With Christmas approaching it may also be a good time to consider the post Christmas purge. Purging is what Corinne Grant is all about in her new book Lessons in Letting Go.
Corinne’s got too much “stuff”. And it’s not just a matter of hiring a skip, her attachment to her stuff runs to a much deeper emotional level. This book tracks her physical and emotional journey to attain her de-stuffed ideal.
At the 2007 Melbourne Comedy Festival Corinne presented a show called Have my stuff which was based on the same material covered in the book. Whilst I didn’t see that show, upon re-reading my colleague’s review of the show I get a whiff of why, despite finding the show interesting and friendly he didn’t seem to have much to enthuse about. This book is also friendly and interesting, I would also say enjoyable and occasionally moving. It’s just not really that gripping.
Part of the reason for this may be the lack of cohesion. Some of the stories, such as Corinne’s trip to Bali and her experiences in Jordon don’t sit comfortably within the context of the thematic impetus. Whilst she has contextualised the bulk of events in this book within the space of a year of her life, the constant references to how these events or ideas link directly back to the state of her cupboard often seem forced.
That said, if you are, or know someone who is, a hoarder, then this could certainly be an enjoyable, albeit light, holiday read. And whilst I would have preferred a series of stories or essays without the tenuous connecting link, if you’re not as nitpicky as me you should find this book a lot of fun.