thxthxthx: Thank Goodness for Everything by Leah Dieterich
Publisher: Andrews McMeel Publishing
Release Date: 21st June 2011
Rating: 4/5
Source: Received from publisher via NetGalley for review. Thank you!
Publishers Summary:

With accolades from New York Times best-selling author Gretchen Rubin and DailyCandy, Leah Dieterich’s thxthxthx.com website inspires an aptly named giftbook, thxthxthx: Thank Goodness for Everything.

After years of being encouraged (okay, nagged) by her Mother to write thank-you notes, Dieterich began writing one thank-you note a day to whatever thing, no matter how small or odd, she was thankful for. From important gestures, like a Partner’s Understanding, to simple, soulful, and quirky things like Songs You’re Embarrassed to Like, thxthxthx features 200 of Dieterich’s original, handwritten thank-you notes that collectively convey the look and feel of handwritten notes from a close friend.

Surprisingly simple and refreshingly moving, thxthxthx is a thought provoking and emotionally rewarding daily exercise in gratitude for all of life’s blessings.

Sure, we’ve all been told by our mothers and elders that it’s only polite to send a thank you note after receiving a gift or invitation and more. The real question is, how far do you take it? Would you ever think of sending a thank you note to your keyboard or possibly even your fears? This is exactly what Leah Dieterich does in her fabulous new book ThxThxThx. Take the time to thank the small things and see how it changes the way you look at the world.

Now, first of all, I know you are all wondering why I thought this might interest Chick Lit Reviews readers. Well, to be honest, I think that on the whole our readers here are incredibly generous, diverse, intelligent and creative group. Because of that I thought this might be the very thing you’d all be interested in. Yes, it’s definitely a quick read and it could very well be something that would sit on your coffee tables, but it’s also quite funny. A perfect read for Chick Lit fans!

What Dieterich does with thank-you notes takes gratitude to an entirely different level. Not only humorous but inventive. It was hilarious to read about how she was grateful for things like songs, dice, sounds, bruises, men’s undershirts and more. On a more serious note though, this was a book that made me rethink the way I looked at the world around me. In the opening of the book the author says the following about how writing these thank-you notes made her feel, “I can’t describe it in any other way than ‘more alive.’” I’d have to agree. There’s something to be said for taking a moment each day to be thankful for something, no matter how ridiculous it might seem and how secret you may keep those thank-you’s.

ThxThxThx is a book that will have you laughing hysterically, but also contemplating those things you value in life for a number of reasons. In a world constantly seeking more and rarely taking the time to “stop and smell the roses” this is a perfect read to re-evaluate your own situation. This is an absolute must-have for my own home, if only to read a note or two a day. You may want to give it a quick glance, you never know, you may just be inspired to start your own trail of thank-you notes!

Find a new “Thank you” note on the author’s site, THXTHXTHX as well as via her Twitter account.

• Digg
• Stumble it!
• Reddit

• AW Giveaway: What Came First by Carol Snow
• AW Book News: The Bird Sisters by Rebecca Rasmussen
• AW Book Review: Past Perfect by Leila Sales