The annual Best American Essays volume published in November is what I call "The Most Wonderful Time of the Year." Reading the best non fiction in a concise, bundle chosen just for you. As always, some great, some not of interest, and always fun to hunt around for themes the famous editor has returned to. This year, aging, violence and family seem to come up more than once.

Worth it. Every time. ( )

My reading challenge this year suggested a collection of essays. I appreciated the suggestion because this was something new for me. I would definitely seek out essays again. This edition has 22 essays.
My favorites included:
This Old Man by Roger Angell
Strange Days by Sven Birkerts
Thing with Feathers That Perches on the Soul by Anthony Doerr
The Crooked Ladder by Malcolm Gladwell
Scenes from a Life in Negroland by Margo Jefferson
The Loudproof Room by Kate Lebo
My Grandma the Poisoner by John Reed
Stepping Out by David Sedaris
Find Your Beach by Zadie Smith
It Will Look Like a Sunset by Kelly Sundberg

I also appreciated the notes at the end about each writer. The notes were helpful because I am now interested in locating other works by some of the writers. ( )

I rarely read a collection that I can honestly say I loved every essay, but this is one of those rare cases. All of these essays are wonderful (all for different reasons, which only makes this collection better), and many of them stuck with me for days, even weeks, after I finished them. ( )