The Joy of Small Things is a collection of essays by Hannah Jane Parkinson drawn from her popular column in the Guardian. After reading J.B. Priestly’s 1949 book Delight, in which the famously curmudgeonly author penned short essays on the things that brought him delight, Parkinson found herself inspired to do the same. And so, amidst the personal and political chaos of 2018, she sat down to write about the little sparks of joy that broke up her days, to pick out “the flowers in the tangle of weeds.” Each topic that Parkinson expounds upon is small in scope but huge in happy-making, and she somehow picks out the very things that will make you smile in recognition and nod in agreement. Ice cream vans, clean bedding, potted plants, the perfect pen… reading on the beach, staying over, fixing things, being inside when it’s raining… is there anything better than being reminded that these pockets of goodness exist all around us, within arms reach? With each essay clocking in at just under two pages, the collection can easily be parceled out into “one-a-day” treats or gobbled up in a few sittings; whichever way you slice it, though, The Joy of Small Things is a delight.
I absolutely loved this book. Parkinson writes with frankness, wit, and an easy, off-the-cuff style, and reading her short entries feels like sharing confidences with a friend. From skimming the titles of the essays, it’s easy to assume that you already know what Parkinson will find delightful about each topic—what more can be said about the joys of chocolate, for example?—but Parkinson manages to surprise and charm at every turn. Like a good comedian who takes something that we all do and reveals its inherent ridiculousness, Parkinson takes these things that we all know and reveals their inherent, sometimes hidden, loveliness. The essays are equal parts funny and tender, and for such a lighthearted collection, there’s a lot of deep insight about being present and finding gratitude. Reading The Joy of Small Things encouraged me to notice and savor the little joys in my own life, and I dare anyone to read this collection and not come away feeling just a little bit happier. Highly recommend.
I’d recommend this book to…
- Anyone who loves finding delight in the everyday… it’s similar in theme to The Book of Delights by Ross Gay
- Anyone looking for something that’s reflective in a refreshing way… it’s similar in tone to If This Isn’t Nice, What Is? by Kurt Vonnegut
- Anyone interested in funny, charming, mood-boosting vignettes… it’s similar in style to Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
