Compelling narration by Juliet Stevenson. She gently reminds us they are not the same! I laughed, cried and got on with the task at hand. She is so astute on the relationship of a life to ones possessions. It is also a memoir concerning her own loss and this thread that runs through the whole makes this an intense and moving experience to listen to. She writes thoughtfully about the giving of gifts across generations. She deals well with how to negotiate the minefield of personal possessions such as photos and letters. The writer is a really interesting person and her background as an artist and mother underpins her insights, stories and suggestions. Not at all boring as one review suggested but rather meditative and philosophical about the practicalities of preparing for the leaving of life and for the ongoing renegotiation of how to live with less. I don't fit this age bracket - I am in my 40s - but I thought this was an unusual book that was so refreshing to find in the midst of the dumbed down 'get a trash bag and a donate box and begin' field of offerings. It is aimed at the over 65s who are gently encouraged to think about what will become of their stuff when they are no longer around. It was recommended to me by a poet friend. I listened to this as I tried to solve the waves of clutter that have built up in my house over the years and found it a strangely moving and practical book. I laughed, cried and got on with the task at hand.
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