Every year, the Summit County community reads one book to create a shared experience of reading. Reading the same book explores our commonalities.
The Book of Delights: Essays by Ross Gay is the 2021 One Book One Community book.
This book is a spirited collection of short lyric essays, written daily over a tumultuous year, reminding us of the purpose and pleasure of praising, extolling, and celebrating ordinary wonders.
One Book One Community is made possible with the partnership of Park City Library, Summit County Library, Dolly’s Bookstore, and Utah Humanities.
One Book One Community takes place during the Utah Humanities Book Festival.
One Book One Community Events
Book Discussion
9/18, 10am, Park City Library’s Reading Garden
An essential part of One Book One Community is the discussion that we have together. Gather and connect over delights.
Journal Classes
9/20-9/29, – Journal Making Kits To Go, Summit County Library Branches
9/30, 6:30pm – Journaling Workshop, Summit County Library, Kimball Juction Branch
Journaling is at the heart of The Book of Delights. Be inspired to write after you make a journal and participate in this journaling class.
About Ross Gay
Ross Gay is the author of four books of poetry: Against Which; Bringing the Shovel Down; Be Holding; and Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude, winner of the 2015 National Book Critics Circle Award and the 2016 Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award. His new poem, Be Holding, was released from the University of Pittsburgh Press in September of 2020. His collection of essays, The Book of Delights, was released by Algonquin Books in 2019.
Ross is also the co-author, with Aimee Nezhukumatathil, of the chapbook “Lace and Pyrite: Letters from Two Gardens,” in addition to being co-author, with Rosechard Wehrenberg, of the chapbook, “River.” He is a founding editor, with Karissa Chen and Patrick Rosal, of the online sports magazine Some Call it Ballin’, in addition to being an editor with the chapbook presses Q Avenue and Ledge Mule Press. Ross is a founding board member of the Bloomington Community Orchard, a non-profit, free-fruit-for-all food justice and joy project. He also works on The Tenderness Project with Shayla Lawson and Essence London. He has received fellowships from Cave Canem, the Bread Loaf Writer’s Conference, and the Guggenheim Foundation. Ross teaches at Indiana University.
Reading Ross Gay
The Book of Delights: Essays is available on-demand to listen to as an eaudiobook on Libby, which means you will not have to wait to listen to the book. This book is particularly delightful as listening to the author’s journaling brings a level of understanding that is different than the print book.
Borrow his book by clicking here to put the book on hold through your account or by calling the Library at 435-615-5600.
To read more from Ross Gay, some of his essays and poetry are made available on his website.
Synopsis Of The Book of Delights: Essays
The winner of the NBCC Award for Poetry offers up a spirited collection of short lyric essays, written daily over a tumultuous year, reminding us of the purpose and pleasure of praising, extolling, and celebrating ordinary wonders.
Ross Gay created this book of delights from journaling every day. He had some rules: write every day, start on his birthday, write quickly, and by hand. What we get, is a gem of essays.
Listen to Ross Gay’s interview on NPR’s On Being with Krista Tippet, who says, “To be with him is to train your gaze to see what’s terrible but also to see what’s wonderful and beautiful.”
Appeal Terms
How do you describe the books you love to read? Appeal terms, from Novelist, help us describe what it is about a book that would make us recommend it to others.
Genre
Autobiographies and memoirs, Essays, Life stories
Storyline
Own voices
Tone
Inspiring, Reflective
Writing
Lyrical, Thoughtful