Published 2017 | Self-help
Margareta Magnusson’s ‘Dostadning’ shares the Swedish concept of ‘death cleaning’ and is a useful book to have, even if it’s just tips that can also help with decluttering.
‘A sweet and wise little book’, that’s what the New York Times called it, and I agree. I came across this book at a time when I had – desperately – been scouring the internet for solutions to ways to convince my mother to clean up. She is a habitual hoarder who has saved everything – from gift boxes that came our way over 15 years ago, to frying pan sets and of course the usual photos, baby clothes etc. And considering I hoard books, because “what if there is an apocalypse and I have all the time in the world,” the best part is that I took a break from the commentary.
The internet mentioned this book in the series of suggestions and I was captivated by the musically assertive sounding word – “Dostadning”. When I read the blurb, I was intrigued.
The crux
Margareta Magnussion’s book is not a preachy, morbid book in which death is lamented. Instead, it treats death as a fact of life, which, despite its heartbreaking nature, it is. The author – who is a professional ‘death cleaner’ – advocates the idea of taking care of your belongings, to ensure, among other things, that what you value goes to a person or place that appreciates it, and that your immediate family or loved ones do not have that. to bear the burden of sorting out your things after you’ve moved on.
After the first introductory chapters, the author has divided the chapters according to the things that are part of life and need to be covered later: artifacts and items, trinkets and photos, pets, clothes, and more. The author downplays the seriousness by alternating her suggestions with examples from her life, with memories of her own death cleansing, both personal and professional.
To read or not to read
What strikes me about this particular talk is that the tips she provided are practical enough that they don’t have to be relegated solely to the concept of clearing death. These tips will come in handy if you’re changing homes, moving to another city/country or downsizing/decluttering, as can clearly be seen in the photo above – note the number of stickers sticking out of the book! I recommend this book to those looking for such practical tips and have added it to the pile of books my mother should be reading by her bedside.
However, I would also add a ‘trigger’ label to this particular book for those who have seen death up close – it can bring back memories that are not necessarily good, it can remind you of moments of sadness that can lead to you in despair. That is in no way the intention of this book, but it does not take into account the unpredictability of the human mind and emotions, so I would encourage those who continue to struggle with the concept of death to take the time to read this book. or not at all.
PS Available to borrow from fellow bibliophiles in Ahmedabad.
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Reference By: fromthecornertable.in
