Cosy: The British Art of Comfort

As an American reader I was disgusted with her comment about President Trump. I was enjoying reading the first chapter about Tea. Here's the quote from the book that turned my stomach: "Life-affirming and soul-warming, a cup of tea solves everything. Your wife has left you? Have a nice cup of tea. The boiler's broken? Put the kettle on. Trump has declared war? Mine's an Earl Grey."How does that comment about President Trump fit into this book? And if you did your research, you would know President Trump has not declared war. In fact, he has been ending wars.Your book is not even worthy of a donation to Goodwill. In the trash its goes.

I particularly liked her take on 'cosy' as opposed to 'hygge' - and totally agree that the latter is too contrived and public. Cosy is what you do by yourself - and I did love that. The book is a bit short and some of the chapters are disappointing - the films and books recommendation are particularly thin - and the B&B getaways not just irrelevant to anyone outside the UK, but not much use to people in the UK - a cottage that only sleeps two people is going to have a waiting list of decades. It could have done with some lovely British comfort food recipes, there's no mention of pets - and what could be more cosy than being in bed with a cat or dog or two and a huge plate of hot,, buttered crumpets? I bought it based on the sample - but with hindsight, I could have just kept the sample.

I was expecting more out of this book, and while I enjoyed a few sections — particularly on tea — it felt about dull and repetitive. This book seemed to me as if Bridget Jones jumped on the Hygge bandwagon and wrote a British version, but wrote it over a weekend. 2.5 stars.

I have read and enjoyed several books on Hygge, or the Swedish cozy way of life. I have learned a lot from them. This book on British cosy taught me very little. Many of the author’s recommendations were for things you had to be in Britain to enjoy. I found the book to be elitist.

This is a very comforting book written by a comforting British author. The world, these days, is far from comforting. However, as Dickens would say, it's probably no more complicated than the past. I'm greatly enjoying reading his nice little book (a very easy read) with the lovely, simple illustrations. I endorse this book and the suggestions for achieving "cosy,"

Weir has given us a very lovely book on British cosiness (sic). As opposed to some of the books on Hygge, this book is more plain and comfortable.

I enjoyed this, it's a very quick little read, good for the time between Christmas and New Year's Day if you're into that sort of thing

As a lady of a certain age, I was repulsed by this presentation of the British concept of "cosy," aka "cozy" in our USA.  The author forewarns, "Cosy is YOUR interpretation of  what cosy is." And the author's version is hip, trendy, and politically correct (she takes a swipe at President Donald Trump). It's no surprise that the text is written in the zippy style of women's magazines, with hints on how to make things "meaningful," such as going outside  early on a chill winter day and sprinkling de-icer on the steps of your elderly neighbors. Sounds thrilling, especially if the reader qualifies as an elderly neighbor.Similarly, the "cheeky" author (so described by the publisher) informs us of the "diversity" of British cozy, and she does not mean the adoption of British practices in other countries, such as when an American  grandmother has tea with her little granddaughter. No, she refers to the practices of foreign countries, and assures us that participating in the tea ceremony in Japan will change our lives!Showing she's not a prude, the author includes a quotation from a "Financial Times" Fashion Editor that mentions "f**king freezing." Such language would appall our Miss Manners as well as the gentle readers of cozy mysteries such as the Mrs. Jeffries Victorian Mysteries and Miss Marple, just as it repelled this gentle reviewer.The chapter on cozy self-care is completely original. The author informs us that she longed for a shower as a child (only had a bathtub in the UK). She mentions being "a bit more mindful about our make-up" and that painting your face in the winter is a way to "de-stress," just as coloring in adult coloring books calms the mind. Well, mindful is a concept not found in British cozy. Neither are mosques and Diwali, mentioned in the chapter "Home and Hearth."  And, true to her promise, the author reveals her great delight in eating spaghetti in the bathtub. What?The writers on Hygge have nothing to fear from this volume. Those who like traditional cozy would enjoy the descriptions in "Beeswax and Sloe Gin." I am glad I got this silly little volume from the library and can return it as soon as possible.

This is a lovely book that I’ve started to re-read now the nights are drawing in and the curtains are closed earlier and earlier. Instead of feeling a little melancholy Weir’s book has helped me evaluate what’s good about this time of year. The accusations of some kind of Hygge ripoff, I simply don’t understand. The British have had their own version of it for millennia and this book encapsulates it; good food, fires and comfort dressing. My only wish is that it had been longer. I hope this review helps.

Oh my goodness what a load of pointless rubbish this little book is, I feel so stupid for believing the gushing reviews and wasting my money on it. It's like being trapped with a couple of boring middle aged women chatting by the water cooler, on in the bus stop (and I am a middle aged woman, I hasten to add). There are infinite pearls of wisdom such as ooh, socks are cosy! Tea is cosier than coffee (is it really?) Jumpers are cosy! (no, really) followed by, I kid you not, a full list of different types of knitted jumpers ... oh, and knitting itself is cosy don't'cha know. And so it drones, on and on, for ever, and this mind-numbingly inconsequential text is interspersed with child-like drawings because what this feast of incessant boredom needed, were illustrations! But then of course without drawings to fill up and mask the emptiness, nobody could have possibly made a book out of this utter rubbish. Goodness me, seriously, how did somebody agree to make a book out of this?

Loved this book. Will keep it handy for re reads when I feel crappy. It’s a read that feels like a hug, accompanied with a lovely cup of tea, it’s my ideal Saturday morning. Loved the knitting chapter, as a keen knitter myself. Very warming

Yes, this book is expensive and it probably doesn't add much to things we already know about cosiness.But this is not the point of it.If you're expecting a manual about everything cosy, then you'll be disappointed.This is more a personal perspective of the author about what it's cosy in general and what it means to her and her life.She tries to convey her message that ultimately is all about being at peace with yourself and your life

Lovely little cosy book . Highly recommend