DIRT: The Quirks, Habits, and Passions of Keeping House

When the book DIRT came my way, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. A series of how to essays? Tales of obsessive cleanliness or dusty slovenliness? Either way, I was intrigued.

In the interests of full disclosure, I should mention I am one of those people who owns Cheryl Mendelson's Home Comforts. If you don't know of the book, never mind; for those of you who have it, you get the drift.

Dirt sat on my desk for awhile until one day I cracked it open and spent every available moment for the next two days immersed in this collection of stories. I got my tales of obsession and slovenliness, and a whole lot more.

The essays cover family, love, death, grief, health, mental illness, race, gender, marriage, divorce and everything in between, all seen through the prism of how we keep house, or why we don't. I laughed at some of the stories, others nearly broke my heart, but every one made me think about some aspect of my life.

Dirt is an amazing little book and a must read for anyone who's ever ditched Saturday chores as a kid only to look longingly at that expensive vacuum as an adult.  I think the book is worth buying just for this line from one of the essays: "I know I am not the only woman who cleans as she sobs in the night."

On a lighter note, Dirt also rekindled my passion for Murphy's Oil Soap, with lovely smelling results.

Published by Seal Press. Available at bookstores and at Amazon