Library Notes 23 January 2019
Published on January 23, 2019
Top 10 books
Top 10 books
New Fiction
A World on Fire by James Heneage
Country by Michael Hughes
Blessed be the Wicked by D A Bartley
The Shortest Way Home by Miriam Parker
All Among the Barley by Melissa Harrison
Daughter of the Dales by Diane Allen
VOX by Christina Dalcher
Cooper’s Charm by Lori Foster
HIM by Clare Empson
The Killer You Know by S R Masters
The reluctant minimalist
Pam Coleman Community Engagement Librarian
Kondo-mania has hit New Zealand thanks to the Netflix series, “Tidying Up with Marie Kondo.” If you have not heard of her, her books, “The Life Changing Magic of Tidying,” and “Spark Joy; an illustrated guide to the Japanese Art of tidying,’ are both available from the library. Her approach to decluttering your home is a novel one concentrating on keeping things which bring joy to your life. The programme has sparked controversy among book lovers with huge debate about her recommendation to purge those beloved bookshelves.
Like many people I am fascinated by the idea of living a less materialistic, consumer driven life. There are many self-help books out there which give advice on how to keep your life free of excess stuff, unburden your mind from that weight, and help you to save money and focus on that which is really valuable.
In “Goodbye Things,” Fumio Sasaki writes about being an enlightened minimalist. He claims he is no expert or organizing guru like Marie Kondo―he’s just a regular guy who was stressed out and constantly comparing himself to others, until one day he decided to change his life by saying goodbye to everything he didn’t absolutely need, including a huge library of books. In “Goodbye, Things,” Sasaki shares his experience, offering specific tips on the minimizing process and revealing how the new minimalist movement can not only transform your space but truly enrich your life. His approach is extreme but he does try to offer examples of different, less radical approaches to minimalism.
“Goodbye Things,” raised a few questions for me; it can be one of those things that can be taken too far. Minimalists argue that if they get rid of something, and then need it later, they’ll just buy it again. Dispose and replace, repeat and repeat. Ah, what fleeting luxury. Often books come with associated memories. Others are just blooming good reads. It’s a useful exercise to clear the cobwebs from your bookshelves once in a while, but don’t let anyone talk you into getting rid of your books if you don’t want to, read or unread.
There’s nothing like opening up a book, old or new. Librarians often talk about the smell and feel of a book (that’s a whole other column). Luckily in New Zealand we are fortunate to have libraries so whether you have your own bookshelves or not, there is no excuse not to have your nose in a good book.
What’s on
Ngā Hau Ngākau by Robin Slow, Brian Flintoff and Bob Bickerton: Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, Friday, December 21 to Sunday, February 3
Photographs of here, there and other things, Paul Knight: Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō, From Friday January 18
Heritage Room in Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō: The Heritage Room has a volunteer available Monday-Saturday from 10am-12.30pm.
Wednesday January 24
Crochet Club 10:30am to 12:00pm
Thursday January 25
Lego Club 3:30pm to 5:00pm Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom
Tuesday January 29
Stepping Up: Employment Readiness 10am – 12pm Te Takeretanga o Kura-hau-pō
Wednesday January 30
Crochet Club 10:30am to 12:00pm