Book Review: Sing Me to Sleep

THE TRANSFORMATION

Beth has always been 'The Beast' - that's what everyone at school calls her because of her awkward height, facial scars, and thick glasses. Beth's only friend is geeky, golden-haired Scott. That is, until she's selected to be her choir's soprano soloist, and receives the makeover that will change her life forever.

THE LOVE AFFAIR

When Beth's choir travels to Switzerland, she meets Derek: pale, brooding, totally dreamy. Derek's untethered passion - for music, and for Beth - leaves her breathless. Because in Derek's eyes? She's not The Beast, she's The Beauty.

THE IMPOSSIBLE CHOICE

When Beth comes home, Scott, her best friend in the world, makes a confession that leaves her completely torn. Should she stand by sweet, steady Scott or follow the dangerous, intense new feelings she has for Derek?

THE HEARTBREAK

The closer Beth gets to Derek, the further away he seems. Then Beth discovers that Derek's been hiding a dark secret from her .one that could shatter everything.

Wow! I can't believe I've wasted so much time trying to decipher if this book is worth my time. I have included this in on my to-be-read list but I feel so stupid to be reading just now. It was a very beautiful and emotional book. It's full of soul and it has a certain effect to capture the hearts of people. It obviously shattered my heart into pieces. Imagine me crying at 4:00 in the morning. I've finished reading it this morning shortly after I woke up. And when I went out of my room, my nose was running and my eyes were puffy from crying. How depressing was that to start the morning.

THE BLURB. I'm warning you. The blurb is misleading. Here I was thinking that this was just another cutesy love triangle story. No major major. Only a love hate story among two boys and a girl and in the end, only one boy will be chosen. But oh boy was I wrong. It wasn't a light read at all. I'll probably include this to my 2012 best reads.

Your words

Why do they define me?

Why do I believe you?

Your face,

Your lips, and your fingers

Don't spill them on me.

I'm bones, blood, and flesh

Not clay to be pounded

And scorched in the fire

That seethes in the hate you feel.

I bleed when you wound me

Just like the pretty girls do.

BETH. She's tall, lanky, has a frizzy hair, has a big-rimmed eye glasses and her face is full of zits. She's in her awkward developing years. The only thing she thinks she has is her voice. She can be an alto and also a soprano. It's only in singing that she feels acting like herself. Because of her looks, she is constantly the object of pranks at school. The bullies always eye her as the perfect target. They spread myths about her and even gave her a nickname, The Beast.

THE TRANSFORMATION. When Meadow breaks down from one of their choir practices, Beth volunteered to sing the soloist part of the soprano. She finally had the courage to do what she loved most. When she's singing, she's lost in her own world. Everything around her vanishes. Terri assigned her as the new soloist. Meadow really wanted to go yo Switzerland so she gives in but she made it a mission to transform Beth into a beauty. They put her on a cosmetic surgery. Nothing really major. Just a little bit of fixing and rebonding her hair, some waxing, and laser treatment for the scars on her face which are caused by zits, and also for her pair of eyes. In the end, The Beast turned into a Princess Charming. They also make her open her own account in Facebook. Then Derek's friend request pops up. She clicked the ignore button but it turned out to be the confirm button. That starts the love story what will shatter our hearts.

DEREK. He's every girls dream guy. A pale beautiful guy with a smile that can melt even the hardest chocolate. A guy who can sing. A guy who knows how to make a girl laugh. A guy who takes care of his girl. A guy who is just so perfect. Can't he have a weakness or a hidden secret? He introduced himself to Beth at Switzerland. There, they developed feelings for each other and fell in love. That started out when Beth receives a bad news from her mom.

Empty

God, take all these feelings,

Let me just be

A shell

Alone on the seashore

While life swells around me.

Soft tiny fingers,

That sweet baby smell,

Still the dream lingers

Please take me from this new hell.

THE MYSTERY. Beth and Derek continued their relationship after the competition in Switzerland. But just like any other relationship, there are also rough patches. Slowly, Derek's mystery began to unveil. Beth began to doubt his alibis. There were times when he rides his motorcycle just to visit her but there were also moments when he disappears for weeks or sometimes months. And when she began to question him, he just shoves it and distracts her with his charm. Derek's condition only becomes clear when he faints on a broadcasted coverage of their performance. That's when Derek finally admitted that he's sick ever since he was a kid. He has a CF or a cystic fibrosis and has considered hospital his home.

He doesn't treat you, babe, like I do

He doesn't meet you babe, like me

I'll be your rescue on the horizon,

Your prince on bended knee

I'll climb your walls,

The dragons fall,

If you'll stay here, babe, with me.

He's creepy, so creepy, stay with me.

You're the beauty to my beast.

If we kiss, the spell will release.

It's midnight, girl, the ball has passed.

Wake up, and you'll see

Whose love will last.

He's creepy

SCOTT. The best friend. Well, Beth had a thing for him until Derek came along. She's her protector since third grade and he's been loyal to her. He also has a thing for Beth and even when she's with Derek, he doesn't hide that fact. He still keeps flirting with her. He's really in love with her that he's willing to let go of his pride and be second as long as Beth gives him a chance. I like Scott but I love Derek. Though it's good that Scott was there till the end to give courage and comfort to Beth.

REALITY. When Derek met Beth, he became more focused and determined to live. He went through all his therapy and even takes all his medicines on time. But then we to consider the reality. Time is running out and he needed a lung transplant so he could live. He had been a fighter and was revived so many times already. The last time he woke up after another revival, he finally accepted that he can't do it any longer and he ask Beth to sing him to sleep with the song he composed for her entitle, Beth's song. That scene was so heartbreaking and it still had that effect on me. Up to now considering that I've read this last week.

Don't steal away your love.

Don't steal away your touch.

Without your smile I'll touch.

Without your smile I'll never find

The star you shine.

Don't leave me without hope.

Don't say it's for the best, love,

When I'm lying here alone.

Please stay, cause I can't make it on my own.

Who will be the boy who heals my heart?

Who will be the boy who feeds my art?

Where will I find a friend?

Who will be the boy who makes me sing?

You made me live, made me who I am.

If you're leaving, take me with you,

Here's my hand. 

You spoke of peace and rest,

A joy that filled your breast,

And then you closed your precious eyes.

God set you free.

So I will carry on,

Forever sing your song.

If I have to live without you now.

I'll love the best I can. 

But whisper when you're near me, and I'm home.

Together, we'll find somebody who

Will help us keep on breathing without you

Will you be the boy who heals my heart?

Will you be the boy who feeds my art?

Please, will you be my friend?

Will you be the boy who rescues me?

Will you be the boy who makes me sing?

Will you make me true to who I am?

If you're leaving, take me with you,

Here's my hand.

If you're leaving, take with you,

Here's my hand

I was crying while imagining Beth singing this song. I even got goosebumps. I can feel the song to the deepest core of my body. I can even hear the melody of the song. I can feel her sadness and her devastation over her loss. 

***

Scott: You are so naive.

Beth: This isn't about him. It's about you. I can't be that girl in your daydreams rocking the baby while you play catch with our son. That's what you want. Find someone who can give you that.

Scott: Is that what you think of me? That I care about some stupid fantasy more than I care about you? The dream can change, Bethie. As long as you're in it - that's all that matters.

Beth: I'm sorry, Scottie. I really am. I'm not in it.

Scott: You can't know that.

Beth: Find somebody cute and sweet who adores you.

Scott: Don't make me retch.

Beth: Please, Scottie, stop torturing yourself. Stop torturing me.

Scott: No way. I'm here, Bethie. Every day. Loving you. Wanting you. I'm not going to run off into a hole and lick my wounds. I'm going to bleed in front of you. I'm not going to fake it with somebody else. I'm going to be right here in your face - until the day I die.

Beth: You following me to college?

Scott: Yep

Beth: What if Derek and I decide to get married? Will you walk me down the aisle?

Scott: You won't marry him. He won't last. I will. You're going to marry me.

Rating: 5/5