49 Cottagecore Books to Add to Your Reading List
Most likely sprung from a mixture of desire to soothe the anxiety wrought from the pandemic, and our time spent at home, cottagecore emerged as both an aesthetic and a lifestyle in 2020. As of April 2024, it seems unlikely to slow down. For history dorks like me, this should come as no surprise. A return to pastoralism in the wake of technological advancement has marked human behavior for literal centuries. King George III famously had a farm where he and his wife could go and pretend to be peasant farmers. Cottagecore is defined by a desire to commune with nature - slowing down, making things by hand, and is distinctly influenced by traditional English imagery (though it is not solely the domain of English culture). If you're seeking out reading materials to inject some quaint vibes, look no further than these quintessentially cottagecore books.
Certain genres tend to lend themselves to cottagecore - images of rose gardens, thatched cottages, fresh-baked bread and linen shifts often crop up in romance, classic literature, and fantasy. Over the past few years cozy fantasy has emerged as a subgenre designed to lower the stakes and raise the atmosphere while keeping the magic and mischief. As the movement has grown, both classic and newly written materials can help guide you on a cottagecore journey. Whether you decide to homestead, or just wear more rose prints, check out these books.
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How Did I Decide a Book is “Cottagecore”?
While clear aesthetic ties bind cottagecore, exemplifying an aesthetic in book form presents more of a challenge. I didn’t want this list to only focus on books with historical or fantastical themes, despite the clear historical influences on the movement. A few ties bind these books: they must include a rural or pastoral setting of some kind, they must delight in the joyful mundanities of life like food and gardening, and they must exist in a suspended reality generally uninfluenced by recent technology like the Internet and smart phones. Bonus points for magic or talking animals.
Some books bend these rules a smidge, but the writing and the atmosphere stand with equal importance to the concrete factors above. A mention of social media is less important than sweeping scenes of the countryside, for example. All of these books share comfort, nostalgia, and a dedication to a slower pace of life.
Jump to a Genre:
Cozy Fantasy and Fantasy Cottagecore Books
Garden Spells by Sarah Addison Allen
In the small town of Bascom, North Carolina, the Waverley sisters have always been, different. For one thing, there’s the huge Victorian house they live in that seems to have a personality of its own. There’s the apple tree in the backyard known for its indiscriminate apple-flinging. And there’s Claire Waverley’s uncanny ability to imbue the food she makes with love, good luck, or whatever else her clients need. When Claire’s chaotic sister Sydney returns, daughter in tow, the Waverley women must confront their pasts to move forward - together. This beautiful, slow book reads like a shy daydream in a way you can’t put down.
Emily Wilde's Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
The youngest professor of dryadology at Cambridge University, Emily Wilde, has spent the better part of the last decade working on the world’s first encyclopedia of the folk. Meticulous, introverted, and, well, a bit set in her ways, Emily does not endear herself to the locals at her final research post of Hrafnsvik. When her charming colleague, Wendall, sweeps into the Scandinavian village, he drives a bargain that Emily can’t refuse, but which she doesn’t agree to happily. Full of charming fairy lore and Emily’s wry wit, you’ll wish fairies were real over and over again while reading this.
Stardust by Neil Gaiman
Young Tristan Thorn has spent all of his 18 years in the village of Wall, a largely unremarkable place except for the passage that opens up to a fairy market every 9 years. Smitten with the beautiful Victoria Forester, Tristan sees a star fall from the sky, and realizes his chance to wine her heart with a gallant deed. He sets off behind the wall to rescue the star, meeting three ancient witches, three feuding princes, a unicorn, and more in his quest to bring Yvaine, the star, back to Wall. A fresh new story that reads like a classic fairy tale, Stardust enchants all who cross its path.
Weyward by Emilia Hart
Three related witches, in three parallel timelines, struggle for independence, happiness, and peace in a world that actively seeks to oppress them. In 1619, Altha has been accused of witchcraft when her neighbor’s cattle herd tramples him to death. In 1942, Violet knows she’s different; she longs for a life outside of her parents’ dusty estate, but can’t find it. And in 2019, newly pregnant and terrified, Kate flees London, and her abusive ex-boyfriend, by night and ends up at her family’s ancestral cottage. As each woman tests the limits of her own power, she learns much more about herself than magic. This book has a delightfully earthy quality; you can practically smell the rich summer soil.
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
After growing up in a town that hated them for being different, watching desperate women throw themselves at their aunts’ back door, the Owens sisters resolve to be different. For solid, dependable Sally, that means moving her daughters to the suburban thrum of Long Island after her husband’s death. For flighty, restless Gillian, that means moving out west, and moving from man to man. When Gillian shows up on Sally’s stoop - dead boyfriend in tow - they must confront the power they’ve always run from. The whole book is written like your older sister whispering a bedtime story, and though it’s mostly urban, it’s filled with delicious descriptions of plants and animals.
The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune
A bureaucrat to the core, Linus Baker has never even approached rocking the boat in his job at the Department in Charge of Magical Youth. Though he’s intimidated by the special case in a town he’s never heard of, Linus’s pencil-pushing attitude prevents further questions. But when he arrives at the house to inspect the children’s living conditions, Linus’s unfailing loyalty to the department, and his very worldview, are tested by the charming, challenging, marvelous children there. Delightful and loving, this book is like a Pixar movie. In fact, if anyone knows someone at Disney…
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
Mika Moon’s life has been guided by three very simple truths: 1) she is a witch 2) all witches are orphans and 3) she must only convene with other witches once every three months at a meeting she has mentally dubbed “The Very Secret Society of Witches.” Besides being brought from India by an elderly witch named Primrose who sees to her material needs, Mika has largely grown up alone. That’s until she gets a mysterious DM from an elderly man named Ian, one that goes against everything she knows…but which she somehow feels may change her life for the better. This sweet tale of found family is big on charm and delightful characters.
Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan
Xingyin should not exist. The daughter of the moon goddess and the famed archer Hou Ye the powerful gods that keep her mother in an eternal palace on the moon don’t know she was born. When she accidentally releases a powerful burst of magic, drawing the emperor’s attention, Xingyin must escape the only home she’s ever known, and make a life on earth. This book’s cottagecore vibe comes not from an anglo-centric image of a cottage, but from the lush descriptions of gardens and deep connections to nature. It’s a lush retelling of the famed Mid-Autumn Legend, and one of my favorite books of 2022.
Cottagecore Romance Books
Practice Makes Perfect by Sarah Adams
Annie Walker loves her life in Rome, Kentucky - with one notable exception. Her dating skills are…nonexistent. Thanks to her shy personality and her tendency to wax poetic about horticulture and her flower shop, Annie has yet to find the right guy. So when the hot bodyguard of Annie’s brother’s fiancee offers to help her practice dating for his short stint in the states, she agrees. It seems like the perfect no-strings-attached way to work out her dating jitters. But of course…strings become attached. The floral-heavy setting and charming small-town characters make this the perfect spring cottagecore book.
The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen
A lonely, grumpy marshal, and an overstretched undertaker take up a secret correspondence in the strange world of Tanria. In real life, Hart and Mercy hate each other. They know exactly how to scrape the tenderest parts of each others’ patience. But when Hart writes a desperate letter and sends it into the void, he gets one equally as tender and vulnerable back. It’s a little more on the goblincore edge of things than cottagecore, but in a charming, Pushing Daisies meets You’ve Got Mail meets Ocean at the End of the Lane way.
Spectred Isle by K.J. Charles
Archaeologist Saul Lazenby is still battered by the Great War. He’s retreated to the English countryside and the employ of a wealthy, eccentric man who wants Saul to chase down his far-fetched notions of magical artifacts. Along the way, Saul keeps crossing paths with Randolph Glyde, an arcanist who seems to know more about magic than he should. Each a little prickly and bruised, they must learn to trust each other if they’re going to combat the evil forces unleashed by the war. Taking place mostly in spring in the English countryside, the book is rife with English history, charming imagery, and tender romance.
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
After a very different war, Juliet Ashton is casting about for the subject of her next book. When a young man from the island of Guernsey reaches our to her, her interest in their their correspondence grows more tender than she expected. She begins writing to everyone in his “Potato Peel Pie” society, and eventually feels compelled to meet them all in person. This little gem of a book will captivate you in a quiet way, one letter at a time.
Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert
Cheerful, Chaotic, effervescent Eve Brown has gone maaaaaybe a little too far after she ruins a wedding. Her mother gives her an ultimatum: it’s time to grow up. When she goes to interview for an open chef position at a quaint B&B, it seems her rein of chaos will continue after the owner breaks his arm…because she hit him with her car. Now with a broken arm and an understaffed establishment he has no choice but to let her help him. With its charming grumpy-sunshine romance, and the quaint pastoral setting, this book basically defines modern-day cottagecore.
The Switch by Beth O’Leary
Open a dictionary, and you’ll see Leena Cotton’s name next to “overworked perfectionist.” When she blows a big presentation, her boss essentially forces her to take a 2-month sabbatical from her high-powered career. Meanwhile, her grandmother Eileen wants love, and doesn’t have many prospects in her small Yorkshire village. Each sees an opportunity to get what they want, so they swap places. This book goes a bit deeper than most romances - Leena must reconcile with her mother who’s still reeling from Leena’s sister’s death. However, the quaint setting and lovable characters round out the emotional depth.
The Duke and I by Julia Quinn
The decade when King George III’s brother acted as crown regent has remained one of the most memorable times in British culture. Thanks to authors like Jane Austen and the Brontë sisters, its social mores live immortalized in literature. The first novel in the acclaimed Bridgerton series, The Duke and I follows young Daphne Bridgerton as she falls in love with the handsome, reclusive duke who’s the talk of the social season. Charming, scintillating, frivolous, the entire series has delightful characters, beautiful settings, and fun writing.
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
Amidst a war-torn society and a crumbling family, Iris Winnow sees only one way make things better: winning a promotion to columnist at the Oath Gazette. To deal with her worry for her brother Forrest, who’s MIA on the front lines of the war, Iris begins writing him letters and hiding them in a wardrobe. Little does she know, the letters are enchanted, and they’re delivered right to the hands of Roman Kitt, her rival. It’s more intense than true cozy fantasy because of the war. However, with a high fantasy backdrop and a decidedly vintage flair, this charming YA romantasy has been the talk of bookish folks for the better part of a year.
Cozy Mystery Cottagecore Books
Murder in the Storybook Cottage by Ellery Adams
Bibliophiles rejoice; I have found your perfect setting. When her eccentric ancestor moved his mansion brick by brick to Appalachian Virginia, Jane Steward's forebear likely didn’t imagine the five-star literary resort it would become. As the caretaker of Storyton Hall, and a cache of rare books, Jane’s quaint country life suffers frequent interruptions from international espionage and gruesome murders. The quaint mountain setting lies several eons beyond realistic, but who wants realistic when you can imagine a perfect literary-centric life?
Shady Hollow by Juneau Black
Few things are as cottagecore as anthropomorphic animals. Intrepid reporter Vera Vixen has newly arrived to the quaint riverside town of Shady Hollow, ready for a break from the big city. It seems she can’t rest, however, when the town curmudgeon and hermit is discovered dead. Thanks to a lethargic police chief and a mind that won’t rest, Vera takes it upon herself to unravel who would want to kill the toad - and why. Each book and novella in this series contains a vast multitude of quaint charm, replete with many many scenes in cozy cafes and woodland glades.
The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie
The sleepy village of St. Mary Mead seems immune to murder and revenge on the outside. But as it turns out, quite a few people had reason to kill the arrogant, blustery, greedy Colonel Protheroe. When he’s found murdered in the office of the vicar, of all places, an elderly woman, Miss Jane Marple, takes it upon herself to find the killer. If there’s one thing I know for certain fits in the “cottagecore books” category, it’s a story about an old lady detective in the English countryside. While not technically the first Miss Marple mystery, this book introduced the world to the iconic detective.
The Blue Rose by Anthony Elgin
“The Parsonage:” a charming cottage in the Wiltshire countryside, and the provenance of proud new owners Kate and Alex Sheppard. When a rare blue rose blooms in the garden, they can’t believe their good luck. Little do they know, the blue rose sparks strong emotions in their neighbors. From this one obscure flora, old secrets and fears come flooding out. Kate and Alex must unravel the truth to save their dream house - and their lives. Highly horticultural in nature, this mystery revolves around the cornerstone of both English culture and cottagecore - the rose garden.
The Benevolent Society of Ill-Mannered Ladies by Allison Goodman
At forty-two and a spinster, Lady Augusta “Gus” Colebrook has grown deeply bored of regency society. When she discovers a friend’s goddaughter has married a violent man and needs rescuing, she enlists her newly-widowed twin sister, Julia, into rescuing the girl. As things go awry, Gus and Julia find themselves much deeper into the scandal than they anticipated. Unlike the Bridgerton series, which unabashedly revels in regency mores, Goodman’s take on the era lies closer to Jane Austen’s - a tongue-in-cheek criticism of the bonds placed on women, with a strong witty streak.
Murder in an Irish Village by Carlene O'Connor
For small-town antics, sweeping descriptions of the countryside, and more brown bread than you can shake a stick at, look no further than this series by Carlene O’Connor. Siobhán O’Sullivan is the eldest daughter in the O’Sullivan clan, and the proprietor of their family’s bistro since their parents died in a car crash. Things stay mostly together, until Siobhán opens the bistro one morning to find a dead man with a pair of bright pink shears in his back. I highly recommend the audiobook for this series - both for the narrator’s soothing Irish voice, and to learn the pronunciation of Irish names less common in the states like Ciarán and Gráinne.
Still Life by Louise Penny
In the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it québécois village of Three Pines, a man discovers beloved local woman Jane Neal dead of an apparent crossbow wound. However, Inspector Armand Gamache’s intuition tells him this case won’t boil down to a simple hunting accident. Though often listed as a “cozy mystery,” the Chief Inspector Gamache series often dives into the deepest depravities of urban and rural humanity. Still, you’ll gradually fall in love with the motley townsfolk of Three Pines with their foibles and flaws, and you’ll quickly wish you were sitting fireside at Olivier and Gabri’s bistrot with a giant chocolat chaud.
The Tale of Hill Top Farm by Susan Wittig Albert
With her charming animal illustrations and her gobsmackingly stunning estate in the Lake District, Beatrix Potter is the original imprimatur of cottagecore. In this series, Albert reimagine’s Potter’s life in the countryside, recasting her as an amateur sleuth alongside her known reputation as an animal lover and overall good egg. The mystery in this series is quite gentle - even by cozy mystery standards. Thanks to the talking animals and low stakes, this series is perfect for readers of all ages.
General Cottagecore Fiction & Classic Lit
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Since its publication in 1868, Little Women has endured as the classic American tale of sisterhood, friendship, and finding your way. The four March sisters - proper Meg, fiery Jo, kind-hearted Beth, and bright Amy - do everything together, from writing plays to forming secret societies together. Set in the backdrop of the American Civil War, the book is offset by serious themes of grief, lost love, and worry for their father, a union soldier. This delightful slice-of-life novel is a defining text for every opinionated young woman with a penchant for storytelling.
Emma by Jane Austen
Twenty-one-year-old Emma Woodhouse has the world at her feet. She comes from a wealthy family, she possesses remarkable beauty, and she can charm anyone with her wit and liveliness. Unutterably uninterested in love, Emma makes it her personal mission to couple up those around her instead. Disapproving of her intentions, her friend Mr. Knightley attempts to discourage her meddling at every turn. Teeming with bracing wit, Emma is both Austen’s most light-hearted work, and the most layered. While its heroine’s silliness takes the fore, her personal growth and genuine desire for connection to others shines through in this sparkly classic novel.
At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon
In the small Appalachian town of Mitford, North Carolina, life may seem slow to outsiders, but Episcopal Priest Timothy Kavanaugh could stand to slow down. A jewel thief, a diabetes diagnosis, an intriguing new neighbor, and a stunning donation from a congregant draw quite a bit of attention and work. The stakes of Jan Karon’s Mitford books stay just high enough to keep the reader engaged, yet she waxes poetic about country flora and food to keep you relaxed (and hungry). Due to their strong religious themes these books may not suit all, but if that doesn’t bother you, I urge you to try these quaint, comforting books.
Lud-in-the-Mist by Hope Mirrless
Pre-dating the Lord of the Rings by over a decade, Hope Mirrless’s tale of fairies and frivolity had nearly faded into obscurity when writers like Susannah Clarke and Neil Gaiman resurrected it. This tiny tome tells the tale of Nathaniel Chanticleer, the master of a small town in Dorimare, whose daughter and son become enchanted by fairy fruit - a dangerous substance trickling into his sleepy enclave. Determined to rescue his children and his town from fairy fruit’s influence, Nathaniel sets out in his own blundering way. Beautifully written, with the silliest character names you’ve ever heard (Primrose Crabapple!!) this novel more than deserves its spot on the “classic fantasy” shelf.
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett
In the idyllic setting of rural Michigan in spring, three daughters beg their mother to tell them about a long-ago romance at the Tom Lake theatre. Through their mother’s tale, each girl examines her own relationship to life and love. The probing, wistful book asks more questions than it answers, while still imbibing a sense of peace (as Patchett’s novels often do). I recommend doing a companion read with Thornton Wilder’s classic play Our Town, as Patchett cites heavy influence for both the story and the very act of theatre when writing the novel.
Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout
Bossy, assertive, prickly and grating protagonist Olive Kitteridge doesn’t appear in this book until quite far in, but it revolves around her nonetheless. Told as a series of vignettes which spiral closer to a central theme with each new chapter, the book chronicles mid-life in a small Maine town. Though it may seem contrary to cottagecore books to include a protagonist who seems extremely unlikable at the outset, looking for deeper gentleness comes back again and again as a theme in the best literature, and gentleness lies at the heart of cottagecore.
Walden by Henry David Thoreau
“Nothing so fair, so pure, lies on the surface of the earth…It is Earth’s eye, looking into which, the beholder measures the depth of his own nature.” The classic treatise on a man’s experiment in escaping from modern society, few books parallel the longing for pastoralism which characterizes cottagecore so well as Walden. Over two years, two months, and two days, Henry David Thoreau moved to a cabin on a pond near Concord, Massachusetts. While he wrote a different novel during his time on the pond, Thoreau eventually used his detailed journals from this period to give us this memoir and masterclass in taking in the world around you.
Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
Written in the final golden days of the British aristocracy (though, have we gotten there yet?) Brideshead follows young Charles Ryder as he reflects on his time at the family estate of the Flytes, the eponymous Brideshead. Contrasting the lavish relaxation of Brideshead with the austere depravity of the Great War, Charles reflects on the two extremes of life in order to find his way forward in a brave new world. Deeply nostalgic, romantic, occasionally silly, and pellucid, Brideshead Revisited has greatly influenced the contemporary exploration of this period and the veneration of the aristocracy.
Children's and Young Adult Cottagecore Books
The Two Princesses of Bamarre by Gail Carson Levine
Princess Addie and Princess Meryl could not be more different. Addie, shy and quiet, has always known that the brash, brave Meryl would be the one to conquer the world. But when seemingly invincible Meryl comes down with the Grey Death, Addie quickly realizes she’s the only one who can save her beloved sister. Featuring run-ins with griffins, wizards, dragons, and fairies, this high fantasy romp teaches us that one need not be bold to be brave.
Fantastic Mr. Fox by Roald Dahl
Now a visually arresting stop-motion animated film by Wes Anderson, Roald Dahl’s classic tale of a wily fox just trying to get by transcends generation. Three nasty farmers, Boggis, Bounce, and Bean, have grown tired of the fantastic Mr. Fox continually outsmarting them. When they hatch a plan to stop him, Mr. Fox knows he’ll have to recruit the other animals if he is to keep feeding his family. Featuring a delightful cast of animal characters, and a cunning, sprightly protagonist, this slim novel shows off the best of Dahl’s storytelling prowess.
The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
This perennial favorite of children all over the world follows shy Mole, the opinionated Ratty, wise Badger and charismatic Toad on adventures through the Wild Wood. Whether they’re stealing a sports car or springing someone from jail, the hijinks of this unlikely crew follows the animals through all four seasons. Written in 1908, the story is just as appealing today as it was then, with a big dose of nature amidst the silliness.
Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry
Just off the coast of Virginia and Maryland, a marvelous thing occurs every spring: the wild equine residents of Assateague island swim over to neighboring Chincoteague at low tide with their tiny pony foals. Before the swim, two young children are determined to find Phantom, an elusive mare who has eluded the yearly swim. When they finally find Phantom, they discover an even greater prize - her sweet, gentle filly, Misty. The ultimate tale for animal lovers, Misty of Chincoteague will keep young readers enthralled from cover-to-cover.
The Secret Garden by Francis Hodgson Burnett
Francis Hodgson Burnett’s classic tale of a young girl who doesn’t fit in is the literary gateway drug to being obsessed with Jane Eyre as an adult (don’t ask me how I know). Orphan Mary Lennox is quite sure her uncle’s estate, Messelthwaite Manor, has nothing to offer her. That is until she discovers an overgrown garden behind a rusty locked gate. As she tends the garden, she soon realizes it may be the key to tending the old wounds that haunt her family.
Redwall by Brian Jacques
In the peaceful Redwall Abbey within the idyllic Mossflower wood, the mice have grown used to peace and abundance. Content with their bounty, they learn that Cluny - an evil one-eyed rat - conspires to conquer their abbey and steal their good fortune! The only way to stop Cluny is to find the lost sword of the great warrior Martin. Whatever mouse wields the sword hold the answer to their destiny. This tale of heroism and bravery is a modern classic. More than talking animals, though, the series has a defining characteristic of cottagecore books: lots of scrumptious depictions of food.
Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery
A spinster brother and sister get more than they bargained for when young orphan Anne Shirley arrives on their doorstep in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Red-headed, precocious, opinionated, and passionate, Anne leaves an unforgettable impression on everyone around her. Set in a beautiful, remote setting, with a fiery main character beloved the world over, Anne of Green Gables is a foundational book in the cottagecore canon.
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
When teenaged Sophie is cursed by the Witch of the Waste into appearing old and decrepit, she knows her only hope of breaking the curse is to appeal to the mysterious wizard Howl. A tempestuous cad, Sophie’s exasperation of Howl is matched only by how badly she needs his help. As they untangle curses and question demons together, however, Howl and Sophie learn much about each other and themselves. Though it’s been overshadowed by the enchanting Studio Ghibli film, Jones’ tale of a chaotic wizard and his beautiful moving castle is worth reading even if you’ve seen the film.
Non-Fiction Cottagecore Books
The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry
I can think of no better argument for reading this anthology than the title poem:
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
Plant Lore and Legend by Ruth Binney
With beautiful illustrations and a sprinkle of folklore, this adorable horticultural guide packs a big punch in a small package. While there are a few healing tips and tricks, the information is largely cultural, not medicinal. Drawn from the ancient Greek and Roman lore of the classical era through the intricate social niceties of the Victorian era, Binney’s small guide on plants is equal parts enchanting and informative.
Grimoire Girl by Hilarie Burton Morgan
Rarely does a memoir which divulges so little about its subject feels so intensely personal, but Hilarie Burton Morgan managed it with grace. Due to a lack of familial history, Burton Morgan developed a strong relationship to grimoires - a personal collection of the things that make us who we are. Living on a farm in upstate New York, she teaches her children to appreciate and notice the beauty of the world around them and within themselves. By the time you finish this memoir, you’ll be asking everyone you know what their favorite body of water is.
All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
In this much-beloved memoir, James Herriot (a pen name) chronicles his life as a small town country vet in the Yorkshire dells in the 1920s. Herriot’s books are full of characters, both sapien and otherwise, that will charm you, confuse you, and make you love them, like the old woman who needs company more than her pampered dog needs care. It’s hard to describe what makes these books so magical. Perhaps it’s the foibles of small-town country life; perhaps it’s the breathtaking descriptions of the Yorkshire dells; perhaps it’s the witty yet plain-spoken writing. I suspect it’s Herriot’s deep reverence and respect for animals that shines through this incredible book.
The Nature Notes of an Edwardian Lady by Edith Holden
In the Edwardian Era, much popular art and literature shared characteristic dedication to nature and the natural world. Edith Holden held rank among a class of women illustrators like Beatrix Potter and, later, Tasha Tudor, whose work has a kind of romantic realism. Holden’s naturalist diary is perfect for browsing on a slow spring day.
Note: this book is currently out of print, but can be found for a reasonable cost secondhand.
A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle
When Peter Mayle moved to Lubéron, Provence with his wife and two dogs, he moved in pursuit of a slower pace of life. Little did he know, despite its quaint, pastoral shell, life in the Rhône vally proved far from slow or dull. Over the course of a year, they encountered an icy winter, builders operating on a mysterious schedule, goat races, and more. Steeped in the kind of head-shaking nostalgia only wry hindsight can provide, this part-memoir part-travel novel will make you itch for the French countryside.
The House Witch by Arin Murphy-Hiscock
Though it shares a name with a delightful cozy fantasy novel, Murphy-Hiscock’s book contains practical nuggets of witchy life. Not a spell book or grimoire, this book’s wisdom leans towards the Wiccan, with an emphasis on appreciating the world around you through the comforting locus of home. Much as the Romans worshipped the goddess Hestia (the goddess of the hearth) daily, you can ritualize and romanticize your daily life with this little cottagecore gem of a guide.
Devotions by Mary Oliver
Many have twisted Mary Oliver’s landmark question, “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” into an invective in service of over-production under late stage capitalism. Oliver herself, however, answered the question by walking along the river and writing about what she saw. This anthology, taken from decades of Oliver’s published works, follows the breadth of her writerly voice through the years and the subject matter. These poems will encourage you to slow down and look around you. They are also perfect for keeping on your nightstand and reading a few before bed.
Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall-Kimmerer
Potowatami citizen and botanist Robin Wall-Kimmerer knows far more than your average bear about reverence and respect for nature. In Braiding Sweetgrass, she explores the natural bounty of our environment, while making a gentle, yet impassioned, plea for respecting the earth and living in harmony with a reciprocal relationship. By waxing poetic about everything from strawberries to salamanders, the book teaches a new appreciation for the small things. Despite the non-narrative form, this book will sink its teeth into you, leaving you wanting more from Wall-Kimmerer and her beautiful writing.
Have you read any of these? If so, what did you think? Let me know in the comments! And feel free to add any recommendations of your own!
