Small Hours by Valérie Minelli

German illustrator Valérie Minelli is the hand behind the webcomic Mrs.Frollein - a collection of greyscale cartoons spotlighting quiet moments of love and life. It’s very sweet.

There is an intimate side to the collection as well - how a couple interact quietly in their home, the shower, the bedroom. At times reading Small Hours feels voyeuristic.

Some are hilarious and I laughed myself to the brink of a hysterical chasm during the first section - Spring. Others are more heartfelt or are reflections on consumerism, reading, Instagram behaviour, hot summer nights, houseplants, shaving cuts, the advent of Christmas, and cooking habits. Minelli’s superpower is her ability to recognise the potential in quite ordinary moments of life.

There is an intimate side to the collection as well - how a couple interact quietly in their home, the shower, the bedroom. At times reading Small Hours feels voyeuristic.

The artwork is deceptively simple, with plenty of relaxing grey and white space. At their best, the lines wield great power: as the eye follows the sequence in Waking Up Next To Him (78), the snoring of the boy seems almost audible; Minelli has captured something of a flip book effect here. The realism of the girl’s hair throughout is an interesting detail and element of contrast.

Small Hours is a cosy cup of tea for a cold dark day. Check it out for yourself right here: Mrs.Frollein.

Many thanks to Valérie Minelli, the Omni-Lion Forge Publishing Group, and NetGalley for my advanced reading copy.

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