The Stacks

It is The Stacks Book Club Day, and we're celebrating James Baldwin and his centennial year by reading his book, No Name in the Street. We're joined again by Senior Editor at Simon & Schuster- and founder of Literaryswag- Yahdon Israel. We talk about the delicate balance between public and private, in life and in memoir. We also examine the usefulness of public beefs, and Baldwin’s lasting legacy.

Be sure to listen to the end of today’s episode to find out what our June book club pick will be.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/05/29/ep-321-no-name-in-the-street

Connect with Yahdon: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Literaryswag

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Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

*Patreon- and Substack-only bonus episode teaser*

For today’s Unabridged, book lovers Cree Myles (All Ways Black) and Sara Hildreth (Fiction Matters) are back by popular demand to discuss the best books 2024, so far. We also get into our most disappointing reads, our favorite backlist titles, and what we’re most looking forward to for the rest of the year.

*This episode is exclusive to members of The Stacks Pack on Patreon and our Substack subscribers. To join a community, get inside access to the show, and listen now, click the link below.

JOIN PATREON OR SUBSTACK TO LISTEN

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

http://www.thestackspodcast.com/unabridged/2024/05/24/tsu-34-best-so-far

Connect with Cree: Instagram | Twitter | All Ways Black

Connect with Sara: Instagram | Fiction Matters | Novel Pairings

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

SUPPORT THE STACKS

Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sierra Greer is the novelist behind the new speculative fiction book Annie Bot, about what happens when an AI robot designed to be the perfect girlfriend learns to become human. We talk today about how this novel came to Sierra, why she chose to write under a pen name for this book, and how she was thinking about race and feminism throughout the novel.

The Stacks Book Club selection for May is No Name in the Street by James Baldwin. We will discuss the book on May 29th with Yahdon Israel.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/05/22/ep-320-sierra-greer

Connect with Sierra: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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

SUPPORT THE STACKS

Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon

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

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Writer and podcaster Carvell Wallace joins us to discuss their debut memoir Another Word for Love. Carvell describes the challenge of writing a trauma memoir without making it all about the trauma, and reveals how they thought about connecting with their audience. We also talk about how Carvell's past as an actor impacts the way they think about writing stories. 

The Stacks Book Club selection for May is No Name in the Street by James Baldwin. We will discuss the book on May 29th with Yahdon Israel.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/05/15/ep-319-carvell-wallace

Connect with Carvell: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Substack

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

SUPPORT THE STACKS

Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon

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

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today the prolific and award-winning children's book and Young Adult author Paula Yoo joins us. Her new nonfiction book is Rising from the Ashes: Los Angeles, 1992. Edward Jae Song Lee, Latasha Harlins, Rodney King, and a City on Fire. Paula explains why she wants to write these stories from recent American history for young people, and how she teaches her readers without being condescending or preachy. She also shares stories that didn't make the book but still left an impact on her.

The Stacks Book Club selection for May is No Name in the Street by James Baldwin. We will discuss the book on May 29th with Yahdon Israel.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/05/08/ep-318-paula-yoo

Connect with Paula: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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

SUPPORT THE STACKS

Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon

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

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Today we are joined by Yahdon Israel - writer, founder of Literaryswag Book Club, and Senior Editor at Simon & Schuster. A Brooklyn native and community-builder, Yahdon breaks down the distinction between the literary world and the publishing industry. Plus, Yahdon breaks down how he thinks about audience as who are you writing to, and who are you writing for?

The Stacks Book Club selection for May is No Name in the Street by James Baldwin. We will discuss the book on May 29th with Yahdon Israel.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/05/01/ep-317-yahdon-israel

Connect with Yahdon: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Literaryswag

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

SUPPORT THE STACKS

Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon

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

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's The Stacks Book Club day and writer Hala Alyan is back to discuss this month's pick, The January Children by Safia Elhillo. It is an award-winning poetry collection by the Sudanese-American poet Safia Elhillo. We examine the prevailing themes of displacement and duality, the urgency with which a poet writes, and we ask, how should one judge poetry?

Be sure to listen to the end of today’s episode to find out what our May book club pick will be.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/04/24/ep-316-the-january-children

Connect with Hala: Instagram | Website

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

SUPPORT THE STACKS

Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon

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

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

*Patreon- and Substack-only bonus episode teaser*

If you've ever felt like you didn't "get it" when it comes to poetry, The Stacks is here for a little poetry therapy featuring five spectacular poets breaking down their favorite poems. We are joined by José Olivarez, Morgan Parker, Saeed Jones, Nate Marshall and Gabrielle Bates. Each has selected a poem to read with Traci; then they discuss what they notice, how it works, and why it excites them. This episode is for folks who love poetry, those who cower in fear, and everyone in between. 

*This episode is exclusive to members of The Stacks Pack on Patreon and our Substack subscribers. To join a community, get inside access to the show, and listen now, click the link below.

JOIN PATREON OR SUBSTACK TO LISTEN

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/04/19/tsu-33-poetry-therapy

Connect with José: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Substack

Connect with Morgan: Instagram | Twitter | Website

Connect with Saeed: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Substack

Connect with Nate: Instagram | Website | Substack

Connect with Gabrielle: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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

SUPPORT THE STACKS

Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Journalist and bestselling author Keith O'Brien joins this episode to talk about his new book Charlie Hustle: The Rise and Fall of Pete Rose, and the Last Glory Days of Baseball. Keith reveals his thoughts on Rose's complex story, which is anything but black and white. We also discuss the steroid era of baseball, Pete Rose's legacy around race, and the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The Stacks Book Club selection for April is The January Children by Safia Elhillo. We will discuss the book on April 24th with Hala Alyan.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/04/17/ep-315-keith-obrien

Connect with Keith: Instagram | Twitter | Website

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

SUPPORT THE STACKS

Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon

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

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

First-time novelist and award-winning writer Andrew Boryga talks about his new book Victim, a satirical take on diversity initiatives, self-promotion and the art of the hustle. Andrew reveals how he thought about audience while composing the book, and discusses the difference between attention and privilege.

The Stacks Book Club selection for April is The January Children by Safia Elhillo. We will discuss the book on April 24th with Hala Alyan.

You can find everything we discuss on today's show on The Stacks' website:

https://thestackspodcast.com/2024/04/10/ep-314-andrew-boryga

Connect with Andrew: Instagram | Twitter | Website | Substack

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

SUPPORT THE STACKS

Join The Stacks Pack on Patreon

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

Purchasing books through Bookshop.org or Amazon earns The Stacks a small commission.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.