Top of The Stacks: August 2021

I’m trying something new. I know I share A LOT about my taste in books, but I’m more than just books. So, inspired by Grace Attwood from The Stripe, at the end of each month I’ll be sharing all the stuff I was into all month long. It’ll be a mix of the things I enjoyed throughout the month like articles, podcast episodes, recipes, clothes, TV shows, and whatever else I think is worthy. I’ll also include a little round up of The Stacks for the month, and the books I read. This is the plan for now, but it could change. So if you have thoughts of what you’d like to see more or less of let me know in the comments!


This incredible article about how one family has coped with the loss of their son/brother/partner after his death on September 11th.

This article freaked me the fuck out, Californians, please vote NO on the recall.

This essay on the California recall was also fascinating.

This is the only tea I need.

My mom got me this new kettle for my birthday, and it is a dream.

Ways you can help folks in Haiti.

If you’re worried about COVID and kids, I found this episode of The Daily helpful.

The Stacks is offering bonus episodes over on Patreon, check it out.

I got to talk about one of my favorite Shakespeare plays, Othello, on The Book That Blank Podcast.

Did someone say Cacio e Pepe Panzanella with Corn and Burrata?

Feeling rageful these days, you’re not alone, this op-ed about the potential political ramifications of anti-vaxxer puts to words lots of my questions and thoughts.

How many of the 100 best YA books have you read? It looks like I’ve got some YA reading to do.

I hosted a conversation with author Laura Dave on IG live for Anthropologie and Simon & Schuster, they let me wear this cute jumper and I’m not over it yet.

My go to day time summer dress is on sale (the dress in the picture on this post).

I love a mess, so I obviously have been all in with F Boy Island.

Did y’all know about these cookies and not tell me?

My favorite mom accessory is my Kibou fannypack, and I was featured on their blog. You can use code THESTACKS for 10% off.

Finally an actually interesting conversation around celebrity #showergate. And yes, I’ve added the book to my TBR.

This Jeopardy host scandal is juicy. You can hear from the journalist who broke the story, Claire McNear, here.

I’ve got lots of mixed feelings on Malcolm Gladwell, but this episode about laundry was great.

My August book pairing column on shereads.com is live.

I’m slowly working my way through season two of Ted Lasso, and I’m so glad for a little joy.

In case you’re looking for things to do with all those summer peaches. Start here. End here. You’re welcome.

WHAT I READ IN AUGUST

The Stack August Episodes


The Stacks participates in affiliate programs. We receive a small commission when products are purchased through links on this website, and this comes at no cost to you. This in no way effects opinions on books and products reviewed here. For more information click here.

The Stacks Book Club — September 2021

If you’ve been a fan of The Stacks for a while you may know that there was one book that sparked my desire to start the show. I talk about the book all the time, but have never featured it on the show. The timing never seemed right, I never felt like I had the guest to take on such a transformational book. However, September 2021 marks the 50 year anniversary of the uprising at Attica Prison, and so this month, I am proud to say, we are finally reading Blood in the Water: The Attica Prison Uprising of 1971 and Its Legacy by Heather Ann Thompson for The Stacks Book Club.

In her Pulitzer Prize winning book Blood in the Water, Thompson takes the reader through the history of an event that has shaped the criminal legal system over the last 50 years. The book explains the conditions that led to the unrest in the prison, the five days of negotiations, the violent retaking of the prison, and the years of litigation that followed. The book is a master class in research and storytelling. Blood in the Water gives voice to the people who fought for over 45 years for the truth of Attica to be exposed.

We will be discussing Blood in the Water by Heather Ann Thompson on Wednesday, September 29th. You can find out who our guest will be for that discussion by listening to the podcast on September 1st. If you’d like even more discussion around the book consider joining The Stacks Pack on Patreon and participating in The Stacks’ monthly virtual book club.

Order your copy of our August book on Bookshop.org or Amazon.


To contribute to The Stacks, join The Stacks Pack, and get exclusive perks, check out our Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/thestacks). We are beyond grateful for anything you’re able to give to support the production of The Stacks.

The Stacks participates in affiliate programs. We receive a small commission when products are purchased through links on this website, and this comes at no cost to you. This in no way effects opinions on books and products reviewed. For more information click here.

Ep. 178 Emergency Contact by Mary H. K. Choi — The Stacks Book Club (Juliet Litman)

It is The Stacks Book Club day, and we are discussing Emergency Contact by Mary H. K. Choi. To help us talk about this YA romance we have brought back the wonderful Juliet Litman, host of the Bachelor Party and Jam Session podcasts, as well as head of development at The Ringer. Today we talk about men who are not emotionally available, important messages for young people, and the acknowledgement section in books.
There are spoilers on today’s episode.

Be sure to listen to the end of today’s episode to find out our book club pick for September!

LISTEN NOW

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Overcast | Stitcher

Everything we talk about on today’s episode can be found below in the show notes. You can also find everything we talked about on Amazon.

Connect with Juliet: Twitter | Instagram | The Ringer

Connect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Subscribe

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

To contribute to The Stacks, join The Stacks Pack, and get exclusive perks, check out our Patreon page. If you prefer to support the show with a one time contribution go to paypal.me/thestackspod.


The Stacks participates in affiliate programs. We receive a small commission when products are purchased through links on this website, and this comes at no cost to you. This in no way effects opinions on books and products reviewed here. For more information click here.

Ep. 177 Defining the American Dream with Roger Bennett

If you’re in America and you love soccer, you know and love today’s guest, Roger “Rog” Bennett, the co-host of The Men in Blazers Show. Rog joins us to discuss his book, a New York Times #1 Bestseller, (Re)Born in the USA: An Englishman’s Love Letter to His Chosen Home. We talk about what it means to consider yourself an American, the dreams of our younger selves, and of course, a little soccer.

The Stacks Book Club selection for August is Emergency Contact by Mary H. K. Choi. We will discuss the book with Juliet Litman on Wednesday August 25th.

LISTEN NOW

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Overcast | Stitcher

Everything we talk about on today’s episode can be found below in the show notes. You can also find everything we talked about on Amazon.

Connect with Rog: Twitter | Instagram | Website | Podcast

Connect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Apple Podcasts | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

To contribute to The Stacks, join The Stacks Pack, and get exclusive perks, check out our Patreon page. If you prefer to support the show with a one time contribution go to paypal.me/thestackspod.


The Stacks participates in affiliate programs. We receive a small commission when products are purchased through links on this website, and this comes at no cost to you. This in no way effects opinions on books and products reviewed here. For more information click here.

Ep. 176 Leaving a Record of History with Adam Serwer

Today we welcome Adam Serwer to the podcast. Adam is a staff writer at The Atlantic and the author of The New York Times bestseller The Cruelty Is the Point: The Past, Present, and Future of Trump’s America. We talk about the historical record, Democracy as a means of managing conflict, running as creative routine, and much more.

The Stacks Book Club selection for August is Emergency Contact by Mary H. K. Choi. We will discuss the book with Juliet Litman on Wednesday August 25th.

LISTEN NOW

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Overcast | Stitcher

Everything we talk about on today’s episode can be found below in the show notes. You can also find everything we talked about on Amazon.

Connect with Adam: Twitter

Connect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Subscribe

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

To contribute to The Stacks, join The Stacks Pack, and get exclusive perks, check out our Patreon page. If you prefer to support the show with a one time contribution go to paypal.me/thestackspod.


The Stacks participates in affiliate programs. We receive a small commission when products are purchased through links on this website, and this comes at no cost to you. This in no way effects opinions on books and products reviewed here. For more information click here.

Ep. 175 Chatty Books with Juliet Litman

Our guest today is Juliet Litman. Juliet is the host of the podcasts Bachelor Party and Jam Session on The Ringer network. She is also the head of production at the Ringer. We talk today about the similarities between television and books, why Juliet loves “chatty” novels, and what changes should be made to The Bachelor franchise.

The Stacks Book Club selection for August is Emergency Contact by Mary H. K. Choi. We will discuss the book with Juliet Litman on Wednesday August 25th.

LISTEN NOW

Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | Overcast | Stitcher

Everything we talk about on today’s episode can be found below in the show notes. You can also find everything we talked about on Amazon.

Books

Everything Else

Connect with Juliet: Twitter | Instagram | The Ringer

Connect with The Stacks: Instagram | Twitter | Shop | Patreon | Goodreads | Subscribe

To support The Stacks and find out more from this week’s sponsors, click here.

To contribute to The Stacks, join The Stacks Pack, and get exclusive perks, check out our Patreon page. If you prefer to support the show with a one time contribution go to paypal.me/thestackspod.


The Stacks participates in affiliate programs. We receive a small commission when products are purchased through links on this website, and this comes at no cost to you. This in no way effects opinions on books and products reviewed here. For more information click here.

The Stacks Book Club — August 2021

To close out the summer we’re keeping it light around here with a young adult (or maybe new adult) romance novel. Our August pick is Emergency Contact the debut novel from Mary H. K. Choi. If Mary’s name sounds familiar its because she was a guest on The Stacks earlier in 2021, check out our conversation here.

In Emergency Contact we meet Penny and Sam. Penny is a college freshman trying to figure it all out. Sam is a 21 year old feeling stuck and lost which working day and night at the bakery he lives in. They meet in a less than adorable fashion and exchange numbers, they begin to text and then become digitally inseparable, without seeing each other in real life. The characters in Emergency Contact are complex and unlikeable in the most relatable ways. Ultimately this is a story of falling apart and trying to hold on to something or someone until you find your way.

We will be discussing Emergency Contact by Mary H. K. Choi on Wednesday, August 25th. You can find out who our guest will be for that discussion by listening to the podcast on August 4th. If you’d like even more discussion around the book consider joining The Stacks Pack on Patreon and participating in The Stacks’ monthly virtual book club.

Order your copy of our August book on Bookshop.org or Amazon.


To contribute to The Stacks, join The Stacks Pack, and get exclusive perks, check out our Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/thestacks). We are beyond grateful for anything you’re able to give to support the production of The Stacks.

The Stacks participates in affiliate programs. We receive a small commission when products are purchased through links on this website, and this comes at no cost to you. This in no way effects opinions on books and products reviewed. For more information click here.