You're Doing Just Fine: Prose and poetry from a past that was never present

by Charlotte Eriksson, The Glass Child (Narrator)

"Take a shower, wash off the day. Drink a glass of water. Make the room dark. Lie down and close your eyes. Notice the silence. Notice your heart. Still beating. Still fighting. You made it, after all. You made it, another day. And you can make it one more. You’re doing just fine."

Named after the poem that has been shared over 500,000 times on Tumblr, this is the 3rd book from young author and songwriter Charlotte Eriksson. A collection of prose and poetry with the themes of hope, growing up, recovery and finding beauty in the darkness. An exploration of the life of a young artist with an aching heart, urged by a wanderlust that leads and directs, and the simple task of learning how to live with yourself.

"Charlotte knows her reader so well that it feels like she's writing my very own journal."

"
... for what is this thing? Trading passions for a tiny bit of acceptance, and I am not a Sunday morning inside four walls
with clean blood
and organised drawers.
I am the hurricane setting fire to the forests
at night when no one else is alive,
or awake,
however you choose to see it,
and I live in my own flames.
Sometimes burning too bright and too wild
to make things last
or handle
myself or anyone else
and so I run.
Run run run,
far and wide
until my bones ache and lungs split
and it feels good.
Hear that, people? It feels good,
because I am the slave and ruler of my own body
and I wish to do with it exactly as I please,
and living in this skin is hard and painful, most of the times, because I never volunteered to take this on. The daily sacrifice of heart over mind,
the forever on going task of explaining this and that,
and why I don’t want to look like this and
be like that
but still here I am and if this is the body I’ve been given I’m sure as hell gonna make it work.
If this is the place I’ve been given, I’m sure as hell gonna make this work."

Genres: Poetry, Nonfiction

101 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 1, 2015

About the author

Charlotte Eriksson (The Glass Child) is an author, songwriter, dreamer and wanderer from Sweden, but is currently living somewhere in Europe. She has published five books of prose and poetry, telling stories of growing up, searching for a home, life on the road and learning how to bloom in solitary places. Her books have been widely shared and embraced by like-minded communities such as To Write Love On Her Arms, The Artidote, Wordporn and The Good Quote, wracking up hundreds of thousands of likes, shares and comments on each post. Writings and poems from the books have been published on sites such as Thought Catalog, Rebelle Society, Bella Grace Magazine and Open Minds Quarterly.

"I believe in writing your own story, and that's what I'm doing here. Do you wait for things to happen or do you make them happen yourself?"

You can read more about Charlotte's books and music on her website: http://www.CharlotteEriksson.com

And you can follow Charlotte's writings and journey on:
- http://www.instagram.com/justaglasschild
- http://www.charlotteeriksson.com/writ...

********

I'm messy and I'm organized and I'm still trying to piece my own self together. I can't sleep at night because how could I close my eyes when there's a whole world out there, calling my name, waiting to be explored. I love intelligent conversations while laying on empty streets at 5am in the morning, and I love watching the sun rise over a world that is still asleep. I make mistakes and I mess up a lot, but I'm trying to learn how to be okay with that. Some days I couldn't care less about what all of you think about my art because this is my life and all I have. But then there are days when all I want is to be beautiful and good enough and someone to count on. Someone to like and love and believe in. I just really want to mean something to someone.
I believe in the future, for I have seen yesterday, and I'm still alive. I laugh a lot and I believe in the beauty in small things, like the coffee in the morning with someone you love, road-trips to nowhere and oceans. People fascinate me because I can't seem to understand them, and they rarely understand me. The way they can live and breathe and simply be, when I can't even look myself in the mirror without questioning every line. I remember every single word from conversations and I have a whole box of unsent letters to myself and every person I've ever met.

When I was 18 I moved all on my own from my home in Sweden to London to create the life I wanted to live and find the person I wanted to be. After a year in solitude with my mind and my music, I packed light and spent a year homeless on the road, dedicating my life to my art and music, determined to tell the world about it. I went everywhere and nowhere. Spent nights on the concrete, had beautiful conversations with strangers and walked foreign streets every day. I learned how to build my home in my music and my art. When I sing or write, I'm not scared anymore. I just want to mean something to someone because every person I meet mean the world to me and I just wish to belong. I just wish to be me and be loved for that. I still don't know where I'm going, but I'm on my way, and I'm giving my life to this journey. I wanted to turn my life into art, my very existence into a poem. It might not always be easy, but it will always be beautiful.

Reviews

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this so much!
Find my full video review here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATL4C...

[Julia Sapphire · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25 stars

TW: Addiction, Depression, Suicide mention, possible self harm reference

I was sent this book by the author in exchange for an honest review

I LOVED this collection! What I want most from poetry and prose is one, beautiful lines and two, to feel something. I got both and I thoroughly enjoyed my time reading it. I could personally really relate to this collection and could significantly connect with aspects of it. I thought I was not going to enjoy the prose as much as the poetry but I actually found myself enjoying the advice and the prose more.

I have read A TON of collections that have a similar concept to this one, but this really stuck out for me. It was a pleasant surprise and I think this book really deserves more recognition. My only issues were that some lines were written about awkwardly and some didn't match up well for me. Some lines also juxtaposed one another at times throughout the collection. Aside from that, it was amazing and really touched me which is all I ask for with a collection like this.

[Casey Cook · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first encountered Charlotte on Twitter. I'm often dismayed by technology and sometimes irritated how gadgets interfere with real human connections. But in this case, I'm grateful for the possibilities that arise from technological long distance connections. Without it, I never would have discovered and experienced the joy of Charlotte's writing.
I don't usually go for things like "order my new book" promotions. I tend to read beyond them in my news feed, an look directly for posts from my friends and family. But after a few months of reading Charlotte's post, I was hooked on what she'd say next...what insight she'd share...or what more was there to this interesting stranger.
After reading "You're Doing Just Fine" I don't feel like Charlotte is a stranger anymore. I feel more like she was sitting in the room with me as I read a line and contemplated what she was describing, how she was dealing with the often heaviness of life, or how much I could relate. I was deeply impressed with her word choices and the way she artfully weaved those words together and delivered a message that was entertaining, heartbreaking, and beautiful.
I have friends that have tried to encourage me to write more, and that is a great inspiration; but honestly, I hadn't been inspired enough to follow through until I started reading "You're Doing Just Fine." I'm grateful for that too.
This book is revealing, full of defeats and victories, but more than anything it is a collection of stories of determination that inspired me and left me with the very real feeling that, despite the ups and downs, disappointments and surprises, I'm "doing just fine."
Up next on the menu..."Another Vagabond Lost To Love" by Charlotte Eriksson. I can't wait to walk in her shoes again.

[Irenio · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic writing I hope everyone
Enjoys this book as well as I have
Wonderful to be so young and to be so
Smart

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really don't see any kind of personality in here. Honestly just felt like a bunch of empty words put together with no real purpose.

And page 66 begins with a mistake... Could at least proofread your text?

[Chantal · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Great book by a great writer! I started reading and couldn't stop! So everybody start today and you won't be sorry you did! :)

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

(★: 4.5/5)

[Sandy (blackteabooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

It pains me to criticise this book, but as I don't want to shy away from writing negative reviews and received a copy in exchange for my *honest* opinion, it is necessary to share my points of conflict with "You're Doing Just Fine". Seeing what the author was trying to say is after all different than objectively judging what is before you.

First of all, I appreciated the vulnerability, honesty, self-reflection and empathy of this collection. It managed to make me like Charlotte, and I even think we could have a great conversation together as we've got a lot in common. She's talking about... well, here, my criticism already starts.

A lot of times, I wasn't sure what that was exactly. I had expected that the title "You're doing just fine" would be the theme of this book, but it seems to relate to one or two poems during the end only. Before that, you are given the entire thought process that brought the author to this conclusion, but there is a lot of effort on behalf of the reader needed to understand it. Also, there should have been a trigger warning as some parts are quite explicit and were hard for me to read.

TW: Addiction, Anxiety, Depression, Self-Harm/Suicidal Thoughts?

The biggest issue is the lack of structure. There was no clear thread, either of chronological or thematic order. The book seemed to cover a large time-span and years of growth, but I rarely had an idea of how old the author was during which part, or how her thoughts developed. No, humans don't always work in straight lines, and if the point of the book was to show that we are complicated, sometimes irrational and ever changing, it worked but wasn't well conveyed.

The content was reflected in the writing style, which jumped, sometimes literally from a few verses to long paragraphs in one piece. You never know if you're reading poetry, prose or just jotted down thoughts. It was confusing and made my head dizzy, because the reading flow is constantly interrupted.

In a weird way, this could be a reason why it appeals especially to a younger audience. Our generations seem to feel lost more than ever, not really knowing what to do in life, overwhelmed by the many possibilities and with no clear path to go. In that case it is valuable to know you are not alone in that feeling. By now though, there is an abundance of quotes, posts and articles about that online, so to me, this book didn't really bring anything new. What should be its selling point is the way in which the message is expressed, but due to the lack of organisation, I couldn't really take anything away from reading it.

A lot of times, it read like my own art notebook/poem collection/journal, a mixture of one's creative outlets. Charlotte's show many good thoughts, emotions and reflections. What's missing is, as I've said before, the structure, a focus point, the feeling that this is actually going somewhere, which I simply expect from a book. It seems to derive from a lack of editing and instead it felt like a copy of the author's diary.

While I appreciate the bravery on her part of sharing it with the world, and feel really sorry to criticise it like that, it's just not professional enough yet. Charlotte seems to have a lot of potential as well as the determination and passion to grow as a writer, but that definitely needs to happen in her future works.

Still, I would like to thank the author for sending me this book and really do wish her the very best for her career.

[11th_book · Rating 4 out of 5]

I knew Charlotte for her music and was so interested in reading her poems as well! Unfortunately I sometimes struggled with the length of the text and/or vocabulary what made me put this down way too often. But I kept trying and eventually finished the book today. Especially some of the last texts made me love it even more - well written and the exactly my way of thinking and feeling <3 beautiful.

[Ariel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read this book and a person dear to me has read its pages to me a few times. I recently got a copy for myself because this is one of those books you'd like to hold your hand when life gets rough.

[beanwithasoul · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ganz niedlich für zwischendurch. Leider gab es einige Seiten, die sich sehr gezogen und doppelt/wiederholend gewirkt haben. Mir einigen Gedichten konnte ich nichts anfangen und habe mich eher hilflos gefühlt. Ich wollte oft der Autorin versuchen zu helfen, habe mich dadurch dann auch weniger verstanden gefühlt wie es eigentlich eher sein sollte. Sie wiederholt sich stark mit Einsamkeit und Verlust, es gibt kaum Raum für Heilung und neue Energie. Leider bleibt dies so bis zur letzten Seite. Deshalb nur 3 Sterne.

[Nikola Pejchinoski · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book about growing your heart, about raising yourself up to the matter of being you.
I'd recommend this book to everyone who wants to read about the pure meaning of being alone and lonely. About the process of traveling between the lonely phase and growing into a person that learned a lot from her sorrow. The book is about bleeding when you fall on your knees but still walking and falling again and again.
Till you actually find out why are you here on the earth.

[Maryann Gestwicki · Rating 4 out of 5]

I drifted in your poetry...... There were a lot of poems that I liked: Yesterday, Play Pretend, Meditation on Silence, I Go To The Ocean To Say Goodbye, You Are Not An Apology, Journal 2-Illusions, I Am Not A Broken Heart, Don't Be Scared, Go, Love, My World Collapses InTo Fiction, If I Stay, Fear Is The Thing That Makes The Heart Grow, Contradictions, Emptiness, Journal 2-Dreams, Journal 3, The Flower, Drifted.

[Chantal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlotte is an amazing writer/story teller!! The way she tells her story's, the way she makes you feel while reading it.... is just something you don't easily find anymore... Go a grab your copy and I promiss you won't be dissapointed! She'll make you feel something, she'll leave you thinking... and isn't that all we can ask for!!

[Steph · Rating 2 out of 5]

I couldn't get through the whole thing, I was expecting a book about mental health but instead it was a book about getting over a male ex lover. Not really what I was expecting and I couldn't get into it at all

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eriksson never fails to amaze me

Charlotte Eriksson’s work never ceases to move me. She’s become a long lost relative- perhaps a sister, a best friend. Perhaps even a mother. Thank you for your writing. The only shame is I no longer write since you write my feelings for me.

[martina · Rating 2 out of 5]

I thought of you and how I thought I would never have to live without you again, and I was right, I guess.
I will never live without the thought of you, never live without the thought of you, ever again.
You'll be forever on my mind.

[Yeewei Cheo · Rating 3 out of 5]

there are times where I feel like no, so wrong, so problematic, but it is how she felt so it's valid. there are times where I feel like this is it. things will be okay

[Nicola · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlotte's work is both thoughtful and honest, coming from a place of experience and relaying her findings to a relatable reader.

[Isabelle Leussink · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this. Hope i get to read her other books soon as well!

[Manon · Rating 5 out of 5]

So full of wonderful words, thoughts, lines I will copy into my journal to carry around with me and never forget. I can't wait to read the rest of her work!

[MrKeyNotes · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not bad

Not really into poetry.
Some
Parts lost
Me
But there are some good points and relative
Insightful information
That one
Can benefit from

[Cristina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Awesome book! ❤️

[Laura Newell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magical, life altering, and I didn't want it to end!

[Trigger Warning Database]

Trigger & Content Warnings

Depression
Suicide
Self-harm

[Sophie Bowns · Rating 4 out of 5]

A thought provoking book!

This book of prose was absolutely lovely and very well put together. It was such an enjoyable read. Go and get your copy!

[Aleah Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

So good! I’ve read a lot of self help and poetry books over the years, and this one is by far a favorite. I can’t even explain the way it has opened my heart and mind.

[Anouska · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wanted to love this, but unfortunately it just didn't speak to me and I usually love prose.

[Tyler · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not for me honestly. i only like 2 of the poems (The Boy & you're not alone you just have to find me) those were awesome tho and i do get why people would love those poems

[Marloes Oostindie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brilliant and beautiful written book! I loved every single page of it!