Doug Richmond

Many years ago, I was helping a hoarder clean her apartment, and at some point we stumbled upon a box filled with copies of this book. The hoarder lady had kept these books because she found the promise of the title very alluring, as she desperately wanted to escape the literal mess that she had accrued around herself over the years.

I can't remember if I managed to get the box out of the building, but I did take one copy home. Now, after many years, as I am cleaning out my own bookshelves, I decided to read it. That trimming is necessary because, although I'd rather not admit it, I fear that I am at risk of becoming a borderline hoarder myself.

The book, with its escape fantasy inducing title, is certainly interesting, well-written, funny and generally an enjoyable read. Doug Richmond is (was?) a proficient storyteller. The book is obviously very outdated (hello, internet!) and has, even for the late 1980s, quite stereotypical views of people and women in particular. Only read this book if you are intrigued by its premise and see it as a fascinating window into a different period. You will not actually be able to use most of what is thought here to disappear in this modern day and age.… (altro)