Forget grand memoirs filled with political milestones or Hollywood name-dropping. The Sound of an Ordinary Life stands apart—it doesn’t try to convince you that the author’s life was extraordinary. Instead, it argues that the ordinary is its own kind of miracle. That getting up, facing your past, and choosing kindness over bitterness is a feat of quiet heroism.
At the center of this story is a conversation—between a woman nearing 70 and her younger self, who’s still seven, small, and full of questions. This inner dialogue becomes a mirror, a battleground, and ultimately, a bridge.
Theme: Memory as a Living Entity
Cerrahyan doesn’t treat memory as a record. She treats it like a companion—shifting, breathing, aging alongside you. The entire book functions like a soul’s scrapbook. The past isn’t locked in time; it taps us on the shoulder when we least expect it.
Ever walked into a room and smelled something that transported you 30 years back? That’s what this book feels like—a trigger, but a healing one.
Rhetorical Questions as Therapy
The book is peppered with rhetorical reflections that act more like therapy than storytelling. “Why didn’t you visit me sooner?” the younger self asks. “Wasn’t I worth it?” These moments feel less like drama and more like an excavation. It’s a book that encourages readers to ask their own hard questions—gently.
This technique has a deep psychological resonance. According to trauma researchers, self-dialogue is a powerful form of reprocessing painful memory. Cerrahyan’s method? A heartfelt conversation—not with a therapist, but with the child within.
A Language of Letting Go
Cerrahyan’s prose doesn’t aim to impress. It aims to express. Her language is richly metaphorical—she compares grief to “love with nowhere to go,” and describes humility as “a best friend” rather than a burden. The lyrical tone is one of the book’s defining strengths: it doesn’t lecture, it listens.
Imagine a sunset that doesn’t shout with color, but whispers its beauty. That’s the kind of language Cerrahyan uses. It leaves room for the reader.
Failure as a Form of Grace
One of the most refreshing aspects? Cerrahyan doesn’t “win” in the traditional sense. She doesn’t become wildly famous or solve every childhood issue. But she does something far more radical: she forgives herself. And in doing so, she models a different kind of success—the courage to live in truth, not triumph.
She turns the act of not “becoming everything you wanted” into an offering of peace. It’s a beautiful reframing for anyone tired of hustle culture or Instagram-optimized lives.
Final Thoughts
This book accomplishes something rare—it makes introspection feel alive. You’ll close this book feeling like you’ve just walked out of a long conversation with someone you forgot you needed.
It may not change your life overnight. But it might help you stop being at war with your own past. And that’s worth a shelf full of bestsellers.
Excellence in Literature Award
The Excellence in Literature Award is a tribute to the timeless power of storytelling. We recognise works that transcend fleeting trends—books that resonate deeply and linger long after the final page. Whether bold and boundary-breaking or quietly powerful, these stories reflect true literary excellence.
This award encompasses a wide literary landscape—from genre fiction to poetic reflections, from contemporary gems to historical epics. At its heart, it celebrates writers who demonstrate mastery, originality, and the ability to connect with readers on a meaningful level.
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