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Gift Guide for the Book Lovers in Your Life

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If you’re anything like my family you’ve got a book lover in your life and you’re too scared to actually buy them any books, because of course they’ve already read everything. I’m here to help you find the right book adjacent gifts for the book lovers in your life. If you’re stubborn and dead set on getting them an *actual* book, check out my favorite books of all time list, and the best books I’ve read this year, plus other curated lists of books I love. Or, you could get really presumptuous and preorder a book coming out in 2022 for them, here are a few 2022 releases I’m excited about.

  1. I love black, gold, and white, so this mug is an obvious, yes please.
  2. Do you need to gift a coffee subscription? Yes, you most certainly do. This is an easy gift for a person close to you or a coworker you barely know.
  3. If it’s a read on the go situation, you’ll need a way to transport your reading beverages, this bottle and mug combo is perfection.
  4. This Stagg electronic kettle is for all you coffee lovers, it allows temperature control and a variety of settings (oh and it’s good for tea lovers too).
  5. I love this Ember Temperature Controlled Mug because it keeps my tea warm while I read and doesn’t get between me and a good book.
  6. A gift Mr. Stacks got me that I loved was a very pretty Royal Albert Tea set, if you’ve got a tea lover in your life, this luxury only ups the reading experience.
  7. Gift a monthly tea subscription from Plum Deluxe, a family owned tea company.
  8. This is my favorite tea, it is a rose flavored black tea and it is perfect.
  9. A monogramed mug? Say no more.
  10. People ask my about my milk frother all the time, so here it is. Also worth noting, it was a holiday gift from my brother a few years back and I still love it!
  1. Are you even a book lover if you don’t have a favorite reading light? I love this light because it is rechargable, has multiple brightness settings, and is super easy to pack for trips.
  2. Mouth is the best snack delivery box, the food is gourmet, and they have so much variety. It is perfect for any book lover because they can graze on the goodies while they read, plus when you finish it, it’s gone, which means its not taking up precious bookshelf space.
  3. I swore I would never read on a Kindle but now I do and I like it a lot. It’s easy to travel with, and I use it to read at night so I don’t have to wake up Mr. Stacks if he’s asleep.
  4. Get this “book people” puzzle for the audiobook lover in your life, then they can do the puzzle while they listen to their new favorite book through Libro.FM.
  5. But did you know you could send ice cream in the mail? Jeni’s ice cream can be delivered and this holiday flavor way is legit.
  6. These noise canceling headphones are perfect for audiobooks, or just reading in peace. 
  7. This sweet treat salted caramel is perfect topping for any reader with a sweet tooth.
  8. Libro.FM is an online audiobook store that allows you to purchase audiobooks through your favorite indie bookstore. You can also give memberships to the readers in your life. They are a great company that cares deeply about supporting bookstores and local communities. 
  9. I do a lot of reading in the bath, and I love to throw these bath bombs in with me to set the mood. They smell great and they aren’t too oily.
  1. What kind of shameless self promoter would I be if I didn’t suggest some The Stacks gear? I mean we have very cute sweatshirts, hats, totes, and if the book lover in your life isn’t listening yet, tell them to check out the show!
  2. You’re not a real book lover if you don’t have a cozy cardigan. This one from Madewell is my most favorite these days, but honestly they have SOOOOO many you can’t go wrong.
  3. If all else fails, pick out some cute merch from your favorite bookworms, favorite indie bookstore.
  4. These slippers from Madewell are so cute and comfy. I love a leopard print, but they do come in other colors too.
  5. Not a book t-shirt that also supports a good cause! That’s exactly what this The 1619 Project tee does. 50% of all sales go to the African American Cultural Heritage Fund.
  6. Reading in bed wrapped up in a snuggly robe is certainly my happy place. This robe from Barefoot Dreams couldn’t be softer and more perfect for a slow morning in bed with a book.
  7. It’s not secret I love my Kibou minimalist diaper bag. It is very cute, functional, and it fits my Kindle. Plus, if you use the code THESTACKS at checkout you can get 10% off your order. Also, this one isn’t just for parents. I take it with me even when The Mini Stacks are nowhere to be found.
  8. Do good and look good in this tee shirt from The 1619 Project. Fifty percent of the sales price of this shirt goes to the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund.
  9. Simply Literary Co. has the best small batch bookish gear and it is full of personality.This book worm sweatshirt is the best bookish sweatshirt I’ve ever seen.
  10. These are my favorite socks for in the home and out in the world. They are warm, but not hot, they are thick, but fit nicely in sneakers, they are the best. (Use code: THESTACKS for 20% your first order)
  1. Since your favorite book lover needs a little green in their home this planter gift box is perfect.
  2. A candle that smells great and supports the National Park system is a perfect pair.
  3. How will you light all these candles? With the matches in this match cloche of course!
  4. If I’m reading I’m wrapping myself up in a cozy throw blanket, and these faux fur ones are my faves. 
  5. What better way to track reading than with this vibrant oversized planner?
  6. These West Elm coasters are perfect for any warm or cold reading beverage.
  7. This Noir Santal candle from AN Style is the best smell ever. I live for this candle. There are other great scents, but this one if my fave, and it gets me in the mood to relax and read.
  8. I love this cozy oversized chunky knit throw blanket. It is heavy enough for warmth, and moody enough for style.
  9. A gift Mr. Stacks got for me one year was a weekly flower delivery from a local florist, Whit Hazen (If you’re in LA I highly recommend Whit). It was the best five weeks of my life. I loved reading near my flowers and using them for my bookstagram photos. Here is a list of Black owned florists across the United States.

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.

Top of The Stacks: October 2021

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Here is a little glimpse of the best things I ate, wore, read, watched, and cooked this month. I also made sure to include my favorite chocolate based candy, because I think folks are sleeping on the goodness that is Reese’s Take 5 bars. Thank me later.

I found this article super interesting on the ways Black women are creating narratives around passing.

These are my favorite workout socks, and now they sponsor the show.

The best part of October is all the candy, my favorite chocolate candy are Reese’s Take 5 and if you don’t know you need to find out!

I was the guest host on Keep It! and it is a real life dream come true.

It finally got chilly in LA so I busted out my go to lasagna recipe I’ve been making/eating since 2005.

I wrote about these three books this month for my shereads.com column.

Wait, Lularich is the scam documentary of my life. I’d never seen or hear of these atrocious leggings but I’m all in now.

And of course the brilliant Sam Sanders did an episode on the documentary. Must listen.

Past podcast guest, Rebecca Carroll, wrote this piece on the moving Passing and it’s very good.

I got to talk about why books are the best on Nichole Perkin’s podcast, This is Good For You!

I know it’s a little early, but I did get the boys these Black Santa pajamas for the holidays and they’re perfect.

It’s not secret I love Colin Kaepernick, and his new show Colin in Black and White on Netflix is worth watching.

Sweater weather is here and I am ready in this cute and comfy (not itchy at all) cardigan.

I may or may not have started watching Succession at the start of the third season, I did not go back. I am the chaos.

Michelle, The Bachelorette, is here and I love it!

This is my favorite tea brand, and I finally tried their Chai tea bags, and they are very good.

WHAT I READ IN OCTOBER

THE STACKS OCTOBER 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.

Top of The Stacks: September 2021

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It is already the end of September and I am truly confused as to where this month went. I got to go on a little getaway to a friend’s wedding in Oregon, met up with fellow book lovers Lauren (@literarylauren_) and Morgan (@nycbookgirl). I was in a major reading slump, but think things are getting better. I finished my read through of all 37 of Shakespeare’s plays. It took 39 months, but I did it. Also, as you’ll see, I spent a lot of time this month revisiting 9/11 and the ways it has changed so much of how we live today.

You know I love Sam Sanders, and he has Michaela Cole on the show this month, and it’s pretty spectacular.

Every year on the anniversary of 9/11 I read this piece. It has stuck with me, and this year there was also a podcast episode about the writing of this article. (Warning: There are graphic photos that accompany the article).

This Curry Salmon was so good and I made it with these charred green beans. I’m still thinking about this meal.

I loved this piece from Mitchell Jackson on grief, joy, and friendship.

I am not a pumpkin person at all, but I tried this pumpkin chai and I was pleasantly surprised.

Turning Point is a five part series on 9/11 and the history leading to the event and the repercussions thereafter.

Heather Ann Thompson wrote about Attica on the 50th anniversary of the uprising.

Speaking of the legacy of Attica, reading about what is going on at Rikers in NYC feels all too familiar.

Yes, these are still very much the only short I’ll wear.

Is anyone else obsessed with these Murdaugh murders and this podcast? This is a wild story that is very much still unfolding.

This oven-roasted chicken shawarma was so easy and so good. A perfect busy night dinner.

I’m pretending its not 80 degrees in LA in this sweater.

If you’re not already a member of The Stacks Pack on Patreon, you need to join. We just launched our first bonus episode (Kiese Laymon interview me), created a Discord community, and started a monthly list of book recommendations from an indie bookseller (Uncle Bobbie’s in Philly this month).

Imani Perry wrote a great piece Gayl Jones.

For those of you who are into this season of Bachelor in Paradise, this episode of Bachelor Party (hosted by friend of the pod, Juliet Litman) is so so so good.

This candle smells life a forrest which I am here for. It’s also huge.

I really appreciated this piece about interrupting as a (sometimes) sign of cooperation. It reminded me of this book about language and sexism, which I really enjoyed. Thanks to Tara for putting me up on the book.

My candy snack of the month has been these, Mr. Stacks had never heard of him, now we’re both fully addicted. They are SOOOO good.

I wrote about these three books this month for my shereads.com column.

WHAT I READ IN SEPTEMBER

The Stack September 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.

Top of The Stacks: August 2021

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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 x Million Book Project Fundraiser

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We’re doing something big to celebrate three years of The Stacks! Our annual fundraiser is back!

For the next 30 days, The Stacks will be raising money for The Million Book Project to support their mission of bringing books and authors into prisons to facilitate meaningful conversations that break down barriers. The Million Book Project is an initiative that harnesses the power of literature to counter what prison does to the spirit. It was founded by author, poet, attorney, and activist Reginald Dwayne Betts. The Project’s work is to build a 500-book Freedom Library and place it in prisons in every state in this country, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. These curated libraries promise to build community among and between those incarcerated, prison staff, and friends and family back home.

The goal for The Stacks community is to raise $50,000 which will help to build ten new 500-book Freedom Libraries.

I know this is a whole lot of money, but I truly believe in the power of this community to do incredible and unbelievable things motivated by our love of books. Why should this be any different? If possible, I am asking folks to forgo buying a book this month, and instead to make a $25 donation for this incredible organization.

Take a look at what your donations will support:

$5 – Gifts in the single digits say solidarity & help nurture The Million Book Project.

$25 – Put a book or two in the hands of a reader in prison.

$150 – Provide a book club in a prison with a set of a next book to digest & discuss.

$500 – Supply the latest book of the month to book club participants in multiple prisons across a state.

Above & Beyond – Help to fill the shelves of a Freedom Library with books that open worlds and feed dreams.

Due to strict prison regulations we can only accept monetary donations through the link below, please do not send any physical books.

DONATE NOW

Please note: The Million Book Project has its institutional home within the Justice Collaboratory at Yale Law School. Click the button above to donate online or send checks to: Yale Law School Fund ATTN: The Million Book Project, 127 Wall Street. New Haven, CT 06511 (Please include in your memo line: Designation Number 38701)

My 10 Favorite Reads of 2020

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Here it is, a list of my ten favorite reads of 2020. No, not every book in the list was published in 2020, but yes, every book on this list is superb. They’re presented here in alphabetical order with a few thoughts about each book. For more detailed reviews please check out The Stacks page on Instagram.

I did keep track of everything I read. Mostly because I’m a huge nerd and love a good spreadsheet, but also because I like to stay accountable to my reading goals.

Before I dive into my top 10 books, here is a little breakdown of what I read in 2020. I read a total of 95 books, which blew my goal of 36 out of the water. Though my goal was purposefully low because I didn’t know what to expect with the addition of The Mini Stacks this year.

  • 64 were by authors of color (67%)
  • 62 books were by women or nonbinary authors (65%)
  • 48 books were by women/femme authors of color (50%)
  • 45 books were published in 2020 (47%)
  • 52 books were acquired by me in 2020 (55%)
  • 59 books were nonfiction (62%)
  • 15 books received five stars (16%)
  • 1 books received one star (1%)

I love a good stat, and I could break down my reading even more, but I won’t. Instead here are my top 10 favorite reads of 2020.

Anna K: A Love Story by Jenny Lee (2020)

A modern retelling of Anna Karenina set in current day NYC with socialite teenagers. Think “Gossip Girl” with amazing storytelling and wonderful characters.

I loved this book. Jenny Lee really creates something fun and exciting that I didn’t want to put down. I found myself so invested in the characters and their journeys. There’s a central love story that doesn’t feel corny, which is hard to do, especially with teenagers. This one comes highly recommended.

The Autobiography of Malcom X as told to Alex Haley (1965)

The story of one of our most important and influential leaders, Malcolm X. This book changed my life and the ways in which I see and relate to the world around me. I can credit it with helping me begin to understand racism as something systemic in America and not something only “bad” people do. This book is revolutionary.

One of the most impressive parts of this book is how Malcolm is able to stand in his truth and share that with the world and say it fully with his chest, and then learn something new and change his mind. That kind of courage is tough to imagine. His commitment to seeking justice and equality for Black folks was not to be interfered with, even if it was he who was getting in the way.

The Stacks Book Club discussion of The Autobiography of Malcom X can be found here.

Black Futures edited by Kimberley Drew and Jenna Wortham (2020)

Easily my most immersive and unique reading experience of 2020. Black Futures is a collection of essays, art, memes, conversations, recipes, lyrics, and more that attempt to detail and encompass the experience of Blackness today. This book is a time capsule of Blackness and a dream for our future.

I loved this book so much. It is massive and rich and full of wisdom and joy and creativity and activism and defiance and beauty. It is the embodiment of the saying “Blackness is not a monolith”. The topics range from Black Indigeneity to self-care, from Ocean preservation to Colin Kaepernick. And it’s not just about each of these things the book connects the many seemingly disparate dots and exposes the multitudes we, Black folks, contain. Drew & Wortham clearly poured so much love into this collection and into telling our stories. A blessing.

Breathe: A Letter to My Sons by Imani Perry (2019)

A deeply personal examination of life, family, gender, race, memory, and violence Breathe is a lush and layered addition to the epistolary tradition in Black American writing.

Perry has created something that is both complex and direct. A combination that is nearly impossible to do well. She is audacious and generous in allowing the reader into her relationship with her sons. I kept asking myself where does she get off writing with this much skill and emotion? The care and love in these pages are unmistakable. I can barely scratch the surface of what I want to say about this book here.

The Stacks Book Club discussion of Breathe can be found here.

Heavy: An American Memoir by Kiese Laymon (2018)

This book was on this same list in 2018, but in 2020 I reread the book before Laymon was a guest on The Stacks. This time I listened on audio. This book holds up and is maybe even better the second time around. Heavy is an emotional memoir of Laymon’s life as a young Black man in Jackson, Mississippi.

The book is brutally honest and unyieldingly vulnerable. We are told of struggles and successes, addictions and abuses. Throughout Heavy there is blank space for the reader to connect to Laymon and to connect his life to a bigger picture of being Black in America. Laymon’s dedication to the written word and to the power of revision is striking.

You can hear Kiese Laymon on The Stacks on Episode 118 and Episode 122.

Memorial Drive: A Daughter’s Memoir by Natasha Trethewey (2020)

When Natasha Trethewey was 19 her stepfather murdered her mother. Memorial Drive is the examination of that event, Trethewey’s childhood, and the ways trauma and memory are in a constant struggle.

This book is incredible. I had visceral reactions through out my reading. Tears. Gasps. Tightening of my chest. This story is painful, powerful, and beautifully told. The kind of bravery Trethewey mustered to put this story on the page is something I cannot comprehend. There are depictions of domestic violence in this book that are haunting. They are difficult to read (despite the fact that Trethewey is careful to protect her reader). These sections are necessary. They are not gratuitous. To tell this story without these details is to protect abusers and the systems that enable them.

Othello by William Shakespeare (1603)

This play is extraordinary. It might be my most favorite Shakespeare play (and at this point I’ve read almost all of them). It is smart and complex and feels timely every time I read it. Mostly because racism, sexism, and violent white boys never seem to go out of fashion. And yes, this was already on my 2018 list of favorite reads.

Iago’s rage and jealousy stuck out during this read more than anything else. He lies so convincingly and so consistently, the parallels to the party in power in America are haunting. The fearlessness with which white men take and destroy is front and center in Othello. Also Act 4 Scene 3 is a scene that I love so much as it shows the way women fight against instinct and intuition to love toxic men. It is beautiful and devastating.

The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw (2020)

This short story collection is so good. It’s funny. It’s depressing. It’s complex. It’s rich. It’s Southern. It’s sobering. It’s sexy and violent. It’s specific. It’s surprising. It’s delicious. It’s Black and free and brilliant. Philyaw snapped on each and every story. They’re short and pack a major punch. There is no apology. There is no white gaze and for that I feel entirely grateful. I don’t want to tell you more. Just read this book.

Stakes Is High: Life After the American Dream by Mychal Denzel Smith (2020)

A masterful work that calls into question the dissonance of The American Dream and the reality that is The United States. Smith asks for reflection and reimagining in the aftermath of the 2016 election. Abolition, justice, reform, and redistribution are all on the table in this brutal and searing call to action.

Smith is an incredible writer. He distills the contradictions of America and Americanness down to its true, immoral, and predatory essence. I was impressed by the ways Smith kept Stakes Is High in the current moment (the book is not afraid of confronting the here and now) and also rooted in a history that reminds us that none of this is new. The book is in conversation with the great texts on race and liberation in America, and is part of the tradition of abolition, revision, and rigorous curiosity.

Sula by Toni Morrison (1973)

The simple synopsis: the story of best friends, Sula and Nel, the town they grow up in, their families and their bond. The complicated synopsis: everything.

Sula is an incredible feat of storytelling. It’s smart. It’s funny. It’s tragic. Morrison says all she needs to say without any excess. The ways Morrison captures the joy and trauma and complexity of Blackness is what will always stick with me from this book. The humor that is an integral part of Blackness is not overlooked, it is the foundation of this story.

Find The Stacks episode on Sula here.

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 here. For more information click here.

The 2020 Stacks Book Club Battle of the Books

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Its back! The 3rd Annual The Stacks Book Club Battle of the Books!

We did it in 2018 and 2019 and honestly, its the best tradition and I hope you’re all as thrilled for round three as I am.

To refresh your memory, The Battle of The Books is a March Madness style bracket where you vote to pick the book club book of the year. You also get a chance to win one of TSBC books by predicting the most accurate bracket over on https://challonge.com/thestacks2020 or click here. You create your account put your predictions in for who you think will win. Then on The Stacks Instagram Stories, you’ll vote (starting 12/22) for your favorite books in head to head battles, until we crown one winner, The Stacks Book Club Book of the Year. The results of each round will be updated over on Challonge (our bracket site) and on our Instagram @thestackspod.

You have until Tuesday, December 22nd at 8:00am PST to put in your predictions. The winner will be whoever has the most accurate bracket, and they will win one of our TSBC books from 2020 (winner’s choice). We will announce the winner of the tournament and the winner of the giveaway on Thursday, December 31st once all the results are in.

Here is the important stuff.

  1. Make sure you’re following The Stacks on Instagram @thestackspod.
  2. Register for the bracket if you want to be part of the giveaway CLICK HERE
  3. Vote in each round on our Insta Stories,  starting Tuesday December 22nd . All voting on Instagram!
  4. Spread the word!

If you want all the nerdy details of how the seeding was figure out, you’ve come to the right place. Mostly I created a bunch of my own calculations to rank the books based on many factors. The rankings are full of biases and assumptions, and honestly, thats what makes this fun. You all ultimately get to vote, which means you get to decide. Here is how I ranked these books, and below find a more detailed description of what that means. 

  • Podcast Downloads– Raw number of downloads that episode received according to my data (I know older episodes will be at a disadvantage as the podcast grew over time, but also newer episodes suffer because they haven’t been up as long, I’m hoping it all evens out). It is worth noting that I excluded Citizen: An American Lyric  from this calculation since that episode is not out yet.
  • iTunes Episode Popularity– iTunes lets me see how popular each episode is. Its slight different than raw downloads, because they take into account listeners at the time of recording, but they also only include people listening through iTunes. Again, Citizen: An American Lyric was excluded from this category, see above.
  • Goodreads Scores– I looked up each book on Goodreads and took that score.
  • Goodreads Reviews– I took the raw number of Goodreads reviews for each book.
  • Test of Time– The older a book is, the more credit it got, because it has withstood the test of time. 
  • Social Media Input– I’ve asked The Stacks Instagram followers to tell me their favorite book we read this year, and those responses are incorporated.
  • Traci’s Personal Ranking– Thats right, I’m influencing this competition a little. Its my podcast, so why not?

There are 16 books in the competition, so in each of those categories the books are rated on a scale of 1-16. Each book received a score from each category, 1 being the best, 16 the worst. I then tallied all the scores and divided by 7 (in the case of Citizen: An American Lyric only 5). The lower the score, the higher the ranking.

I know that sounds like a lot, but just trust me, it makes sense. Here are the rankings based on these calculations, and their total overall raw scores, remember lower is better. Where there was a tie, I broke the tie.

  1. The Autobiography of Malcolm X – 3.28
  2. Sula – 3.85
  3. The Giver – 5.14
  4. Citizen 5.8
  5. The Undocumented Americans – 6.14
  6. Breathe – 6.57
  7. Sister Outsider – 7.57
  8. Trick Mirror – 7.71
  9. The Hating Game – 8.71
  10. Trust Exercise – 9.71
  11. Savage Appetites -9.85
  12. So You’ve Been Publicly Shamed – 10.14
  13. Three Women 10.28
  14. The Butterfly Effect – 11.14
  15. Cribsheet – 11.28
  16. Number One Chinese Restaurant – 12.28

Voting begins Tuesday December 22nd, shortly after 8:00am PST for the first round, and will follow the schedule below. Remember you vote on The Stacks Instagram stories. You just click your favorite book in each round’s head to head matchup. Once the results are in, I’ll share the winners with you and we get ready for the next round. The schedule is below.

Round 1 – December 22nd – Sweet Sixteen 16

Round 2 – December 26th – Elite 8

Round 3 – December 28th – Final 4

Round 4 – December 30th – Championship

That feels like a lot, trust me, it’ll be fun and worth it.
Here is the important stuff.

  1. Make sure you’re following The Stacks on Instagram @thestackspod.
  2. Register for the bracket if you want to be part of the giveaway CLICK HERE
  3. Vote in each round on our Insta Stories,  starting Tuesday December 22.
  4. Spread the word!

For those of you curious who won in previous years, 2018 was The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, and 2019 was Red at the Bone by Jacqueline Woodson. Who will ascend the throne in 2020?

To contribute to The Stacks, join The Stacks Pack, and get exclusive perks, check out our Patreon page. We are beyond grateful for anything you’re able to give to support the production of this show. If you prefer to do 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 — December 2020

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In a book that combines essays, poetry and visual art, Claudia Rankine has crafted an instant classic with 2014’s Citizen: An American Lyric. The book is a powerful examination of racial aggression, from the types of interactions that are easy to overlook to overt acts of violence against Black bodies. Citizen, like anti-Black racism, does not stick to one tactic or form, instead it shape shifts leaving the reader surrounded by the many insidious ways that white supremacy functions and thrives. Art, sport, police violence, and more are part of this brilliant work of social criticism.

We will be discussing Citizen: An American Lyric on the podcast on Wednesday, December 30th. You can find out who our guest will be by listening to the podcast on December 2nd. 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 December 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.

The Unputdownables: Memoir

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Back in May of 2019 I had this idea to do a series of book lists featuring your favorite most unputdownable books. The first (and only) edition was of course on nonfiction and then I dropped the ball, but I’m bring backing The Unputdownables here and now.

To start, I’ll share two or three of my favorite and more readable memoirs. Then I’ll share all of yours. I didn’t add anything to the list, this is all sourced from YOU! If something is missing, and you want your picks to be included in future editions of The Unputdownables make sure you’re following The Stacks on Instagram, and participating when you see the question box appear.

Heavy by Kiese Laymon – This should come as a surprise to approximately zero people. I love this book with my whole heart. Laymon is constantly examining and revising what is means to be Black, Southern, curious, alive, and free through the pages of his memoir. Not only is Heavy rhythmic and well written it is also generous and vulnerable and rich. If you’ve never read this book, please make time for it. I can not speak highly enough of the book itself and the man who wrote it. Kiese Laymon has also appeared on The Stacks podcast and in conversation with me on The Stacks Instagram.

The Other Side by Lacy M. Johnson – A brutal and powerful story of Johnson’s kidnapping, rape, and attempted murder at the hands of her ex-boyfriend. This memoir will make your heart race, however the violence and trauma is handled with care. It is incredibly readable and thought provoking. Johnson is a professional writer and The Other Side reads as a piece of art and a indictment on the ways violence against women is an accepted part of America’s identity. You can also hear Lacy M. Johnson on The Stacks from 2019.

A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier by Ishmael Beah – An incredible story of Beah’s childhood as a solider in Sierra Leone. The book follows his journey, the atrocities he saw, and the ways he coped. Deeply moving and a reminder that you never know what other people carry with them.

Here are a list of books submitted by you of your most unputdownable memoirs. If the book came up multiple times I will note that by placing the number times it came up in parenthesis. If I have read the book, I will note that too, by putting the book in bold. The books are in alphabetical order by title. Ok. here is your list of totally bingeable memoirs as told to me by YOU.

Thats the list for The Unputdownables: Memoir. Make sure to share which books you would add to this list in the comments. Stay tuned for the next round of The Unputdownables, coming soon.

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 here. For more information click here.

The Stacks 2nd Anniversary Superlatives

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(Photo: Claire Leahy)

Today marks The Stacks’ second birthday! This little podcast baby is now a toddler!

In that time we have released 134 episodes, had over 70 guests, discussed countless books, and read thousands of pages. It has been an amazing journey and it wouldn’t be anything without all the love of support of this bookish community. I am beyond grateful to all of our guests, the publishers, the publicists, the authors, the readers, and anyone who has ever listened to the show.

This podcast has been one of my lives great joys.

Last year I created The Stacks Superlatives, and I thought we should do it again for year two! I have loved all of my guests and episodes, but there are a few that have stood out for me, so here they are!

Listener’s Favorite
Ep. 89 Staying True to Yourself with Jason Reynolds

This season an overwhelming crowd favorite was my conversation with author Jason Reynolds. Jason came on the show shortly after the release of his middle grade short story collection Look Both Ways. Jason brought with him his infectious and inspiring energy, and ridiculously good taste in books.

Most Therapuetic
Ep. 63 For the Love of Therapy with Lori Gottlieb
Ep. 64 The Unwinding of the Miracle by Julie Yip-Williams — The Stacks Book Club (Lori Gottlieb)

When you want to talk about real life stuff, you must call your therapist, and Lori Gottlieb is just that. The author of Maybe You Should Talk to Someone talked with us about therapy, life, and loss. It was a really beautiful conversation about the ways we show up for each other and the ways we could do better. We then talked about Julie Yip-Williams death memoir, The Unwinding of the Miracle for The Stacks Book Club and it was a healing conversation about how we talk about death.

Most Poetic
Ep. 56 Wild Beauty by Ntozake Shange — The Stacks Book Club (Gabrielle Civil)

April is poetry month, and to help us tackle our first ever poetry collection, performance artists and author Gabrielle Civil joined us. We talked about Ntozake Shange’s collection Wild Beauty. Gabrielle made sure to encourage us all to read more poetry and to not worry about “getting it”.

Favorite Fellow Podcaster
Ep. 77 Its OK to Hate a Book with Sarah Enni
Ep. 78 Educated by Tara Westover — The Stacks Book Club (Sarah Enni)

Sarah Enni is an author and the host of The First Draft Podcast. On her show she sits down with authors and storytellers and discusses their creative process. It was such a delight to get together with someone else who does the same kind of show as me and to discuss books and podcasting. Not to mention all the wonderful insights Sarah had for The Stacks Book Club conversation of Educated by Tara Westover.

Book I Want Everyone to Read
Ep. 58 Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed — The Stacks Book Club (Keltie Knight)

If there was ever a book that could make you want to smile and cry at the same time it is Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed. The book is a collection of Strayed’s advice from a column she once wrote for The Rumpus. When we talked about this book with Keltie Knight of The Lady Gang was a total delight. If nothing else I think this book is great reminder to be a littler more empathetic and compassionate when we can be, and to be more of a mother fucker when we need to be.

Most Charming
The Short Stacks 27: Shea Serrano//Movies (and Other Things)

I dare you to listen to this episode and not want to become BFFs with Shea Serrano. He is an author and columnist at The Ringer. His books are super creative and funny, and his latest, Movies (and Other Things) is no exception. Anyone who knows of Shea knows he is hilarious and ridiculously talented with words. He also has the cutest family, and seems like a great hang. He is so smart and thoughtful, and all the things. Look at me I’m gushing. Just go listen to his and then join him on Twitter where he and his followers give to charities and people and need, and sometimes even get called out by BARACK OBAMA!

Bucket List Moment
The Short Stacks 22: Ibram X. Kendi//How to Be and Antiraicst
Ep. 65 Crafting a Compelling Narrative with Dave Cullen

When I first set out to create this show, I had a bucket list of authors I wanted to have on The Stacks. Welp, in our second season, I got TWO of them! Both Dave Cullen (Columbine) and Ibram X. Kendi (Stamped from the Beginning) came on the podcast to talk about their newest books. It was a total dream come true, and you can most certainly hear me fan-girling like crazy over both of them!

Person You Most Want to Get a Drink With
The Short Stacks 23 : Tressie McMillian Cottom//Thick

I had the absolute best time talking with author, podcast host, and professor Tressie McMillan Cottom about her collection of essays Thick. I don’t know what to say about her beside, she is a force and if she ever wanted to grab a drink (or twelve) I would be so down. I know sitting with her would be hilarious and would teach me so much about the world.

Best Book Breakdown
Ep. 60 Beloved by Toni Morrison — The Stacks Book Club (DaMaris B. Hill)

DaMaris B. Hill (A Bound Woman is a Dangerous Thing) joined the show to talk about Beloved by Toni Morrison, and from the first sentence she blew me (and everyone at home) away. She was layering all kinds of history as she broke down the details and implications of this book. DaMaris taught me so much in the hour we sat talking, the whole time I just kept thinking “I would LOVE to be in her classroom”. If you’ve ever read the book, you must listen to this episode. She will blow you away.

Most Sentimental
Ep. 1 Talking Books with Dallas Lopez

You can’t have an anniversary if you never get started, and so this superlative goes to the first ever episode with our guest, and my friend, Dallas Lopez. Dallas, a high school English teacher, joined the show before I ever knew what the show was, and helped shape The Stacks. I would be lost without his ability to talk about books.
(I know this is breaking the rules, but I don’t care)

I would love to hear what books or episodes stick out for you. Share in the comments below. This list is making me want to go back and listen to every single episode of the podcast. Thank you again and again for being a part of this show and this community. Without all of you, there is no The Stacks.

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 here. For more information click here.