Ross Gay Algonquin Books, 288 pages Among the words to describe a global pandemic, “delightful” is not one. In fact, it’s quite possibly offensive in light of the toll it has taken on the human community. One by one, each with a name. Yet the gift of Ross Gay is his capacity to speak of delight without ignoring what is not delightful. His previous books of poetry, “Against Which” and “Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude,” display the same skill. Gay took it upon himself to write of delight every day for a year. The result is this collection of brief essays finding wonder in an astonishing array of places, including grim neighborhoods and forest understory where the redbud and dogwood blossom and hummingbirds dart. One of the odd things about the COVID-19 pandemic is the juxtaposition with spring beauty. While hearing the grim news of death, the earth was so vibrantly alive. There is a certain discipline required to attend without blinking to death and life, sorrow and wonder. Few … [Read more...]

Michael T. McRay Herald Press, 256 pages Reviewed by Karie Ann Charlton I would love nothing more than for every white American Christian male to read Michael McRay’s introduction as it is a shining example of acknowledging privilege, wisely seeing others and amplifying voices of truth so that we have better stories with which to base our lived togetherness around. But, as a white American Christian female, I have a lot to learn too, and others may think he could have stretched farther. McRay traveled to Israel and Palestine, Northern Ireland and South Africa to listen to the wisdom of those living there and to learn from them about the problems and possibilities of reconciliation. What he learns quickly is: “There’s something about the language of reconciliation that can seem friendlier to those in power and an enemy to those suffering, while language of justice may be the exact opposite.” He says that dialogue for the sake of dialogue only keeps the oppressors in power. “If … [Read more...]