The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson, 117 pages

From the MARC: "Margareta suggests which possessions you can easily get rid of (unworn clothes, unwanted presents, more plates than you'd ever use) and which you might want to keep (photographs, love letters, a few of your children's art projects). Digging into her late husband's tool shed, and her own secret drawer of vices, Margareta introduces an element of fun to a potentially daunting task. Along the way readers get a glimpse into her life in Sweden, and also become more comfortable with the idea of letting go."

 

QQ Sweeper, v. 2-3 by Kyousuke Motomi

QQ Sweeper, v. 2 by Kyousuke Motomi - 192 pages
QQ Sweeper, v. 3 by Kyousuke Motomi - 192 pages

These two volumes complete the QQ Sweeper trilogy.  To be honest, I wasn't sure I was going to read them as I wasn't really all that drawn into the first volume. However, the story got better as it continued.  The mystery of Fumi's background was interesting enough that I might even try to pick up the sequel Series Queen's Quality.

QQ Sweeper, v. 1 by Kyousuke Motomi

QQ Sweeper, v. 1 by Kyousuke Motomi - 200 pages

Fumi Nishioka has a dream of finding a rich guy who will fall in love with her and rescue her from her poor, homeless existence.  One night while sleeping in her new school's outbuilding, she meets cleaner Kyutaro Horikita.  Turns out he doesn't just have an obsession with cleaning . . . he's actually cleaning out spirits that feed and promote negative energy.  Now Fumi is also becoming a "sweeper" to Horikita with his job.

This is the first in a new supernatural manga series.  I read it on a recommendation but am not sure that I really liked it all that much.  I'm not sure if I'll keep reading or not.

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson

The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson, 128 pages

I loved this book!  I have read many books on the art of cleaning, but this book just made so much sense.  Margareta writes how you do this cleaning at any stage of your life.  She claims her age to be between 80-100.  But, this way of dealing with clutter works for me.  Basically, she writes to get rid of anything that no one in your immediate family has an interest in inheriting.  Items that might mean something to you, may just be a burden for family.  Those she says you can mark as get rid of when I die.  I like this book because it just makes sense to get rid of junk and ask the people you care about if they want old pictures, artwork or documents before you die.

Spark Joy by Marie Kondo

Spark Joy by Marie Kondo, 291 pages

Spark Joy is the follow up book to the bestselling book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.  This book is basically just a more detailed version of the first book with illustrations.  In the book, she describes how people should only keep items that bring them joy and get rid of everything else. She describes the five areas people should work on tidying and in that particular order.  That part of the book made sense. She writes to sort photographs and sentimental items last.  What I find difficult with her concept is that everything brings me joy.

The Secret Lives of Hoarders: True Stories Of Tackling Extreme Clutter by Matt Paxton with Phaedra Hise

The Secret Lives Of Hoarders: True Stories of Tackling Extreme Clutter by Matt Paxton with Phaedra Hise, 238 pages

If you like the Hoarders television show on A&E, you will enjoy this book. Matt Paxton is an extreme cleaner and organizing expert who appears on the television show regularly.  Written in 2011, I found this book fascinating. Matt details how he became an extreme cleaner when he found himself with a huge gambling debt.  In this book, he writes about some of the most ugly, disgusting, and shocking hoards he has encountered.   What I like about this book is that not only does he describe the hoards, but also what brought these people to become hoarders.  One of the most fascinating cases described in the book was one where he found $13,000 in cash while cleaning up a rat's nest.

Secrets of an Organized Mom by Barbara Reich

Secerts of an Organized Mom by Barbara Reich, 242 pages

I could not resist picking up this book.  The cover implies there may be some great secret to getting organized or some great secrets that only apply to mothers.  I was a little disappointed.  Simply, what this book describes seems to me what every other organization book describes. Her book is neatly organized by rooms, and it was a very quick read.  I always think there is going to be some other solution for quick organization other than throwing everything out and purchasing pretty bins to store all my junk!

MSCHMITT-- Whopper Cake, Karma Wilson, 32

MSCHMITT-- Whopper Cake, Karma Wilson, 32

What happens when you make the biggest cake in the world?  A huge mess, of course!  This is a fun book for kids.

MSCHMITT- Pigsty, Mark Teague, 32

MSCHMITT- Pigsty, Mark Teague, 32

Wendell's room is so messy, it becomes a pigsty- literally.  At first it's fine, but eventually even Wendell has to admit that there is such a thing as too messy.