Illustrated essay book from Korea on everyday life: Small Sketchbook

Sanghyeon’s illustrated essay comic, Small Sketchbook

I really love this kind of book: essays that are easy to read quickly in a short amount of time, while honestly revealing someone’s thoughts and feelings. Small Sketchbook was an especially memorable illustrated essay comic because it held so much that matched my own feelings and emotions at this point in my life. The author, Sanghyeon, who is also known as an illustrator on Instagram, created both the writing and illustrations herself.

I had seen her Instagram comics through Instagram before, so when I saw this essay book, I immediately thought I had to read it.

The book and memo pad that arrived by courier

My book arrived by courier. It came with an introduction leaflet for books published by Goraein, along with a medium-sized memo pad illustrated by Sanghyeon.

I tend to write down things I need to do in everyday life, so I loved it.

An essay that reads smoothly even on the go

Let’s take the opportunity to read a book for a change. I usually use little pockets of time—while traveling or waiting briefly at a café—to read.

The illustrations appear almost like scenes, and a few pages later, the feelings and thoughts behind them are explained in more detail. That made it flow so easily. I think an essay really needs to be effortless to read, and Sanghyeon’s Small Sketchbook was exactly that kind of book.

Relating to the pieces of everyday life and life itself

I too have thought that everyday life is one piece of the picture called life, or a gathering of many pieces. Seeing that exact idea written in the book made me relate to it so much.

Everyone may reach them at different times, but when facing a turning point in life—retirement, a new beginning, a challenge—the book honestly captures those awkward feelings that can arise in practical reality, as well as the hard-to-express ways we define ourselves. Regardless of age, readers who have experienced or are facing these worries may find strength in Sanghyeon’s illustrations and words.

The strong mindset that there is always a reason we have no choice but to wander or struggle could also be a great source of comfort to someone.

Stories that make you think again about memories, family, and dreams

As I read about memories, family, precious feelings, and recollections that can be lost amid life’s flow, I found myself tearing up even though I had started it as a light read. It is such an honest, straightforward essay that draws out recognition of everyday life; at times, Sanghyeon’s story absorbed me as though it were my own.

For those of us who should hold onto dreams as we grow older but end up letting them go one by one, this essay also carries a hopeful message: there is no need to give up on dreams. Rather than defining yourself in an extreme, absolute way, it says it is good to have hope for dreams you can put into action, like Peter Pan and Wendy in Wonderland.

We often regret every choice we make, but I felt this book was full of positive, vigorous, forward-looking illustrations and writing that say there is no need for that: respect your own choices, and think about how you will live from here on.

And in the way she now loves and believes in herself, and lives so diligently, I could see Sanghyeon’s strength too. It is easy to pick up through its illustrations and writing, but its pages are full of thoughts and feelings, so I think it would be a lovely essay to make a little time for. I think it is a good essay book for young people, for working adults whose worries and responsibilities keep growing, for married people with families, and for everyone who has worked so hard through life without taking time to rest. It was a memorable essay book that had me laughing, relating, and even shedding a little tear at a café.