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The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning
The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter | Margareta Magnusson
A charming, practical, and unsentimental approach to putting a home in order while reflecting on the tiny joys that make up a long life. In Sweden there is a kind of decluttering called dstdning, d meaning death and stdning meaning cleaning. This surprising and invigorating process of clearing out unnecessary belongings can be undertaken at any age or life stage but should be done sooner than later, before others have to do it for you. In The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning, artist Margareta Magnusson, with Scandinavian humor and wisdom, instructs readers to embrace minimalism. Her radical and joyous method for putting things in order helps families broach sensitive conversations, and makes the process uplifting rather than overwhelming. Margareta suggests which possessions you can easily get rid of (unworn clothes, unwanted presents, more plates than youd ever use) and which you might want to keep (photographs, love letters, a few of your childrens art projects). Digging into her late husbands 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.
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sprout123
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Pickpick

While the concept of Swedish Death Cleaning is similar to Marie Kondo's tidying up, there is a difference. Kondo has the reader keep what brings joy, Magnusson teaches us to think about the future, specifically how people will view our stuff – and whether they will want it – when we have passed. While the item brought joy in the past (i.e. skis), will it be of interest to anyone once we have passed? Interesting concept.

#Sweden

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sprout123
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Listening to the audio book of this succinct, short instructional guide to preparing for what happens to all of your possessions when you die. I am finding it thought provoking as I have only thought of these preparations in a broad, general sense. A little humor thrown in the keep the subject matter from getting too serious.

#Sweden

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MatchlessMarie
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Bailedbailed

I got to dust off the old DNF beating stick for this one. Bailed at 77% the author telling us to downsize our dildo collection was the first red flag 🚩😅 But in all seriousness if you have triggers around harm to animals I would skip this one. The author has some messed up ideas about decluttering pets which ultimately made me stop reading. #BirthdayPixieReadathon #MarchMadness #AllHailTheBail

Eggs Yikes 13mo
AvidReader25 What?!?! How do you declutter your pets? Sounds like a definite one to avoid for me. 13mo
MatchlessMarie @AvidReader25 I was listening on audio and thought I misheard so I downloaded the kindle version but I heard right. She decided to put down one of her dogs when she was moving out of the country because she thought it would have been to hard to rehome him since he was an older dog and didn‘t want to deal with quarantining him. 13mo
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Susanita Oh no no no. Thanks for the warning. 13mo
DieAReader Yikes! Sounds like the perfect DNF!🥳🥳🥳 13mo
AvidReader25 @MatchlessMarie that seriously makes me feel physically sick. I can‘t even imagine doing that. 13mo
Lizpixie 🙌🎉 13mo
49 likes7 comments
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NovelNancyM
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Pickpick

A quick delightful read with practical advice!

MaggieCarr Her next book comes out very soon. I still always chuckle about hiding/limited dildos 😂 1y
46 likes1 comment
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Readswithcoffee
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Pickpick

A gentle reminder to those of us of a certain age to get rid of all those items we no longer use and that no one in our circle of family and friends wants. This was a bit more of a memoir than I expected. The audiobook is narrated by Juliet Stevenson who is excellent and the perfect choice for this particular book.

40 likes1 stack add
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BarbaraTheBibliophage
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Mehso-so

This short book is interesting but not ground breaking. Maybe that's because I've been through the "death cleaning" ritual a few times now. So the idea that someone, someday will go through all of my things is nothing new. But if you need an anonymous reminder, this book offers that. It's as much memoir as advice, though. And the author's life is one of privilege with a a serious side helping of eccentricity.

#thebibliophage2020 #nonfictionnerds

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Bookishlie
Pickpick

I enjoyed this book on audio a lot, it was my commute to work book. So gentle and sweet. It brought up some things I didn‘t think about. Not depressing at all. 2021 is going to be my live simpler year:) plus I‘m a sucker for an English accent:)

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TheBookHippie
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dariazeoli I love the aesthetic! 3y
TheBookHippie @dariazeoli I‘m slowly devouring the read I love it 3y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Perfect photo! 3y
TheBookHippie @BarbaraTheBibliophage this book was so fun!!! I loved it. 3y
48 likes4 comments
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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😂. Yea, protect your kids! 🤣

OR... and hear me out here.... leave it all and scandalize them after you‘re gone. Really that stuff will give them a moment of levity while doing an otherwise sad job.

sarahbarnes 😂😂😂 3y
lil1inblue 😂 😂 😂 I love this! 3y
AlaMich “Save your favorite dildo!” 🤣 3y
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ravenlee I think it was an Ann Landers (or similar) column where I once read someone asking about what to do with the sex tapes she‘s made with her late husband. She couldn‘t bear to part with them but was worried her kids/grandkids would find them after the fact. Solution? Label the tapes with “The Best of Matlock season 2.” 🤣 3y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @ravenlee Hahaha! That‘s brilliant! 🤣 3y
Amandajoy After my grandmother died, we found her “little black bag” in the night stand. I didn‘t look in it, but my aunt did. And yep, it‘s what you would think. 🍆😳 3y
Reggie I lived with this one roommate and we had a pact that if she ever got hurt I would just throw her in the back of my truck to take her to the hospital because she didn‘t want to have to pay for an ambulance and mine was that if I died she would get rid of my gay porn before my family came over. Lol 3y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Reggie That is the sign of a real friendship! 3y
TheBookHippie Burn my journals people someone come burn them 🤪😂🤷🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️ 3y
40 likes1 stack add9 comments
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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38 likes1 stack add
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Another great example of language translation...we need more of this in English.

Kenyazero This is too funny. I love it. I'd turn it into a purposeful menagerie 3y
GingerAntics I‘m with @Kenyazero you can totally turn it into a strange display of really ugly/weird gifts. It‘s just so much ugly all in one place it ends up with so much character that no one can imagine life without it. Though, then people may try to end up as part of your display and things could turn very quickly. 3y
33 likes2 comments
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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I loved this, some of these word translations are great. 😂

8little_paws Male Kindergarten!! OMG Dying. 3y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @AlaMich Here‘s part of it! 3y
33 likes2 comments
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Some of the funny parts...

GingerAntics 🤣😂🤣 3y
29 likes1 comment
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Riveted_Reader_Melissa
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Pickpick

A short volume, funny in parts, sad in others, but not quite what a was expecting. I guess I was expecting more practical advice and less just an encouragement to clean up my mess so my relatives don‘t have to after I pass. I may not have been the intended audience, but I definitely need to downsize a bit, too much clutter I‘ve accumulated over the years, but this wasn‘t quite the how to as much as a why it‘s important too.🤷‍♀️
#NonfictionNerds

Suet624 I seem to keep moving to smaller and smaller places. That‘ll help you get rid of stuff. 😀 3y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @Suet624 Exactly! That always does it! 3y
AmyG When I moved to NJ I kept saying I was death cleaning. I got rid of so mich stuff I onew my kids had no interest in. They just don‘t want all our crap. Ha...only the mid-century modern stuff from their paternal grandparents. That stuff was a huge hit. (edited) 3y
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AlaMich I am all in favor of this, but it‘s made difficult when your spouse insists that “we might need fill-in-the-blank someday.” *sigh* 3y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @AlaMich She had a whole section about getting rid of stuff after her husband died. 3y
dariazeoli I come from a long line of pack rats. Living alone was the only time I made progress. Now it‘s back to too much stuff! Hoping to get to this one soon, but I think I was expecting what you were, so thanks for the summary! 3y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @dariazeoli It‘s a really quick read. 3y
AlRah @Riveted_Reader_Melissa I would like to join the non-fiction challenge for 2021... Could pls help? 3y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @AlRah Sure, I‘ll tag on the post for it. 3y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @AlRah You are welcome. 3y
AlRah @Riveted_Reader_Melissa Can you please tag me in the post for non-fiction challenge? Or share me the link? 3y
Riveted_Reader_Melissa @AlRah I did, I‘ll tag you again. If it still doesn‘t come through it‘s under the tag #Nonfiction2021 just search under tags, this years is there too under #Nonfiction2020 if you are just curious about how this years went. 3y
53 likes13 comments
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Erdnase
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Mehso-so

3.5/5. Döstädning, Swedish for Death Cleaning is particular process of cleaning and organizing our belongings before we die. This book motivated me to clean but the I felt Magnusson's overall message was more for her family. As I grow older, I believe I will gain more insight from this, but pick this if you want a quick read about something unique and you will learn something about Swedish culture, which was pretty cool. #NFN2020

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geodynamical_nonfiction
Pickpick

A short read. Just what I needed to kickstart my efforts to digitize old letters and recipes that I deemed important and toss the unimportant papers.

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jessreadsbooks88
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My TBR pile is starting to look a little obsessive lately...I‘m on a sustainable minimalism kick and can‘t stop.

#currentlyreading #libraryhaul

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freyaheart
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Pickpick

I found this book really helpful. I am still trying to clear out the clutter of living here with my ex for 3 years.

I may need to scale down this cheesecake by a lot...

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Caterina
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My headache from yesterday is still hanging on. Thankfully it's not a migraine and I feel okay when I'm just sitting up in bed reading on my phone/Kindle, but it's driving me a little crazy not to walk. #BFC has got me so active that I can't stand all this sitting around! But when I try to walk my left eye pounds so much that I can't see, so I guess I'll keep reading here. Enjoying this ebook. #BookFitnessChallenge @wanderinglynn

bookandcat Ooh what app are you using to track reading? 5y
bookandcat Feel better! 5y
Caterina @bookandcat Thanks! This is just on Libby, the library book app. 5y
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wanderinglynn Hope you feel better soon! 💚 5y
bookandcat @Caterina oh my library uses CloudLibrary not Overdrive/Libby so I've never seen the Libby app in action! 5y
DivineDiana The weather patterns seem to be affecting headaches. ❤️ 5y
BookwormAHN I hope you feel better 🍀 5y
Caterina @bookandcat I wish it was just a book tracking app that you could use too!! Oh well. The Libby app is lovely. 5y
Caterina @wanderinglynn @DivineDiana @BookwormAHN Thank y'all, I'm finally starting to feel better and will hopefully feel 100% by morning. ❤️ 5y
40 likes9 comments
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Exia
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Exia
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Exia
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Exia
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Exia
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Smrloomis
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Pickpick

I finished this and felt it was a pick as a sort of tiny memoir. It‘s not really a method; it‘s more some entertaining thoughts about how you can and should downsize the amount of stuff you own. Definitely not everyone‘s thing, but I found her voice (as in the writing, not just the narrator) to be charming. And I also liked it as an audiobook.

Smrloomis @j.rye this is how I ended up feeling about it. I also agree with both @thebluestocking and @Pandalibrarian‘s reviews. 5y
thebluestocking Thanks for the tag. Yep. I definitely found her charming but it didn‘t do what it says on the tin. 5y
j.rye Thanks for sharing! 5y
Smrloomis @thebluestocking yes, I think the marketing was a little off the mark with this one. 5y
Smrloomis @j.rye 😁 5y
64 likes5 comments
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Smrloomis
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Charming so far even though it‘s not exactly packed with tips or a method per se.

j.rye You have to share your final thoughts when you‘re done. I‘m really intrigued by the death cleaning bit. 5y
Smrloomis @j.rye will do! But I suspect it‘s going to be entertaining but basically the same thing at the end: don‘t make someone else dispose of all your stuff! 5y
51 likes2 comments
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thebluestocking
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Mehso-so

This book is a somewhat random collection of observations from the no nonsense, aged between 80 to 100, Margareta. While it‘s adorable and short, its advice boils down simply to clean up after yourself before you die so others aren‘t stuck with your mess.

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Pandalibrarian
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A quick read and an enjoyable one. I‘ve also read the Marie Kondo book and like Margareta‘s approach better. I have Gretchen Rubin‘s book “Outer Order Inner Calm” on order so we‘ll see how all three compare. I‘ve been doing a little decluttering and am now inspired to do more.

SW-T Same here. I liked both Marie and Margereta, but I cleared out more after reading Margareta than I did with Marie, and it feels more sustainable. Looking forward to reading Gretchen‘s take. (edited) 5y
21 likes1 comment
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Grrlbrarian
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Uh 😳 This sounds like great advice - but I‘m a bit stunned to receive it from someone who‘s aged between 80 & 100. Also, WHO HAS SIXTEEN... please don‘t answer that. 🤯

Bookladylinda 😂😂😂😂 5y
Annl Haha! 5y
SleepyDragon Reminds me of Talk Sex with Sue Johansson. Also, I guess keep the one that sparks joy? (Sorry, couldn't resist!) 5y
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CouronneDhiver Priorities 🤣🤣🤣 5y
CouronneDhiver I forgot about her! 😂 @NeesyBeth 5y
Grrlbrarian Ah well, I guess that makes a certain kind of sense @NeesyBeth - though I SO DO NOT want Kondo‘s thoughts on the optimal number of devices! 😂 5y
SleepyDragon Hopefully it's less than her idea of optimal number of books ... 5y
41 likes7 comments
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Grrlbrarian
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Margareta Magnusson knows what‘s up. Also, I like this book‘s advice MUCH more than Marie Kondo‘s. 👌

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pocketmermaid
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😮😮😮 I ... was not expecting this. This lady is a riot!

CampbellTaraL 🤣 Stacking this one... 5y
readordierachel 😆😆😆 5y
29 likes1 stack add2 comments
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StellarDoc
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I decided I'd better death clean my freezer. I don't want anyone else to find this chocolat en croute, so I had to bake it today. Right?

MaleficentBookDragon 😂😂😂🤤🤤🤤 5y
26 likes1 comment
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StellarDoc
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"Save your favorite dildo--but throw away the other fifteen!"

I'm laughing so hard at this.

Patchshank 😆 very sound advice 5y
19 likes2 comments
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Laura317
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I wish you could see the full drawing from this book. It‘s lovely.

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Laura317
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I love the quirky drawings in this book. The author is a such a spunky woman. However, I really haven‘t read anything new, other than not leaving a bunch of stuff for others to deal with once you die.

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Laura317
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Started this on Libby this evening. Daughter had her wisdom teeth removed today, so we are staying quiet and reading.

rabbitprincess Hope she feels better and is back on solids soon! I was starving the first day or so after having mine out, because soup wasn't very filling 😕 5y
Laura317 @rabbitprincess Thanks, she‘s feeling much better today. You‘re right - she‘s hungry! 5y
42 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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Samplergal
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She makes excellent points. A quick easy audiobook on ways to get rid of our overwhelming stuff. #2019goals

SW-T She made sense. Definitely stuff to think about. 5y
Samplergal @SW-T I‘m downsizing for the third time. I guess at 63 I can start thinking this is death cleaning. 5y
SW-T Good luck with your downsizing! Not a minimalist by any means but I like having less stuff to worry about, maintain, and keep clean. 5y
Laura317 Wonder how this compares to Konmari? 5y
88 likes4 stack adds4 comments
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ambam1987
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Pickpick

going to master the art of Swedish death cleaning & then I go shopping for all the Joanna things, right?!

CaitZ Sounds like something I'd do 5y
13 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Krisjericho
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Pickpick

I really like this author‘s voice. She is wise and surprisingly funny and hearing from an Swedish lady “somewhere between 80 and 100 years old” about throwing away your extra dildos and only keeping your favorite one is 💯 worth the read alone. Yes, you read that right. I also really appreciated her practical attitude toward the inevitability of death.

Balibee146 This sounds awesome and I love minimalism in most things... Stacked 5y
Smrloomis 😂👍🏽 I wasn‘t going to read this but now I think I might have to! 5y
32 likes3 stack adds2 comments
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DrSabrinaMoldenReads
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Pickpick

This the first Audible Book that I thoroughly enjoyed and will definitely try to find more like it. The content was perfect, fitting with my place in life and current philosophy of life. Finding such treasures is what makes reading so special and awesome, adding great joy to life. This book was highly informative and life-changing during my daily drive. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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LauraJ
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Mehso-so

As someone who doesn‘t own multiple estates and boats, I didn‘t get much out of this book aside from wanting to go to Stockholm next week. Perhaps this is better suited to someone “between 80 and 100” as the author repeatedly refers to herself.

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MaggieCarr
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Pickpick

4☆ one-sitting read

I expected practicality. I didn't expect humor.

Hearing a widow in her 80s talk about keeping only one dildo and getting rid of the rest so your family doesn't find them when you die had me in tears of laughter.

"Training yourself to only look at things instead of buying them is very pleasing and also a good habit. You really can't take everything with you, so maybe it would be better to try not and own it all."

39 likes1 stack add
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LauraJ
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Is it too late to start reading this? Will I be up all night frantically cleaning? 🇸🇪

julesG I'm curious, did you clean all night? 6y
LauraJ @julesG I actually fell asleep reading, which is a rarity. 😴 6y
julesG Is the book that boring? 6y
31 likes3 comments
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atransparenteyeball
Pickpick

A quick and lovely guide to considering how what you leave behind affects others in a way that you can resolve now.

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CKtheLibrarian
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Loved this and want to start death cleaning now! I didn‘t expect to laugh through this book but Margareta is damn witty! Reading a book like this always makes me want to purge contents out of my house that is not needed. Husband—you‘ve been warned.

9 likes1 stack add
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SW-T
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Pickpick

Quick and easy read, with a bit of humor mixed in. Simple reminder that none of us lives forever, to pare down our belongings along the way, and leave notes or discuss what should be done with your things when you‘re gone. Act of love for those you leave behind. #humor #practical

5 likes1 stack add
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SW-T
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“Do not ever imagine that anyone will wish - or be able - to schedule time off to take care of what you didn‘t bother to take care of yourself. No matter how much they love you, don‘t leave this burden to them.” #quote #quoteaboutlife

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Quasifesto
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Mehso-so

Not really a very good book. I finished it. Your mileage may vary. It's not a bad idea, but this is a very old, obviously wealthy woman, that does not recognize her privilege. Also, there is an unnecessary story of her putting down a dog. Short and cohesive, but I found it condescending and obvious.

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CherryPie
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Mehso-so

I like the illustrations. That seems to be my reaction to all of these lifestyle books. 😝 This book is like having a tea date with a pleasant 93 year old neighbor. I didn't learn anything new. I guess I wanted to learn something? I don't know. Nice lady, though. 👍 I didn't want to read about Taxes the dog. Why are people always torturing me with their dog euthanasia tales?

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CherryPie
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Just started it. After cleaning out three inherited estates, I can't believe I'm still interested in the subject.

Leftcoastzen That can be really hard .Done 3 myself all family but only one immediate family. 6y
34 likes1 comment