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.

This week I was reading! I finished four books. I liked all of them. Quite a bit. At this point, it really is a treat when I like everything I read in week (for the most part). You can read mini-reviews for all the books below.

Quick note: Since its a holiday and I am in charge around here1 I will be taking Friday off. More housekeeping stuff below.

This Week in The Stacks

Last week the book lists started dropping, which is in fact the most wonderful time of the year.

I spoke with this week about her first foray into fiction, The White Hot, and how writing the book compared to her playwriting life.

If you’ve ever wanted BTS of The Stacks, this month’s bonus episode is for you. I brought on all three of my team members — Sahara, Cherie, and Christian — to talk about what they do, how I annoy them, and a lot more.

Books I Read This Week

Woodworking by Emily St. James
A novel about a teacher at a rural school in South Dakota who comes out as trans and befriends the only other trans person in town, her student. This book is charming and enjoyable. There are some great characters and a few twists that kept me on my feet. I couldn’t help but think with the heart and humor in the novel it would be a perfect sit-com. The book is a debut and that shows in that Woodworking is way too long, full of false starts and endings. But overall, a heartwarming comedy that hits most of its marks.

If you missed it, the author, Emily St. James did a bonus episode with me2 about trans representation in pop culture and the literary canon.

Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. by Judy Blume
Yes, I am the last person over the age of 12 on the planet to have never read this book. But, I’m here now. The book is about Margaret a sixth grader in a new town who is making friends,