A Book Changed How I Thought of Stories
Title: The Color of Water
Author: James McBride
Some books stay with us because of their characters.
Others, because of the lessons they teach.
But every once in a while, a book changes the way you see stories themselves.
The Color of Water was one of those books for me.
When I picked it up, I expected to read a memoir. Instead, I found a story woven between a son and his mother, moving between two lives, two perspectives, and two journeys that were deeply connected.
It was unlike anything I had read before.
One of the biggest lessons this book left with me is that no person's story exists on its own.
Our lives are shaped by those who came before us.
Our families, hardships, joys, and experiences become part of who we are, even when we don't fully understand them at the time.
Reading this book reminded me that every person carries chapters that began long before they were born.
As both a therapist and someone who loves stories, I often find myself wondering what experiences shaped a person before I ever meet them.
We see who someone is today, but we rarely know everything that brought them there.
The Color of Water beautifully illustrates that understanding another person's story requires curiosity, compassion, and a willingness to listen.
It reminded me that every family has untold stories, and every person is carrying pieces of those stories with them.
This book made me slow down and think differently.
It reminded me that life isn't simply a collection of events. It's a collection of relationships, generations, memories, and moments that quietly influence one another.
The more I work with people, the more I believe that understanding someone's story often begins by understanding the stories that came before them.
And maybe that's why this book has stayed with me.
It reminded me that every life is part of a much bigger story.
Color of Water