Show & Tell: The Book Lists Have Arrived
Deep Dives
Explore related topics with these Wikipedia articles, rewritten for enjoyable reading:
-
Alice Wong (activist)
11 min read
The article includes an 'In Memoriam' section honoring Alice Wong, describing her as a disability rights activist, author, and Bay Area icon whose work shaped the author's understanding of disability justice. Readers would benefit from learning more about her life and contributions.
-
Booker Prize
15 min read
The article mentions 'Flesh' winning the Booker Prize and references how judges make their decisions. The Booker Prize has a rich history and controversial selection processes that would provide valuable literary context.
-
Polyamory
16 min read
The article reviews 'Middle Spoon,' described as a novel about a man in a polyamorous marriage written as unsent emails to an ex-boyfriend. The Wikipedia article covers the history, ethics, and psychology of polyamorous relationships in depth.
This is Show & Tell where I tell you some things I loved from the week and the one thing I hated, plus round up everything else going on around these parts. The first half of Show & Tell is free to all. The adoration and hateration are for paid subscribers only.
First, it is my mom’s birthday. Happy Birthday Mom. Love you!1
Every year I attempt to take my kids’ winter break off from working at The Stacks. This year they are off for three weeks, which means I am furiously working to get a whole bunch of episodes ready to go between now and when my work year ends, plus I have to create all my year-end lists. What does that actually look like? I have four more books to finish for the show (plus a handful for the Mega Reading Challenge…I’m holding out hope that I can finish this year’s challenge, but it will be close), 11 episodes to produce, and at least five year-end lists. Plus, the regular odds and ends around here like monthly wrap-ups and Show & Tell. Can she do it? Probably not. Will she do it? Somehow, yes she will.
How will I do it my GD Brick! I have been brick’d up obsessively these last few days. Truly saving my (work) life. Matter of fact, I am Brick’d now.
This Week in The Stacks
Life update: I did finally watch Back to the Future. It was fine. We’re not talking about the incest plot nearly enough.
was my guest on The Stacks this week. We talked about her outstanding memoir, The Hollow Half: A Memoir of Bodies and Borders.
We opened nominations for The Stackies — The Stacks official literary awards, that are way better than any other award ever. If you’re a paid subscriber here you can submit books for the prize! Nominations close on November 25th.
Every year I do a gift guide, this year I kept it simple and did my best Oprah impression. I shared 16 of my favorite things to give and receive.
Books I Read This Week
Middle Spoon by Alejandro Valera
A breakup novel written in unsent emails from our narrator (a man in a polyamorous marriage) to his ex-boyfriend. This book worked for me. It is funny and tender and explores more than just heartbreak — mental health, polyamory,
This excerpt is provided for preview purposes. Full article content is available on the original publication.