The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson

Hi my fellow bookworms!

(c) Scribner, 2018

Earlier this year, I read The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning: How to Free Yourself and Your Family from a Lifetime of Clutter by Margareta Magnusson. I was under the impression it would help motivate me to clean up my home, similar to reading or watching Marie Kondo. Instead, the book took a more solemn approach to cleaning - one that cleans not only for yourself, but to rid yourself of items that your descendants (or others) will not want or have to clean up after you pass on. What a sad topic!

While an interesting, yet kind of depressing read, I did take note, however, that in the book was mentioned a tradition in Stockholm that takes place on the 14th of August. Annually, there is a large book sale that takes place in the center of the city, featuring street-wide tables with books that people want to pass onto new owners. I love this idea! A great way to offload books that no longer spark joy to you or have relevance in your life, and also a great way to find more books that interest you! 

(c) Visit Stockholm, 2023

I looked more into the festival and am not sure if this is a resident-only event, but there is an annual Book Weekend called Stockholm's Bookmässa. According to the International League of Ancient Libraries, the tradition of an annual antiquarian book fair dates back to the late 1950's, hosted in the halls of the Academy of Arts. The Instagram for the City Stockholm states that this annual, long-awaited national literary tradition occurs in late February to early March. If you plan to visit Stockholm to browse their book sale, plan to go around then, as it looks like it is a blast!

If you are interested in reading this self-help / motivational book, find it at your local library, bookstore, or online. It recently became a TV show hosted on Peacock last year, if you are interested in giving it a watch after (or before - I won't judge) reading it. She also wrote a sequel, titled The Swedish Art of Aging Exuberantly. While I enjoyed the first book, I'm not sure if I will visit the sequel any time soon. (I am craving happier reads as we near the fall season.)

What have you been up to? Any fun, new reads to share?

Until next time - Happy Reading! :)

(c) Margareta Magnusson,2022

About the Author: Margareta Magnusson

Margareta Magnusson is, in her own words, aged between 80 and 100. Born in Sweden, she has lived all over the world. Margareta graduated from Beckman’s College of Design and her art has been exhibited in galleries from Hong Kong to Singapore. She has five children and lives in Stockholm. She is the author of The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning and The Swedish Art of Aging Exuberantly.

Those End-of-Summer Days

Hello my fellow bookworms!

This summer has been flying by way too fast! Has it been the same for you? I feel like I haven't had a chance to just sit down and read a book, just fly from work to school application research and back!

I have not yet had the chance to sit down and read/write a review, so please take a look at the following bookish links I thought you would like to see:

• Peacock is going to have a Pride & Prejudice-themed dating show! They are taking applications for those interested, so test out your luck here! Maybe you'll find your Mr. Darcy!
  

• Harlequin is hosting a promotion with Postable where you can send out free cards to your friends! You can choose from romantic cards or happy birthday wishes. They send out pretty quick, too! 

  

  (c) 2021 Once Upon A Book Blog(ger)
  

  
  

• I love my local library, don't you? They have the cutest decorations and displays, along with the newest books!
  

• Have you gone on a summer vacation yet? Or are you one of the many where a vacation never seems to quite happen? Penguin House Books has a list of books to bring you on a summer adventure right from your own home/backyard. Barnes & Noble has a list of summer books, as well, to bring you outdoor adventures or new hobbies to explore. 
  

• If you have been following me long enough, I wrote my own post on traveling the United States with books! Goodreads has their own list of books from each state for this year, if you are interested.  
  

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  (c) 2021 Once Upon A Book Blog(ger)
  

  I also love random book sales when visiting large cities. It is so refreshing to see literature capturing all those who pass by, as well as those enthralled in the literature purchased!
  

• Everyone's lovable bear is getting a prequel! Winnie the Pooh has an authorized prequel called Once There Was A Bear, to be written by Jane Riordan, and illustrated by Mark Burgess. It will be in the style of the original author A. A. Milne. I was lucky enough to see the original Winnie the Pooh characters at the New York Public Library, which you can see here on my past blog post!
  

What have you been up to this summer? Have you been able to read any of the books you set out to read, or are you behind, as I am? I have quite a pile built up, so I hope in the upcoming month I can sit down and enjoy some "me" time! :)

 Current # of books read (out of my 50 book goal for the year): 19

Until next time - stay safe, enjoy the dog days of summer, and happy reading!