Books Sparking Joy: Escape Into Cottagecore: Embrace Cosy Countryside Comfort in Your Everyday by Ramona Jones
This is a beautiful little book that has echoes of Marie Kondo’s Kurashi at Home and The Little Book of Hygge by Meik Wiking. It’s a beginning look at Cottagecore that may help you visualize your ideal lifestyle. A very quick read (I finished in a day), it has lovely glowing photos, recipes, and a wide variety of tips to bring the British cottage look into your own home and life. I appreciated the encouragement to thrift, buy locally, and live more sustainably. It is queer friendly, acknowledging the LGBTQ+ community in the rise of Cottagecore.
I enjoyed the passages about slowing down and being more mindful in everyday living, much like Kurashi and Hygge. There are chapters on shopping for vintage items that may be better crafted than today’s disposable goods and their sustainability by virtue of being reused. There are chapters on everything from gardening and herbs to magick and enchantment. There are even tips on photography when you want to share beautiful moments on social media.
One part of the book I especially appreciated is the section for journaling in the back, with prompts like “What will you let go of today?” and “Describe a time when you felt truly at peace”. These feel like perfect questions for KonMari students to use in honing in on your ideal lifestyle.
And I love this quote: “There is a place between minimalism and consumerism where we may buy just enough (from small businesses or ethical brands), cherish our belongings, repair our damaged goods, pot plants for pollinators, follow more plant-based and seasonal diets, and share things when we no longer have a use for them.” Part of the KonMari philosophy is about caring for our belongings so they can take care of us and letting go when their time with us is over. Even if you have a house full of items, as long as they Spark Joy and you are mindful about their place in your life they will never be clutter.
Escape Into Cottagecore: Embrace Cozy Countryside Comfort in Your Everyday by Ramona Jones, Union Square & Co., ISBN: 9781454944430
