The Country Commonplace Book by Miranda Mills | A Slow Living Book Review
Slow, simple and seasonal living is at the heart of A Life More Creative, and it is, perhaps, the simple act of reading and writing which allows so many of us to connect with something deeper, be it the past, present or the future. The Country Commonplace Book is a stunningly beautiful volume from the pen of writer and content creator, Miranda Mills. On her website, Mills writes that her goal is to encourage every individual to develop a ‘life-enhancing reading habit’, no matter how much time they have available.
If, like me, your bookshelves are already stacked full of slow living books, then forget the ‘one in, one out’ book philosophy, The Country Commonplace Book will provide you with a lifetime’s seasonal living inspiration, creativity and seasonal reflections. The book has been on my Waterstones wishlist, and I was thrilled to see it on the shelves in the Lichfield branch a couple of weeks ago. However many books you already own, this new release will be a perfect addition to your collection.
What Is a Commonplace Book? A Practice in Mindfulness and Reflection
The art of the commonplace book, or commonplacing, has gained traction in recent years. Many will have been introduced to it through YouTuber, Ruby Granger, who regularly refers to items in her own commonplace book, and has made videos about how to create your own. Unlike traditional forms of journaling which encourage you to record your own original thoughts, a commonplace book is a journal in which you can collect favourite words and ideas of others, including quotes, poems, recipes, proverbs, prayers, and song lyrics.
The commonplace book has a long history. In the 16th century, Dutch priest and writer, Erasmus, encouraged the practice of note-taking, and in the 17th century, English philosopher, John Locke, published a book which explained how he organised and categorised his own commonplace book. Commercial commonplace books were published in the 18th century, and whilst their popularity declined, in recent years, there has been a gentle resurgence, as more of us seek to connect with the past, and to a slower and simpler way of living. Not only is a commonplace book a lovely way to gather favourite words and ideas, but it encourages mindful reading and writing, reflection, and creativity.
Inside The Country Commonplace Book: Seasonal Living Inspiration
The Country Commonplace Book offers a beautiful volume of seasonal living inspiration, ideas and reflections. Divided into sections, one each for spring, summer, autumn and winter, the book contains poems, extracts from novels and plays, sayings, nature notes and recipes. Mills has curated a thoughtful collection of words and writings which will inspire seasonal reflection in each and every reader. But this isn’t just a book to read, but a book to use, with delicious seasonal recipes for food and drink. If you enjoyed my previous journal entry in which I shared 10 Cookbooks That Inspire Slow, Simple, and Seasonal Cooking, then I know you will enjoy the recipes included in The Country Commonplace Book too.
There were so many beautiful words included here, from familiar authors such as Anthony Trollope, Thomas Hardy, and Elizabeth Gaskell, to favourite poets such as Edward Thomas, William Blake, and William Wordsworth. Children’s authors feature too, including Edith Nesbit, Alison Uttley, and Kenneth Grahame. But alongside all these well-known authors, Miranda Mills has included a whole range of seasonal reflections and thoughts from those whose work isn’t quite as well-known, so there is plenty of new material to discover, and keep discovering here. The Country Commonplace Book isn’t just a book for one year, it’s a book to treasure for a lifetime.
How This Book Nurtures Creativity and Seasonal Reflection
As well as inspiring readers to start their own commonplace book, Mills’ thoughtfully curated collection of words and ideas will provide endless seasonal inspiration. Whether you enjoy reading, journaling, cooking, writing, photography, art, or even just the slow art of noticing, The Country Commonplace Book offers bountiful possibilities for creativity and reflection. Perhaps you might choose to read the book with seasons, or perhaps you might dip in and out as the mood takes you. What I loved about this book is that you can simply open it at a page and lose yourself in that page, if only for a moment. In a fast-paced world, seeking slow moments to simply pause are to be treasured, just like the book itself.
Starting Your Own Commonplace Book: Gentle Tips and Ideas
If you’re looking to start your own commonplace book, then let Miranda Mills inspire you, not just with The Country Commonplace Book, but with her Substack community, Seasons of Story, and all the many resources on her website. There is no right or wrong way to keep a commonplace book, and in the introduction itself, Mills offers some gentle tips and ideas for starting your own. As I explored more about the history and background to commonplace books, I realised that I often save screenshots of words and quotes to an album on my phone - a modern form of commonplacing - but Mills has inspired me to start my own physical journal (so watch this space - an excuse for a new notebook, not that anyone of us needs an excuse!)
How The Country Commonplace Book Supports a Life of Slow and Simple Living
With beautiful linocuts by artist and illustrator, Debbie Powell, Miranda Mills’ The Country Commonplace Book offers endless gentle seasonal inspiration. It is a book to read over and over again, to dip into each season, and to treasure for a lifetime. This is also a book to inspire us all to pause, think, read, and notice, and maybe even to start our very own commonplace book. Even if your bookshelves are stacked high already, this book is perfect for anyone looking to explore slow, simple, and seasonal living, mindful noticing, and creativity, alongside and within the rhythms of the natural world.
The Country Commonplace Book by Miranda Mills was published in hardback in 2025 by Batsford, ISBN 9781849949996.
I purchased this copy myself, but I do accept books for review if they are in keeping with the themes of A Life More Creative. If you would like me to consider a title, please see my Reviews Policy for more details and get in touch here.
Do you currently keep a commonplace book? Is it something you’d like to do? If so, I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
If this Journal entry resonated with you, I’d love to invite you to join our Rediscover · Reconnect · Re-Emerge community for weekly reflections and more inspiration.
