Thank you to Algonquin Books for an advance copy of Ross Gay’s essay collection, The Book of Delights.
Poet and essayist Ross Gay created a challenge for himself, he would spend a year writing one short essay per day on something that delighted him. He began on his birthday and used this exercise to remind himself of all the wondrous and intriguing aspects of our world.
Some of the essays do enter the realm of true delight. My favorite was Gay recounting the surprising reaction he received when he hand carried a tomato plant on a flight. People that noticed his plant reacted with a sweetness and protectiveness, almost as if he had a baby with him. I was smiling while reading this and thinking about how unexpected things, like someone carrying a plant on an airplane, do bring delight. I also delighted in his story about the joys of licking the spills off of a cup, noting that the action might be odd to some. Gay’s quirky observations and habits are endearing.
Gay reacts and engages with the world around him and sometimes this means that the daily essay takes a more serious tone, such as Gay’s experiences as a black man in the United States. Although I find the idea of focusing on delights to be, for lack of a better word, delightful, the book is the better for its honest approach to weighty topics. As a white woman my experiences in America are dramatically different from Gay’s experiences and I think it’s important to hear his perspective. Gay’s project is also an reminder to actively engage with the world around us and with our emotions towards events in the world.
The Book of Delights is fantastic. I love the wide scope of subjects and emotions that are encapsulated in this collection. Gay’s writing made it feel like he was talking directly to me, so familiar and warm. I want to invite him over to my house for dinner! This collection is my first time reading Gay’s work and I look forward to reading more. I typically giveaway any books that I have already read, but this one will be taking up residence on my bookshelf in anticipation of a future revisit. It’s that good!