The Book of (More) Delights: Essays by Ross Gay
In this sequel to The Book of Delights (2019), Ross Gay is back with even more digressions about delight. This book is the result of Gay’s project to notice and record everyday moments of gratitude for one year, starting in August 2021. As the world opens back up after months of pandemic restrictions, Gay appreciates all the little ways that “bumbling, flailing, hurting, failing, changing” people show up for each other.
The magical thing about reading Gay’s Delights books: his delights will become your delights, too. I hadn’t previously considered the “nefariousness” of QR code menus or the intimacy of clothes on an outdoor clothesline; now, I’ll smile the next time I encounter them in the real world. Reading Ross Gay will inspire you to notice the things in life that you find delightful.
The Book of (More) Delights is ideal reading material for watching the world go by. Bring this book with you to the airport, a café, or your front porch.
Reviewed by Emma Radosevich, collection development librarian, Whatcom County Library System
(Originally published in Bellingham Alive November/December 2023 issue.)