On the first stop of her book tour, Sasha Debevec-McKenney dropped by Edinburgh’s very own Topping & Co. to read some crazy poetry. Published by Fitzcarraldo Editions, the independent publisher based in London, Joy Is My Middle Name is Debevec-McKenney’s debut collection of poetry and a compilation of poems written throughout her twenties.
Joy Is My Middle Name is ambitious and incredibly broad in its subject matter. On top of exploring issues of race, body image, and alcoholism, Debevec-McKenney captures the quintessential experience of young adulthood and being in love, without the trappings of a clichéd romance.
“Many books of poetry feature a ‘beloved’. In my book, I was in my twenties, so there’s, like, eight beloveds. Every single love poem is to a separate person.” The poet recalls this decade of her life as a period of mistakes, but does so with a barely concealed sense of delight and nostalgia for that period of freedom and exploration.
The spirit of youthful obsession runs throughout the collection and reveals Debevec-McKenney’s charming and addictive poetic voice, which includes a lifelong fascination with American presidents, their personalities, and their very human flaws.
Back in America, Debevec-McKenney is a professor of creative writing. The biggest advice she offers her students—and audience members—is to seek comfort and safety, be it in people or places. She has a writing place she frequents, as well as her literary soulmates, which include Rachael Allen, her editor at Fitzcarraldo. Their collaborative relationship has allowed for some innovative printing choices, such as poems that move vertically up the page instead of from left to right, and a secret, extra poem in the book’s notes section.
Despite its name, Joy Is My Middle Name wrestles boldly with pointedly joyless themes. Still, the poet is deft in her writing, and juxtaposes each instance of heartbreak or grief with her signature wit and humour. The result is a collection that is incredibly sincere, obsessive, and, above all, lots of fun.
“My target readers are crazy girls,” she says. The girls in the audience, young and old alike, burst into laughter. By the end of the night, the joy in the room is palpable—and in case you were wondering, it really is her middle name. That much is evident.
Image Via Teioh Nuan Ning