This is the latest in the clutter/cleaning/hoarding books. This author previously wrote The Year of no Sugar where she apparently changed everything for herself and her family by not consuming sugar. I cannot even imagine doing this, but I digress.
Eve had a problem. It was a large upstairs room known as the Hell Room. It was totally hoarded up with stuff. Her project for the book was to clean this room and write about it. The writing she did was very effective and really dug into the reasons for keeping many different types of things. Her actual experience of cleaning out the room was quite challenging to her and she finally published the book without the room being entirely "finished". She also explores her past and how her parents contribute to her hoard - literally. She helps her father deal with his hoarded house and returns home with trunks of photos. Her mother downsizes, but "gives" her many, many things that Eve then has to deal with in addition to her own project.
Her reflections are the real treasure in the book. It really puts in words on the page how many people may feel about the "stuff" in their lives. She also references Marie Kondo, founder of the Kondo method of organization. Many readers have read about the Kondo method and how few items that author keeps. Few can do this. Eve Schaub is a realist. She knows her limitations and she really examines what it means to keep things and the struggle it is to find the "right" place for unwanted items to go. This is where she really connects with the reader; in her struggle. It is a really interesting and fun book. (Now, I'm trying hard not to buy it.)
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