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Petra in Tokyo's Reviews > The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
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Petra in Tokyo's review
bookshelves: books-reviewed-but-not-read, 2015-reviews, misc-reference, humour, reviewed
Sep 11, 2015
bookshelves: books-reviewed-but-not-read, 2015-reviews, misc-reference, humour, reviewed
I so agree that it is life-changing magic when everything has been tidied up. But I don't need to read the book as I already have this magic. Her name is Cynthia and she comes every other Thursday morning.
Admittedly she costs a "bit" more than this book and wants a computer lesson during her time but she Fabuloso's my floors, the airing cupboard is stacked with neatly-folded linens and once in a while we go at a place (like my son's room) that lacks 'magic' and garbage-bag everything. This is a boring job alone and I can't bear to throw things away. But Cynthia can. She has no emotional attachment to anything and couldn't care less if my son might object to having something or other thrown away. Not that he ever remembers when he comes back from college.
I bet you with all the money the sales of this book engenders that the author will no longer be cleaning and tidying up her house herself but also get a magic Cynthia of her own.
Admittedly she costs a "bit" more than this book and wants a computer lesson during her time but she Fabuloso's my floors, the airing cupboard is stacked with neatly-folded linens and once in a while we go at a place (like my son's room) that lacks 'magic' and garbage-bag everything. This is a boring job alone and I can't bear to throw things away. But Cynthia can. She has no emotional attachment to anything and couldn't care less if my son might object to having something or other thrown away. Not that he ever remembers when he comes back from college.
I bet you with all the money the sales of this book engenders that the author will no longer be cleaning and tidying up her house herself but also get a magic Cynthia of her own.
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Reading Progress
Started Reading
September 11, 2015
– Shelved
September 11, 2015
– Shelved as:
books-reviewed-but-not-read
September 11, 2015
– Shelved as:
books-reviewed-but-not-read
September 11, 2015
– Shelved as:
2015-reviews
September 11, 2015
– Shelved as:
misc-reference
September 11, 2015
– Shelved as:
humour
September 11, 2015
– Shelved as:
reviewed
September 11, 2015
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Canadian Jen
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Sep 11, 2015 07:41AM
Too funny - and true!
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Cynthia truly does sound magical lol.
Deanna wrote: "Great review Petra :)"Not so much a review as yet another anecdote!
Great anecdote! I'm a chucker by the way!!!
There's something magic in taking care of a cleaning chore long ignored. 'So that's what that counter looks like clean and crumb-free.'
I have 2, but neither is named Cynthia. They are both Hungarian, work together, and only take half as long. For a heavy task, like turning a mattress, they don't need my help.
My partner got me this book, but I am an unorganised German with a penchant for hoarding books and stacking them on the floor, so the book is nowhere to be found at present (accidentally on purpose, ha, ha, ha).
Books always 'bring magic' though, so no need to tidy them up or ever throw them out. The book realised this and is hiding it's head in shame.
Petra X wrote: "Books always 'bring magic' though, so no need to tidy them up or ever throw them out. The book realised this and is hiding it's head in shame."I like that!
Petra X wrote: "Books always 'bring magic' though, so no need to tidy them up or ever throw them out. The book realised this and is hiding it's head in shame."Ha. True! Apparenly this isn't what the author believes, though - a relative of mine read this one and practically the first thing she told me afterwards was to stop hoarding books.
Scylla wrote: "Petra X wrote: "Books always 'bring magic' though, so no need to tidy them up or ever throw them out. The book realised this and is hiding it's head in shame."Ha. True! Apparenly this isn't what ..."
Better not let any of my relatives read this book, then.
My brother hates books. He thinks they spoil the look of a house so my SIL has to put hers in a plastic drawer under the bed.
Petra X wrote: "My brother hates books. He thinks they spoil the look of a house so my SIL has to put hers in a plastic drawer under the bed."I would refuse to do that.
Petra X wrote: "My brother hates books. He thinks they spoil the look of a house so my SIL has to put hers in a plastic drawer under the bed."I would need a bloody enormous and very high bed!
Petra X wrote: "Cecily wrote: "I would need a bloody enormous and very high bed! "Yeah, the upstairs of a bunk, the rest devoted to books.
@Gundula. My SIL's main hobby is spending money on clothes, shoes and a..."
big difference, and I bet her taste in books would not mesh with mine
No it definitely wouldn't Gundula. She likes beach reads, Grisham, Patterson, that sort of thing. I think maybe romances too but not to sure about that. Not your taste at all.
Great review! I've read and applied some other self-help tidying up books but completely agree that Cynthia offers a far more practical route. ;)
She's a bit expensive and argumentative though and would like to get rid of all my books as she thinks all they do is collect spiders' webs and piles of dust from common hen.
Nina wrote: "I too need a Cynthia."And Cynthia needs a Green Card :-)
Mine is called Alka. ;)
Kavita wrote: "Mine is called Alka. ;)"I lost my Cynthia :-( She found some things of mine that she thought would spark magic in her own home. She didn't ask first.
I doubt the author has someone tidy for her because I think throwing away stuff is like a drug addiction for her. I bet she buys stuff just so she can throw it away later! haha Can you imagine the scandal if anyone found out too? I like the book though and like the way she presents her theories.
Petra X wrote: "I lost my Cynthia :-( She found some things of mine that she thought would spark magic in her own home. She didn't ask first."Ouch! That's always a risk, I guess.
So funny - I think that there's more to it than that - and I think there's a massive cultural component.If you have already got your shit together and can live comfortably in a van, on a yacht or a tiny house -- you don't need this book. You could probably write this book!
People stuck in consumer cultures like Japan and the US - need this book. My landlord who hoards boxes full of empty plastic containers (anyone need empty 1 gallon Round-Up jugs? (I wish I was kidding)) needs this book. My friend who hasn't unpacked his floor-to-ceiling boxes from his downsizing from a 2 bedroom to junior 1 bedroom apartment in 2007 needs this book. A Cynthia would just dust around it and say "pay me" rather than deal with the traumatic wails and gnashing of teeth engendered by the thought of getting rid of those treasures! :)
Jenn wrote: "My landlord who hoards boxes full of empty plastic containers..."There is a UK tv programme about people with OCD for cleaning being matched up with hoarders, especially really dirty ones. Complementary mental disorders!
Petra Eggs wrote: "Jenn wrote: "My landlord who hoards boxes full of empty plastic containers..."There is a UK tv programme about people with OCD for cleaning being matched up with hoarders, especially really dirty ones. Complementary mental disorders! "
OMG! That's brilliant! What's it called? I must see it! LOL!
The show is called, . That's a link to the series'. The cleaners are really obsessive not just for the sake of the show. The hoarders are overwhelmed, overwhelming and generally really filthy too. Match made in heaven.
I lost my Cynthia and haven't been able to replace her. Consequently my house is a bit dirty and somewhat disorganised. And you know what? I don't care! I have so many more important things to be stressed out about. I just don't invite people home :-) (Not that I ever did much anyway).
