Yesterday I spent most of my time
in school at the library to help my friends prepare for debate competition. After
recess, when I walked around the library, I saw a book. The title was “I don’t
want to be crazy” by Samantha Schutz. The book caught my attention so I took
it. I put it beside me just in case if I had free time, I want to read it. I took
a quick look at the back of the book to look for the description. It was a true
story of growing up, breaking down, and coming to grips with a psychological
disorder. In the end, I don’t have a chance to read the book because my teacher
took it. It seems like the book caught her attention too and after that, my
friends took it.
The book somehow reminded me of a drama I watched around a
year ago. It was based on a true story about a teenage girl named 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.
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.
Shortly
before her death, her diary was published. 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."
The diary
was given the title of “1 liter of tears” also called A Diary with Tears or A
Diary of Tears. The diary has sold over 1.1 million copies in Japan alone.
I heard
that the book can be bought at Kinokuniya Bookstore at KLCC. Now I really want
to buy it.
>Nana
