Reviews tagging 'Domestic abuse'

How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing by KC Davis

10 reviews

zydecovivo's review against another edition

informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.0

I’m pretty sure I have heard about this book on TikTok, but seeing it available from my library made me finally put it on hold. I’d like to start by saying this is a useful book. It does what the title says. It gives advice, tips, and reassurance to people who are struggling with keeping up with home chores. The author is both a therapist and a fellow struggler of housekeeping, so she combines personal anecdotes with the outside-the-box therapist ways of thinking (also known as “OMG you’re right that is a stupid rule/custom/thought/box I’ve put myself into”). There is also a section on hair care in which the author asks a black therapist with coily hair for advice on caring for her hair type, which I thought was a nice touch. 

I just finished the audiobook version. And while I was able to listen to the information and finish the book quickly, I don’t think the audiobook is helpful if you need this book as a reference. Making a highlight in an audiobook requires rewinding and stopping whatever else you’re working on (a similar hurdle is mentioned in the book with cleaning). And if you are intending to listen and put the author’s advice into practice right away, you will quickly get overwhelmed. It’s better to find a passage that resonates with you, read, plan, and execute. And I can’t see myself returning to listen to a passage again and again without text. I would recommend reading the digital or print versions if you are reading for knowledge and not just entertainment. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness and Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Child abuse and Domestic abuse

lexa's review against another edition

4.0

Lots of repetition of the fact that care tasks are morally neutral. Which is fine because it’s true. A few good tips. Overall, beneficial short read. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Racism, Domestic abuse, Cursing, and Mental illness

majestictrilobite's review

hopeful informative inspiring fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Domestic abuse and Child abuse

kimveach's review

hopeful informative inspiring reflective fast-paced

5.0

I picked this little book at the library because the title intrigued me.  It's an intriguing way to look at taking care of your house and yourself, especially if you are struggling.  This book teaches you to reframe how you look at "care" tasks (hygiene, cleaning, cooking, etc.).   This book would help anyone who is temporarily struggling (grief, depression, illness, injury), as well as those who are permanently struggling (ADHD, disability, chronic disease, being a caretaker.)

At first, some of the suggestions were the same as most self-help books (do tasks the night before to set yourself up for a good day, put on music to clean).  Still, others were out of the box (too tired to empty the dishwasher - take out the few things you need now, add the few that must be cleaned, and rerun the dishwasher.)

This book would be helpful for those struggling, but I think it could be even more useful for someone who knows a person struggling.  It would give them concrete ways to help the person without shaming them about the state of their home or self.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Ableism, Abandonment, Bullying, Chronic illness, Addiction, Child abuse, Cursing, Body shaming, Grief, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Physical abuse

gewaechshausgeist's review against another edition

hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness

Minor: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Eating disorder, and Addiction

krisalexcole's review

informative fast-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Addiction, Pregnancy, and Chronic illness

Minor: Cursing

pineapple_queen's review against another edition

reflective fast-paced

3.5

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Content Warnings

Minor: Ableism, Domestic abuse, Addiction, Fatphobia, Child abuse, Grief, Body shaming, and Drug abuse

shanzy12's review

funny hopeful informative inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

5.0

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Content Warnings

Minor: Mental illness, Chronic illness, Excrement, Blood, Ableism, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse

for_esme_with_love's review against another edition

emotional informative reflective fast-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Ableism

Moderate: Body shaming, Grief, Sexism, Bullying, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Addiction, Chronic illness, and Emotional abuse

Minor: Excrement

Davis discusses the above, but does not perpetuate the above “isms”

flordemaga's review against another edition

emotional hopeful informative medium-paced

5.0

The kind, logical, and compassionate tone of this book is completely worth it. I will read, and re-read, and re-read. 
Chores—care tasks—are morally neutral. Not being able to keep up is not a moral failing. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Emotional abuse and Domestic abuse