Mixed feelings! On the one hand I have wanted to love this short essays collection about the things much, because I am an unashamed lover of things. The authoress covers a wide range of factors that we associate with things from their sensoric qualities (do you feel your keyboard/mobile phone screen now?) to all the feelings less or more complicated. Because we are in contacts with the physical objects all our life - some we simply use, some comforts us, some define us, some come as an result - or a way to - our desires; and some we will simply leave here on this Earth when our time comes.
And yes, the authoress can touch many of the factors and emotions of how our lives with things are.
Yet, there is some almost “scientific”, essayistic approach with many cultural references and citations which takes off some of the honesty. Because there needs to be honesty when speaking about such complex issues as “promises” are. The quantity of the references adds the “well-researched” factor, but takes off some of the authenticity.

Yet, some of the reflections has helped me to renew some of my goals, even - if we can call my hair a thing?;) As I was always keen on trying this new hairdo, which associates with sophistication...;).
Yes, this is it. The multifaceted promises of things.

In The Promise of Things, Ruth Quibell gives us a fascinating meditation on the stuff of life, the things that occupy our space and attach themselves to our souls in obvious and not so obvious ways. Equal parts psychological probe and narrative prose, my takeaway from this book is to stop and really see what's in my line of sight on a daily basis. Things say much about who we are if we are willing to listen.

This essay on materialism and consumption prompts the "shopping-manic" in me to wonder why the need to have things. Great thinking piece for group discussions and writing assignments. Highly recommend for any age, any group, and any time.