَلِّمْني شيئًا أسأَلُهُ اللهَ تعالى، قال لي: "يا عباسُ يا عَمَّ رسولِ اللهِ، سَلوا اللهَ العافيةَ في الدُّنيا والآخِرَةِ ".
إننا والله في زحام من النعم، في فيض كبير منها
النعم التي تستوجب الشكر ليست التي تجلب لك السعادة فحسب، ليست الأمنيات التي تمنيتها وتحققت، ليست الأمور الجديدة البهيجة، لا.. ليست هيَ فحسب
إنما حتى سريان الدم في عروقك والنفس الذي يخرج منك، وكبدك الذي يغسل نفسه، أعصابك ذهنك قلبك.. كل هذا يستوجب منك الشكر يوميًا
هذه المذكرات من كتابة فتاة أصبحت معاقة بعد العافية..
آيا كيتو فتاة ذكية، مجدّة، صغيرة حلوة، تبدأ صحتها بالتغير شيئًا شيئًا، بدءًا من عدم توازن المشي وانتهاءً بالجلوس على كرسي متحرك، بدءًا من صعوبة التعامل مع عيدان الطعام وانتهاءً بتناول الطعام عبر الأنف، بدءًا بالحركة البطيئة وانتهاءً بالشلل التام، بدءًا بهذا كله وانتهاءً بالموت.. يعود هذا كله لضمور في المخيخ والأعصاب، تخيّل! خلق الله دقيق ما إن يتعطل شيء لديك حتى يفسد معه الكثير من الأمور، تعطلت بعض الخلايا لدى آيا، بعض الأعصاب، وضمر لديها المخيخ، فلم تعد تمشي ولا تأكل ولا تتحرك وحتى لا تنطق الحروف..
بعض الإعاقات تلزم منك الاستعانة بباقي جسدك حتى تعيش، وبعضها كإعاقة آيا لا يترك لك مجالاً للإستعانة بأي عضو آخر..
سلوا الله العافية
November 9, 2019
Videorecensione: https://youtu.be/G__Q-4bHz5c
October 31, 2018
BEWARE of SPOILER
For the record, I haven't watch the drama yet, but, I did watch the movie. The biggest differences the drama/movie with the diary is the romance plot. There's no romance in the diary. It was added to the drama's script, as requested by Aya-chan's mother, because she wanted 'Aya-chan' to have a romance life even if it's just an acting.
Aya-chan was a cheerful girl full of life. And one day, she lost control of her body. So, her diary was her getaway and at the same time her entry of the way her family and her cope with her illness. I get it why some end up hating the book. There's no romance in it. Aya-chan wrote about her family, pain, classmates and what she wanted to do once she recover. She did mention about marriage but, not in full detail.
I like the book better than the movie. Yes, her family was more strict in the book than in the movie but, her caretaker, doctor and nurses were so nice. I was on the verge while reading it, thinking I may stumble upon an entry where Aya-chan was abused but, nothing.
I get it why her mother seemed distant sometimes. When you're a mother, you see things differently and reading this book the second time gave me that. If Aya-chan was sick from a young age, going in and out of the hospital, things could be different but, she was a healthy girl who one day got diagnosed with an incurable disease. It was a shocked not just to her but, her family too. Her mother, while wanting to grieve, need to stay strong. She's the glue and if she's not strong enough, the family will crumble. And that feeling of not being able to do anything while your kid was in pain. That suck.
However, thanks to Aya-chan and her diary, and also thanks to her mother for publishing it, I pay more attention to my kids. I open up my heart for every possibilities. Aya-chan once asked, "Why her?" No one will ever know the answer.
For the record, I haven't watch the drama yet, but, I did watch the movie. The biggest differences the drama/movie with the diary is the romance plot. There's no romance in the diary. It was added to the drama's script, as requested by Aya-chan's mother, because she wanted 'Aya-chan' to have a romance life even if it's just an acting.
Aya-chan was a cheerful girl full of life. And one day, she lost control of her body. So, her diary was her getaway and at the same time her entry of the way her family and her cope with her illness. I get it why some end up hating the book. There's no romance in it. Aya-chan wrote about her family, pain, classmates and what she wanted to do once she recover. She did mention about marriage but, not in full detail.
I like the book better than the movie. Yes, her family was more strict in the book than in the movie but, her caretaker, doctor and nurses were so nice. I was on the verge while reading it, thinking I may stumble upon an entry where Aya-chan was abused but, nothing.
I get it why her mother seemed distant sometimes. When you're a mother, you see things differently and reading this book the second time gave me that. If Aya-chan was sick from a young age, going in and out of the hospital, things could be different but, she was a healthy girl who one day got diagnosed with an incurable disease. It was a shocked not just to her but, her family too. Her mother, while wanting to grieve, need to stay strong. She's the glue and if she's not strong enough, the family will crumble. And that feeling of not being able to do anything while your kid was in pain. That suck.
However, thanks to Aya-chan and her diary, and also thanks to her mother for publishing it, I pay more attention to my kids. I open up my heart for every possibilities. Aya-chan once asked, "Why her?" No one will ever know the answer.
April 27, 2014
Hiếm khi nào đọc một cuốn sách mà nước mắt cứ giàn giụa như thế này... Thậm chí khi lật qua trang "21 tuổi - tận cùng cuộc sống", tôi đã vội đặt nó xuống, ngồi trầm ngâm hồi lâu mới dám tiếp tục.
Một câu chuyện buồn có thật, đọc rồi mới cảm thấy xấu hổ cho bản thân mình: với cái thân thể lành lặn, đầu óc sáng suốt như thế này cũng phải ngả mũ thán phục cho cái ý chí kiên cường của Aya.
"Vấp ngã ư? Chẳng là vấn đề
Dù thế nào ta cũng có thể đứng lên
Lúc vấp ngã đứng lên nhìn trời kia
Bầu trời xanh bao la ngát tầm mắt
Có thấy nó đang mỉm cười với bạn không?
Bạn đang còn sống."
Một câu chuyện buồn có thật, đọc rồi mới cảm thấy xấu hổ cho bản thân mình: với cái thân thể lành lặn, đầu óc sáng suốt như thế này cũng phải ngả mũ thán phục cho cái ý chí kiên cường của Aya.
"Vấp ngã ư? Chẳng là vấn đề
Dù thế nào ta cũng có thể đứng lên
Lúc vấp ngã đứng lên nhìn trời kia
Bầu trời xanh bao la ngát tầm mắt
Có thấy nó đang mỉm cười với bạn không?
Bạn đang còn sống."
May 28, 2014
This book was so touching. It's my first time crying over a book. I felt for Aya, I feel so much inspiration that if I were diagnosed with the disease that she had, I would fight just like her. I know that is easier said than done but still it was so touching. I have also seen the drama that was based off of Aya's story and it made me cry so much. This is definitely a book that should be on everyone's reading list, just reading this and seeing how simple tasks we take for granted like, walking, talking and eating; it become such a valued ability. This book deserves 5 stars.
Read
June 18, 2009this is really sad.. many of u don't know this but it is really a diary of a Japanese girl that had an uncurable disease and she wrote 48notebooks of diary. It is about her life and her feelings every day. u should read it. it is soooooo sad that made many people cry... and this is a true story..really
March 7, 2023
I just read this because I watched the TV show 'One Liter of Tears' and cried one liter of tears while at it, then realized it is all based on a real-life story. Finding the book was a pain and the translation is a bit choppy, but it was a good read in the sense that it gave insight into what someone with spinocerebral degeneration goes through. It's crazy how Aya started losing the ability to do everything, little by little, and she had to go on with full knowledge that every week her tongue would work a little bit less, her breathing would become worse, she wouldn't be able to talk, walk, etc.
I don't know what I expected reading this, but most of the diary entries were sad. She fell a lot, she lost the ability to do a lot of things. It was just heartbreaking. I wish this would be re-edited a bit and re-published in a more coherent way.
"Each person has unspeakable distress.
When I remember the past,
Annoyingly, I cry;
The reality of today
Is too cruel, too severe,
And doesn't even offer me a dream;
Imagining the future
Brings me yet another kind of tears."
I don't know what I expected reading this, but most of the diary entries were sad. She fell a lot, she lost the ability to do a lot of things. It was just heartbreaking. I wish this would be re-edited a bit and re-published in a more coherent way.
"Each person has unspeakable distress.
When I remember the past,
Annoyingly, I cry;
The reality of today
Is too cruel, too severe,
And doesn't even offer me a dream;
Imagining the future
Brings me yet another kind of tears."
October 15, 2019
Un Litro di Lacrime racconta la storia di Aya, diagnosticata a 15 anni con l'atassia spinocerebellare. Questa malattia affligge il cervelletto, e causa una perdita del controllo del corpo graduale, che va dalla disabilità parziale fino alla totale. L'aspettativa di vita dalla diagnosi è breve, di circa 6 anni.
Un Litro di Lacrime è semplicemente il diario che Aya ha tenuto durante i suoi 10 anni di vita.
Essendo il diario di Aya, questo libro è caratterizzato da uno stile di scrittura scarno, pieno dei pensieri e delle emozioni di un' Aya bambina all'inizio, che piano piano, diventa adulta.
Avevo già visto il film e il drama tratti dal diario, e avevo ancora impresse le emozioni provate durante la visione. Devo dire che, forse inconsciamente, mi aspettavo di provare le stesse cose anche leggendo il libro.
Purtroppo, così non è stato.
Lo stille di scrittura reportistico non è riuscito a coinvolgermi emotivamente, se non verso la fine dove è presente uno scritto della madre e della dottoressa che ha seguito. Peccato, perché avevo delle grandissime aspettative.
In ogni caso consiglio di leggere il libro sopratutto a chi non ha ancora mai visto il film. Una delle cose che più ho apprezzato durante la lettura è stato scoprire il rapporto di Aya con la sua disabilità incrementale: dal rifiuto, l'accettazione e il rapporto della propria disabilità con la vita quotidiana.
Un libro da leggere, per aprire un occhio sulla disabilità in generale e sulle malattie neurodegenerative.
Un Litro di Lacrime è semplicemente il diario che Aya ha tenuto durante i suoi 10 anni di vita.
Essendo il diario di Aya, questo libro è caratterizzato da uno stile di scrittura scarno, pieno dei pensieri e delle emozioni di un' Aya bambina all'inizio, che piano piano, diventa adulta.
Avevo già visto il film e il drama tratti dal diario, e avevo ancora impresse le emozioni provate durante la visione. Devo dire che, forse inconsciamente, mi aspettavo di provare le stesse cose anche leggendo il libro.
Purtroppo, così non è stato.
Lo stille di scrittura reportistico non è riuscito a coinvolgermi emotivamente, se non verso la fine dove è presente uno scritto della madre e della dottoressa che ha seguito. Peccato, perché avevo delle grandissime aspettative.
In ogni caso consiglio di leggere il libro sopratutto a chi non ha ancora mai visto il film. Una delle cose che più ho apprezzato durante la lettura è stato scoprire il rapporto di Aya con la sua disabilità incrementale: dal rifiuto, l'accettazione e il rapporto della propria disabilità con la vita quotidiana.
Un libro da leggere, per aprire un occhio sulla disabilità in generale e sulle malattie neurodegenerative.
October 30, 2016
La “degeneración espinocerebral" es una enfermedad neurológica que causa que la persona pierda de manera progresiva sus facultades de caminar, hablar, escribir,...
En su diario Aya nos muestra lo terrible de esta enfermedad, pero también comparte sus pensamientos y sueños para el futuro en esta dura realidad.
En su diario Aya nos muestra lo terrible de esta enfermedad, pero también comparte sus pensamientos y sueños para el futuro en esta dura realidad.
December 26, 2011
Salah satu novel terbaik yang diangkat dari cerita nyata. Bukan tentang bagaimana aya mengeluhkan penyakitnya, tapi tentang bagaimana ketegarannya yang menginspirasi pembaca.
Wajib baca bagi orang yang ingin lebih bersyukur :)
Wajib baca bagi orang yang ingin lebih bersyukur :)
April 6, 2013
من أفضل الكتب التي قرأتها، للأسف لا توجد ترجمة عربية كامله لهذا الكتاب.
مذكرات آيا التي كتبتها خلال معاناتها وكفاحها مع المرض أثرت بالكثير من الناس. لقد جعلتني انظر للحياة بمنظور جديد، وجميل.
مذكرات آيا التي كتبتها خلال معاناتها وكفاحها مع المرض أثرت بالكثير من الناس. لقد جعلتني انظر للحياة بمنظور جديد، وجميل.
October 30, 2016
Años que tenía ganas de leerlo, no sé por qué nunca lo hice. Sin desperdicio: lectura ligera, triste pero que te da fuerzas para vivir y ganas de abrazar a Aya-chan
August 18, 2009
it's a very nice book very inspiring
February 8, 2020
Aya-chan is a cheerful girl and full of life. She shows that we can always do our best in any situation. When the disease come, she did her best to cope with it.
People would pay very little to the mom in the story. But I admire her calm and strong. That people might mistake that she is cold. Despite the feeling of not being able to do much thing while watching her daughter is in pain is suck There is no drama in the way she act. All is the realistic action to help her daughter and ultimately her family go through all the trauma.
I waking up in the morning do not want to run at all. But the thought that how lucky I am to have this incredible healthy body make me put on my shoe and step out of the door.
Her story make me feel obligation to live the best out of what I have in life.
People would pay very little to the mom in the story. But I admire her calm and strong. That people might mistake that she is cold. Despite the feeling of not being able to do much thing while watching her daughter is in pain is suck There is no drama in the way she act. All is the realistic action to help her daughter and ultimately her family go through all the trauma.
I waking up in the morning do not want to run at all. But the thought that how lucky I am to have this incredible healthy body make me put on my shoe and step out of the door.
Her story make me feel obligation to live the best out of what I have in life.
May 13, 2021
Che botta.
May 24, 2020
"Ogni persona cova un dolore inesprimibile. Quando ripenso al passato mi viene da piangere, ed è un guaio. La vita è stata terribilmente crudele con me, e l'ho attraversata a fatica. Non mi ha offerto nemmeno un sogno. Quando immagino il futuro, altre lacrime cominciano a cadere."
Era il 2005 quando ho visto per la prima volta il drama giapponese 1 Litre no Namida basato sul diario di Kito Aya, cui viene diagnosticata una malattia neurologica degenerativa, l'atassia spinocerebellare, a soli 15 anni. E da allora ho desiderato leggere la vera storia di Aya, una ragazza che sognava di diventare scrittrice e di aiutare gli altri: questi sogni alla fine si sono avverati attraverso la pubblicazione del suo diario, grazie al quale milioni di persone hanno trovato conforto e ispirazione nell'affrontare le avversità della vita.
Una delle scene più dolorose da guardare è quando Aya si rende conto di non poter più scrivere e dice a sua madre che non c'è più niente, che non le è rimasto più niente. Nel diario, Aya scrive: "Non mi dà risposte, ma scrivere ha il potere di rasserenarmi l'animo", quindi non riesco a immaginare quanto possa essere stato terribile per lei, nella realtà, scoprire di non poter più scrivere, che anche l'ultimo sollievo che aveva le era stato negato dal suo corpo malato.
La sofferenza, la delusione e la frustrazione per la progressione della malattia sono strazianti, descritti in maniera schietta e onesta da questa ragazza che stava combattendo contro un nemico che inesorabilmente procedeva nel suo cammino distruttivo. Ma pur essendo così giovane, Aya ha una forza interiore incredibile, non si lascia abbattere dalle sconfitte e non abbandona la speranza, continuando a sottoporsi a ogni cura e terapia che i medici le propongono, per provare a rallentare la malattia.
Leggendo questo diario non si può fare a meno di piangere, è vero, ma esso è fondamentalmente e soprattutto un inno alla vita, alla voglia di vivere di Aya.
"Porto una mano al petto. Ascolto i battiti. Il cuore pulsa. Che felicità! Sono viva."
Era il 2005 quando ho visto per la prima volta il drama giapponese 1 Litre no Namida basato sul diario di Kito Aya, cui viene diagnosticata una malattia neurologica degenerativa, l'atassia spinocerebellare, a soli 15 anni. E da allora ho desiderato leggere la vera storia di Aya, una ragazza che sognava di diventare scrittrice e di aiutare gli altri: questi sogni alla fine si sono avverati attraverso la pubblicazione del suo diario, grazie al quale milioni di persone hanno trovato conforto e ispirazione nell'affrontare le avversità della vita.
Una delle scene più dolorose da guardare è quando Aya si rende conto di non poter più scrivere e dice a sua madre che non c'è più niente, che non le è rimasto più niente. Nel diario, Aya scrive: "Non mi dà risposte, ma scrivere ha il potere di rasserenarmi l'animo", quindi non riesco a immaginare quanto possa essere stato terribile per lei, nella realtà, scoprire di non poter più scrivere, che anche l'ultimo sollievo che aveva le era stato negato dal suo corpo malato.
La sofferenza, la delusione e la frustrazione per la progressione della malattia sono strazianti, descritti in maniera schietta e onesta da questa ragazza che stava combattendo contro un nemico che inesorabilmente procedeva nel suo cammino distruttivo. Ma pur essendo così giovane, Aya ha una forza interiore incredibile, non si lascia abbattere dalle sconfitte e non abbandona la speranza, continuando a sottoporsi a ogni cura e terapia che i medici le propongono, per provare a rallentare la malattia.
Leggendo questo diario non si può fare a meno di piangere, è vero, ma esso è fondamentalmente e soprattutto un inno alla vita, alla voglia di vivere di Aya.
"Porto una mano al petto. Ascolto i battiti. Il cuore pulsa. Che felicità! Sono viva."
November 4, 2017
عندما كنت في المرحلة المتوسطة، وقعت على دراما (لتر واحد من الدموع) وقمت بمشاهدتها في وقتٍ قياسي. وبعد فترة من الزمن قمت بمشاهدتها مجددًا، لقد كنت مفتونة بهذه القصة المأساوية.
وبعد مشاهدة الدراما مرتين، بدأت بحفظ كلمات أغنية البداية باليابانية (على الرغم من أنني لا أفهمها) ومن ثم انتقلت إلى البحث عن مرض آيا، كتبت بحثًا قصيرًا عنه، وعرفت أشياء كثيرة لم أعرفها قبلًا. أصبحت أعي تمامًا وظائف المخيخ ومايترتب عليه اختلاله، وكلما تحدث أحد عنه أشعر بالإنتماء والسعادة، في تلك الفترة شعرت بأن المخيخ صديقي، وكنت أرى تمامًا مستقبلي في الطب العصبي. هذه الدراما ذات الأحد عشر حلقة لمست شيئًا خفيًا بداخلي، وغيرت الكثير من الأفكار في دماغي. وأستطيع اعتبارها باكورة اهتمامي بالعلوم والقراءة وكل شيء مذهل في هذه الحياة.
لهذا أنا أشعر بأن هذه القصة قصتي، وأشعر بها كصديقتي في كل زمان، وعلى الرغم من مضي عدة سنين مازالت الأحداث تشتعل في دماغي، ومازال قلبي متحمسًا ومحمومًا.
بعد أن شاهدت الدراما بحثت عن المذكرات الأصلية لآيا ولم أجدها مترجمة، ولم تكن إنجليزيتي جيدة كفاية لقرائتها باللغة الإنجليزية. وبعد عامين قررت أن أجرب قرائتها بعد أن تطورت إنجليزيتي. وبالإضافة للمتعة، كان الهدف من القراءة هو تحسين لغتي الإنجليزية.
المذكرات مختلفة عن الدراما قليلًا، المذكرات لمست قلبي أكثر. فالدراما تصوّر آيا كفتاة مثالية تصاب بضمور في المخيخ والحبل الشوكي يجعلها تفقد قدرتها على الحركة والإتزان والتحدث والكتابة، ولكن المذكرات كانت أعمق. فعندما تتحدث آيا تستطيع إدراك شخصية طفولية مازالت لم تعِ معنى الحياة. آيا تصوّر نفسها في عدة مواقع كطفلة بكّاءة، شخصيّتها في بداية المذكرات كانت طفولية "أي شخصية طفلة مازالت في الرابعة عشر من عمرها" ولكن مع استمرار الأحداث، تستطيع ملاحظة تطور واضح في شخصيتها وفي طريقة حديثها عن الوقائع. الدراما كانت تركز على العلاقات الإنسانية لآيا، علاقاتها مع عائلتها، زملائها في المدرسة، وصديقها. أما المذكرات فلم تذكر أي شيء عن صديقها الموجود في الدراما، وكانت تركز على مشاعر آيا نفسها ومدى تطور المرض خلال الخمس سنوات الأولى. وبعد أن تصل آيا لعمرها الواحد والعشرين، تتوقف عن الكتابة. فهي لم تعد تستطيع التحدث أو تحريك يديها للكتابة، وحتى تتواصل كانت تستعمل لوحة تحتوي على الحروف الأبجدية، وكل ما تفعله هو الإشارة باصبعها للحروف حتى يفهم الطرف الآخر ماترغب بقوله. وبعد أن تصل الخامسة والعشرين، تموت بالقرب من عائلتها.
آيا تعتبر ملهمة للكثير من الأشخاص، فرغبتها في المواصلة والعيش كانت تنشر التفاؤل والأمل للأشخاص حولها، فمثلًا في المستشفى الذي كانت به، كان هناك بعض من كبار السن أصيبوا بجلطة دماغية جعلتهم يفقدون القدرة على تحريك بعض الأجزاء من أجسادهم، وكانوا يشعرون بالإحباط وعدم الرغبة في القيام بالعلاج الطبيعي. ولكنهم عندما يرون آيا واصرارها على التمرين والحياة، يشعرون بالخجل، وبالأمل أيضًا! فهي تبث فيهم الحماسة للقيام بالعلاج الطبيعي.
الكثير من الأشياء تحكي هذه المذكرات، الإحباطات التي واجهتها آيا، المرات الكثيرة التي شعرت فيها بالحزن والخيبة، هي التي جعلتها في النهاية أكثر قوة، وهي التي جعلتها ملهمة بهذا الشكل العظيم. فأي شخص يقرأ هذه المذكرات يشعر بمشاعر آيا تتسرب إليه، حتى يستطيع الشعور بمشاعر هؤلاء الذين يصابون بهذا المرض، فبعد أن كانت آيا فتاة طبيعية أصبحت تصنّف كفتاة ذات إحتياجات خاصة، حتى أن مدرستها طلبت منها الانتقال لمدرسة لذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة حيث تتسبب لهم بالكثير من المشاكل.
أحببت علاقتها بوالدتها، فجهد والدتها كان واضحًا تمامًا، واهتمامها ورغبتها في إبقاء ابنتها على قيد الحياة. بالإضافة إلى أن والدتها هي التي اقترحت عليها نشر مذكراتها، وقد تولت مهمة إنهاء المذكرات بعد أن فقدت آيا قدرتها على الكتابة، وهي التي تولت مهمة كتابة خبر وفاتها في نهاية الكتاب أيضًا.
وبعد كل شيء، وبعد أن ماتت آيا التي تسائلت يومًا ما "مالجدوى من حياتي؟" يتسلل الشعور إلي. آيا المصابة بضمور في المخيخ والتي عانت كثيرًا قبل أن يتسنى لها الرقود بسلام قد أصبحت ملهمة عظيمة لكثير من اشر، ونشرت مذكراتها في كل مكان حتى تحولت إلى دراما تحكي قصتها. هل هي تعي الآن مدى الجدوى من وجودها؟ وهل هي تعي الآن مدى الرغبة في الحياة التي جائتني بعد أن عرفتها؟ فأنا الفتاة السليمة، التي تستطيع الحركة والأكل والكتابة بكل أريحية، هل يجب أن تمضي حياتي دون أي جدوى؟
ارقدي بسلام آيا، وحتى بعد توالي الأعوام على موتك، مازال الإلهام يسري لقلوب الكثيرين. من يدري، فقد تلهمين شخصًا حتى يصل إلى علاجٍ لهذا الضمور، ويعالج الكثير من الأطفال والشبان والكبار في السن، حتى يعيشون أضعاف الحياة المقدرة لهم، وهذا لأنك وُجِدتِ على هذه الكرة الأرضية، ولربع قرن فقط.
إنني هنا، أجلس في غرفتي وأستمع لأغنية الدراما، وأكرر بعض المقاطع باليابانية. إنني هنا، أشعر بالرغبة في كتابة هذه المذكرات مرة أخرى بالعربية حتى يتسنى لي التمعن فيها والتفكير فيها كثيرًا. هل مازلت أرغب في دراسة الطب العصبي؟ بالتأكيد، وكلما شعرت بالضعف وعدم المقدرة، أتذكر آيا وضعفها، وأشعر بالقوة وبالثقة.
وبعد مشاهدة الدراما مرتين، بدأت بحفظ كلمات أغنية البداية باليابانية (على الرغم من أنني لا أفهمها) ومن ثم انتقلت إلى البحث عن مرض آيا، كتبت بحثًا قصيرًا عنه، وعرفت أشياء كثيرة لم أعرفها قبلًا. أصبحت أعي تمامًا وظائف المخيخ ومايترتب عليه اختلاله، وكلما تحدث أحد عنه أشعر بالإنتماء والسعادة، في تلك الفترة شعرت بأن المخيخ صديقي، وكنت أرى تمامًا مستقبلي في الطب العصبي. هذه الدراما ذات الأحد عشر حلقة لمست شيئًا خفيًا بداخلي، وغيرت الكثير من الأفكار في دماغي. وأستطيع اعتبارها باكورة اهتمامي بالعلوم والقراءة وكل شيء مذهل في هذه الحياة.
لهذا أنا أشعر بأن هذه القصة قصتي، وأشعر بها كصديقتي في كل زمان، وعلى الرغم من مضي عدة سنين مازالت الأحداث تشتعل في دماغي، ومازال قلبي متحمسًا ومحمومًا.
بعد أن شاهدت الدراما بحثت عن المذكرات الأصلية لآيا ولم أجدها مترجمة، ولم تكن إنجليزيتي جيدة كفاية لقرائتها باللغة الإنجليزية. وبعد عامين قررت أن أجرب قرائتها بعد أن تطورت إنجليزيتي. وبالإضافة للمتعة، كان الهدف من القراءة هو تحسين لغتي الإنجليزية.
المذكرات مختلفة عن الدراما قليلًا، المذكرات لمست قلبي أكثر. فالدراما تصوّر آيا كفتاة مثالية تصاب بضمور في المخيخ والحبل الشوكي يجعلها تفقد قدرتها على الحركة والإتزان والتحدث والكتابة، ولكن المذكرات كانت أعمق. فعندما تتحدث آيا تستطيع إدراك شخصية طفولية مازالت لم تعِ معنى الحياة. آيا تصوّر نفسها في عدة مواقع كطفلة بكّاءة، شخصيّتها في بداية المذكرات كانت طفولية "أي شخصية طفلة مازالت في الرابعة عشر من عمرها" ولكن مع استمرار الأحداث، تستطيع ملاحظة تطور واضح في شخصيتها وفي طريقة حديثها عن الوقائع. الدراما كانت تركز على العلاقات الإنسانية لآيا، علاقاتها مع عائلتها، زملائها في المدرسة، وصديقها. أما المذكرات فلم تذكر أي شيء عن صديقها الموجود في الدراما، وكانت تركز على مشاعر آيا نفسها ومدى تطور المرض خلال الخمس سنوات الأولى. وبعد أن تصل آيا لعمرها الواحد والعشرين، تتوقف عن الكتابة. فهي لم تعد تستطيع التحدث أو تحريك يديها للكتابة، وحتى تتواصل كانت تستعمل لوحة تحتوي على الحروف الأبجدية، وكل ما تفعله هو الإشارة باصبعها للحروف حتى يفهم الطرف الآخر ماترغب بقوله. وبعد أن تصل الخامسة والعشرين، تموت بالقرب من عائلتها.
آيا تعتبر ملهمة للكثير من الأشخاص، فرغبتها في المواصلة والعيش كانت تنشر التفاؤل والأمل للأشخاص حولها، فمثلًا في المستشفى الذي كانت به، كان هناك بعض من كبار السن أصيبوا بجلطة دماغية جعلتهم يفقدون القدرة على تحريك بعض الأجزاء من أجسادهم، وكانوا يشعرون بالإحباط وعدم الرغبة في القيام بالعلاج الطبيعي. ولكنهم عندما يرون آيا واصرارها على التمرين والحياة، يشعرون بالخجل، وبالأمل أيضًا! فهي تبث فيهم الحماسة للقيام بالعلاج الطبيعي.
الكثير من الأشياء تحكي هذه المذكرات، الإحباطات التي واجهتها آيا، المرات الكثيرة التي شعرت فيها بالحزن والخيبة، هي التي جعلتها في النهاية أكثر قوة، وهي التي جعلتها ملهمة بهذا الشكل العظيم. فأي شخص يقرأ هذه المذكرات يشعر بمشاعر آيا تتسرب إليه، حتى يستطيع الشعور بمشاعر هؤلاء الذين يصابون بهذا المرض، فبعد أن كانت آيا فتاة طبيعية أصبحت تصنّف كفتاة ذات إحتياجات خاصة، حتى أن مدرستها طلبت منها الانتقال لمدرسة لذوي الاحتياجات الخاصة حيث تتسبب لهم بالكثير من المشاكل.
أحببت علاقتها بوالدتها، فجهد والدتها كان واضحًا تمامًا، واهتمامها ورغبتها في إبقاء ابنتها على قيد الحياة. بالإضافة إلى أن والدتها هي التي اقترحت عليها نشر مذكراتها، وقد تولت مهمة إنهاء المذكرات بعد أن فقدت آيا قدرتها على الكتابة، وهي التي تولت مهمة كتابة خبر وفاتها في نهاية الكتاب أيضًا.
وبعد كل شيء، وبعد أن ماتت آيا التي تسائلت يومًا ما "مالجدوى من حياتي؟" يتسلل الشعور إلي. آيا المصابة بضمور في المخيخ والتي عانت كثيرًا قبل أن يتسنى لها الرقود بسلام قد أصبحت ملهمة عظيمة لكثير من اشر، ونشرت مذكراتها في كل مكان حتى تحولت إلى دراما تحكي قصتها. هل هي تعي الآن مدى الجدوى من وجودها؟ وهل هي تعي الآن مدى الرغبة في الحياة التي جائتني بعد أن عرفتها؟ فأنا الفتاة السليمة، التي تستطيع الحركة والأكل والكتابة بكل أريحية، هل يجب أن تمضي حياتي دون أي جدوى؟
ارقدي بسلام آيا، وحتى بعد توالي الأعوام على موتك، مازال الإلهام يسري لقلوب الكثيرين. من يدري، فقد تلهمين شخصًا حتى يصل إلى علاجٍ لهذا الضمور، ويعالج الكثير من الأطفال والشبان والكبار في السن، حتى يعيشون أضعاف الحياة المقدرة لهم، وهذا لأنك وُجِدتِ على هذه الكرة الأرضية، ولربع قرن فقط.
إنني هنا، أجلس في غرفتي وأستمع لأغنية الدراما، وأكرر بعض المقاطع باليابانية. إنني هنا، أشعر بالرغبة في كتابة هذه المذكرات مرة أخرى بالعربية حتى يتسنى لي التمعن فيها والتفكير فيها كثيرًا. هل مازلت أرغب في دراسة الطب العصبي؟ بالتأكيد، وكلما شعرت بالضعف وعدم المقدرة، أتذكر آيا وضعفها، وأشعر بالقوة وبالثقة.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 15, 2013
It’s titled “One Litre of Tears” and you’ll probably cry one litre of tears when you read it.
I first watched the Japanese Drama based on this book and it was a very moving one. I wanted to know the real Aya Kito and her real story so I read the book (not the original one because unfortunately I couldn’t find it). It was a very sad story. I was moved by Aya’s courage and how she kept fighting. I really admire that about her because I know that if I were in her shoes I wouldn’t be able to face that disease the way she did. This made me realize that health is a blessing.
If you’re a healthy person you really should thank Allah for that.
As a medical student, Aya became my motivation to study really hard in order to become a good doctor.
There were many quotes that moved me and inspired me a lot. These are some of them:
“A baby sits when it’s around eight months old, crawls when it's ten months old, and walks when it's over one year old. I used to walk, then I gradually went back to crawling, and now I'm sitting most of the time! I'm degenerating. And some day, I suppose, I'll be bedridden . . .” (This one makes me so sad :'( It's a cruel disease)
"A handicapped person is a human being with the same heart as anyone else. It's not a misfortune if you can't hear, it's just an inconvenience."
“What is wrong with falling down? You can always stand up again. If you look up at the sky after falling down, the blue sky is also today stretching limitlessly and smiles at you”
“I want to accept the me right now. And live on.
Although I will always be hurt by those heartless glances, but also at the same time I understand that gentle glances exist.
Even though it’s like this I still want to be here. Because here is, the place where I exist.”
“I really don’t want to say things such as ‘I want to go back as how things were before.’ I recognize how I am right now, and I will continue to live on.” -Aya Kito-
I first watched the Japanese Drama based on this book and it was a very moving one. I wanted to know the real Aya Kito and her real story so I read the book (not the original one because unfortunately I couldn’t find it). It was a very sad story. I was moved by Aya’s courage and how she kept fighting. I really admire that about her because I know that if I were in her shoes I wouldn’t be able to face that disease the way she did. This made me realize that health is a blessing.
If you’re a healthy person you really should thank Allah for that.
As a medical student, Aya became my motivation to study really hard in order to become a good doctor.
There were many quotes that moved me and inspired me a lot. These are some of them:
“A baby sits when it’s around eight months old, crawls when it's ten months old, and walks when it's over one year old. I used to walk, then I gradually went back to crawling, and now I'm sitting most of the time! I'm degenerating. And some day, I suppose, I'll be bedridden . . .” (This one makes me so sad :'( It's a cruel disease)
"A handicapped person is a human being with the same heart as anyone else. It's not a misfortune if you can't hear, it's just an inconvenience."
“What is wrong with falling down? You can always stand up again. If you look up at the sky after falling down, the blue sky is also today stretching limitlessly and smiles at you”
“I want to accept the me right now. And live on.
Although I will always be hurt by those heartless glances, but also at the same time I understand that gentle glances exist.
Even though it’s like this I still want to be here. Because here is, the place where I exist.”
“I really don’t want to say things such as ‘I want to go back as how things were before.’ I recognize how I am right now, and I will continue to live on.” -Aya Kito-
April 7, 2016
Tear overflows onto her cheek and her words come out from her mouth hardly. Aya tries to call her mother but she is not able to do so because she cannot press numbers on the phone. Through this scene in the drama “One Litre of Tears," I first got to know “Aya,” a girl who suffers from a disease called "spinocerebellar degeneration." She was diagnosed with the disease when she was fifteen years old, and constantly wrote down her feelings and thoughts into her diary.
Her diary was published into a book titled “One Litre of Tears,” encouraging many people who suffer from their hardships. Before I read the book, I did not expect Aya’s words to be positive and full of love but I was wrong. Her words touch my heart and I was surprised because they were filled with love.
Aya slowly lost control over her body so as time passed kinds of things that she cannot do increase one by one. At first she starts to fall down frequently, then she was not able to eat with spoon and chopsticks because she cannot hold them well. She cannot talk in the end so she communicated by pointing at hiragana (Japanese syllabary) written on a paper. Despite her difficulties, she cared more about people around her and continuously tried to live. She said, "My mom is probably in more pain than I am in. My mom works thinking about people who need help and are in pain. When I think about that, I can put up with my troubles. For my parents, myself, and for the society, I decided to continue doing my best with the hope of being able to live.”
Aya taught me that we need to live. She taught me that time is too precious to waste just by crying over the lost and worrying about the future. Even though it seems like there is no hope, there is a ray of hope as long as we are alive.
"It's okay if you fall. You can just get up again. Why don't you look up at the sky, while you're down there. The blue sky spreads across above you. Can you see it smiling at you? You are alive.” -Aya Kito
Her diary was published into a book titled “One Litre of Tears,” encouraging many people who suffer from their hardships. Before I read the book, I did not expect Aya’s words to be positive and full of love but I was wrong. Her words touch my heart and I was surprised because they were filled with love.
Aya slowly lost control over her body so as time passed kinds of things that she cannot do increase one by one. At first she starts to fall down frequently, then she was not able to eat with spoon and chopsticks because she cannot hold them well. She cannot talk in the end so she communicated by pointing at hiragana (Japanese syllabary) written on a paper. Despite her difficulties, she cared more about people around her and continuously tried to live. She said, "My mom is probably in more pain than I am in. My mom works thinking about people who need help and are in pain. When I think about that, I can put up with my troubles. For my parents, myself, and for the society, I decided to continue doing my best with the hope of being able to live.”
Aya taught me that we need to live. She taught me that time is too precious to waste just by crying over the lost and worrying about the future. Even though it seems like there is no hope, there is a ray of hope as long as we are alive.
"It's okay if you fall. You can just get up again. Why don't you look up at the sky, while you're down there. The blue sky spreads across above you. Can you see it smiling at you? You are alive.” -Aya Kito
September 5, 2021
It was a disappointing book for me.
Feels unethical to criticize a dead girl, whose story was truly sad. But as a piece of literature it wasn’t very deep or insightful or eye opening. Well, it is just a diary of a young girl, who didn’t get a chance to live a long life full of experiences to develop some wisdom, she didn’t even get a chance to finish a normal school, her frontal lobes didn’t even finish developing at the age of her death. So, despite the desperate situation, it is a diary of a teenage girl.
Also, as a japanese, she tends to gloss over her struggles and be overly optimistic and thankful. I’m learning Japanese, and I know they tend to act like that. But it still felt insincere, like she didn’t share her true thoughts and feelings while trying to be polite and ‘good’.
Feels unethical to criticize a dead girl, whose story was truly sad. But as a piece of literature it wasn’t very deep or insightful or eye opening. Well, it is just a diary of a young girl, who didn’t get a chance to live a long life full of experiences to develop some wisdom, she didn’t even get a chance to finish a normal school, her frontal lobes didn’t even finish developing at the age of her death. So, despite the desperate situation, it is a diary of a teenage girl.
Also, as a japanese, she tends to gloss over her struggles and be overly optimistic and thankful. I’m learning Japanese, and I know they tend to act like that. But it still felt insincere, like she didn’t share her true thoughts and feelings while trying to be polite and ‘good’.
April 12, 2011
Easily the saddest story I have ever read as well as the most inspiring. This story was written by a girl who developed an incurable disease. From reading this, I gained a better understanding on the fragility of human nature and the need to be a writer who understands that human lives are fragile, but while humans are weak, they are strong beyond belief.
January 19, 2017
Không biết phải nói sao. Nhưng thật sự mình k thích quyển này. Nó không mang lại cho mình sự đồng cảm, thương xót, cảm động hay ý chí gì cả. rất bình thường. Nhưng mình thật quá đáng đúng k. Chắc có lẽ do mình k biết đồng cảm với người khác. K hiểu thấu được những tâm sư suy nghĩ của Aya lúc đó là ntn. Mình xin lỗi Aya nhiều lắm.
June 6, 2021
"Why did this disease choose me? I cannot carry it, if its just for the word: Fate"
Reading this was such sad and harsh experience
Imagining Aya's pain was so hard
Why life is so painful? Why do some people have to go through all of this pain?
Reading this was such sad and harsh experience
Imagining Aya's pain was so hard
Why life is so painful? Why do some people have to go through all of this pain?
Displaying 1 - 29 of 146 reviews