The Year of Less

This memoir by the 20-something Flanders, a former binge consumer, reflects on the interconnectedness of her addictions to alcohol, food, and shopping. In it she documents her year of living with a self-imposed shopping ban. This listen is not for those seeking a Kondo-like instruction manual on how to have less--Flanders's story is more personal. One is engaged by her overall vulnerability and curiosity about her experiment--buy nothing except groceries, toiletries, and gas; cast off many unnecessary objects. As narrator, Flanders has a somewhat limited expressive range in communicating the highs and lows of her journey; she can sound a bit subdued. Still, what she lacks in vocal variety is outweighed by hearing her deliver these provocative reflections and observations. J.C.G. � AudioFile 2018, Portland, Maine