A review by nateisdreaming
The Word Pretty by Elisa Gabbert

5.0

Can't think of a better way to start my 2022 in reading with. 

This is a collection of short, cerebral, and witty essays; mostly on topics of literature and language, but sometimes other things as well (a prison cell in Alcatraz, for example).
 
In 2020, I read her newer, heavier collection "The Unreality of Memory". It impressed me enough to stay with me, though perhaps the timing of reading essays themed around disaster, during a pandemic, was a bit much for, and maybe didn't quite "wow" me like my favorite essays do. Which I think might be due to the timing. 

Then in 2021 she had a new piece in Harper's, about isolation and covid, which I completely loved, which floored me really. It seemed to speak of things I had been thinking and which no one else had talked about. The timing was prescient as well -- the month it came out was the same month I got my vaccine. There was hope in the air (we didn't know about new variants yet), as we thought we were turning a large corner leading to an open plain , rather than a small one leading to more alleyways... 

A few days ago I was in the mood for essay writing and thought of the Gabbert pieces I read. By coincidence, my neighborhood library happened to have this on the shelves. 

Though "The Word Pretty" is significantly shorter, less talked about, and less thematically glued together as "Unreality of Memory" -- I enjoyed it more. 

Maybe its just my timing in reading it, but to me, there's something very fun and playful about these essays. Or perhaps "exploratory" is the right word for it. It reminds me of when rock musicians first start hitting cool ideas in the studio, but before they solidify their new ideas as formula (see: The Beatles Revolver, or Talking Heads Fear of Music). 

This is my favorite period in any artist's career, and perhaps its one of my favorite glimpses into writers as well. (In music, it normally happens around album number 4, give or take.)

Reading these essays felt like having an intimate dinner with a good friend. There is something very conversational about each piece, casual even, while still thoughtful, anchored, and often "mind blowing" (I use that term too much, I'm aware... But each piece in here did sincerely blow my mind at least once.)

I unfortunately lent Unreality to a friend last year, which means I'll probably never see it again. But I'm going to order and re-read that, now that I've devoured this one. I'm sure re-reading Unreality will be better, now that I'm less panicked about the apocalypse we are all in. In any case, this book excites me about essays the way Didion does. High, high recommendation. And a very short read, so there's really no excuses.