There's a Clydesdale in the Attic: Reflections on Keeping and Letting Go Paperback – January 26, 2022

This book is delightful. Donna Cronk has such a way with words. She is able to pull you in so you feel like you are right there with her. I love how she reminisces and the life lessons that are interwoven throughout. She made me remember things in my own life that I had forgotten about, like my hope chest. She reminds us to always look for the blessings.

Donna Cronk has a unique writing voice that is witty and compelling. It will keep you reading her new book, There's a Clydesdale in the Attic. Though there is no actual Clydesdale in her attic, there are objects rare and interesting that need to be addressed; keep, give away, or throw out. Since I am in the same dilemma at this stage of my life, reading her book was not only amusing but very helpful in my own need to clean out years of stuff I have saved.Donna's wisdom and humor were evident throughout the book, and I looked forward to each chapter. Even the book club questions in the back made me think deeper about items I own and have saved over the years. We absolutely cannot take anything with us when we leave this world except the people God has used us to lead to the Lord with our words and actions. Donna will never know until eternity how many people were encouraged or changed by her words in this book. Read them and see for yourself. I highly recommend There's a Clydesdale in the Attic.

I love to read but reserve my limited amount of free time for those books that are able to grab my attention within the first chapter. I'm thrilled to report that I'm on chapter 8 already. As I've read this book, memories started coming to mind and had me visiting some of my own collections. The author puts such a great spin on the art of decluttering. As I clean out my own collections, this book has inspired me to not go through them in a hurry, but to celebrate the memories they conjure. I now look forward to my journey down memory lane as I once again try to downsize. Thanks, Donna Cronk, for sharing this perspective of decluttering, without it I might have missed the memories.

From the very first page, “There’s a Clydesdale in the Attic” drew me in and carried me along. Author Donna Cronk takes us on a journey of cleaning out her attic, describing the items she comes across in addition to sharing her memories of what she finds. Many who’ve grown up in the Midwest, in the 60s and 70s especially, will relate to Cronk’s stories.This isn’t a decluttering book so much as a call to action for anyone who has too much stuff and wants some practical help to determine what they should keep, guided by someone who has gone through it themselves.An experienced newspaper columnist, Cronk writes in an enjoyable, conversational style, with some humor sprinkled in. It’s a fun read and it might even inspire you to tackle what’s hidden in your own attic.

This took me back to a simpler, gentler, probably more naïve time in my life. As Donna so beautifully described the situations and back stories of certain prized objects, it was easy to relate. The sleeping bag, the boxes, all that shredded paper, oh, and the hands on address book—yes, I get it! And Donna came up with a new word I absolutely love—“ansisters “! Along with wonderful stories, Donna shares ideas and good advice, always keeping people before things. I didn’t want to get to the last page! This book made my heart happy! Sue Bellman

Again, Donna has a hit! It’s like reading my own stories, so similar. It’s good to know others go through these same issues. What to keep, donate or just trash. Her other 2 books were fiction, and I want more of those, but this was a nice change. Donna just had a way of spinning her tales, I laugh and cry plus reminisce of my own boxes and tubs that I also need to sort through. Will this be my year to sort “stuff”?

You will find that the author knows just how to take you on an adventure in her attic and in her memories. We all find ourselves in that very place at sometime in our life. Sorting through "stuff" brings back memories that hug out heart. Donna Cronk knows how to take you on a fascinating trip down our own memory lane. Deciding whether to keep the Clydesdale in the attic is our biggest challenge. We aren't getting rid of just "stuff" but a bit of our own story. Very enjoyable read!

Very few books I’ve read in my lifetime have made me laugh and cry while reading the same page. There’s a Clydesdale in the Attic is a very heart felt book. I almost felt as if I was right beside Donna as she went through the treasures in her attic. Would I have put back all the things Donna did? Probably.