Small Joys, Elvin Mensah
‘Sometimes you read a story that speaks to the deepest parts of yourself that you thought you had long buried, a story that comforts you in knowing that you weren't as alone as you may have once thought you were.’
Elvin's debut is a beautifully quiet reflection on the effects of debilitating mental health, and the ways in which friendship can save us from the darkest parts of ourselves. Early in Small Joys, we witness the depths of Harley's suffering, as we encounter him in the local woods of his hometown, a place he has reluctantly returned to after dropping out of university, contemplating an irreversible act of self-harm after failing to see the beauty in his own existence. Through the offering of a crumpled-up handkerchief by a friendly Mancunian, Harley is introduced to Muddy, a person who will alter the trajectory of his life in more ways than one.
In comparison to Harley, Muddy is a vivacious, happy-go-lucky individual, who loves nothing more than taking his binoculars to the local woods and indulging in one of his biggest passions, birdwatching. Muddy needs nothing more than an afternoon searching the skies for chaffinches and blue tits or driving around listening to the sweet melodies of Definitely, Maybe in order for him to feel the happiness and joy Harley so desires for himself but does not feel worthy enough to accept. Through witnessing Muddy's joy in the simplest of pastimes, Harley finds in himself the assurance and willingness to love, and most importantly, to be loved.
Sometimes you read a story that speaks to the deepest parts of yourself that you thought you had long buried, a story that comforts you in knowing that you weren't as alone as you may have once thought you were. This is exactly what I found in Small Joys, which is why it has easily become one of my most loved reads of the year, if not all time. Elvin's delicate approach to the topic of loneliness, fractured parental relationships, and of learning to accept that everybody is worthy of love and joy, was incredibly heart-warming to read.
Not only is Elvin able to handle the darkest of passages with such care and empathy, but he also perfectly balances the moments of silliness and laughter that exist between friends navigating their early twenties. If you’re looking for a book that will hit you emotionally while still making you laugh out loud, look no further than this stunning debut.
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