Show & Tell: Election Anxiety (and Other Things)
Unstacked Digest for the week of October 21-27
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.
I am in full election anxiety mode. To release some of the pressure and avoid doom scrolling I took Mr. Stacks and The Minis with me to canvass for a congressional district that is super close near LA (shout out George Whitesides). I was worried the boys would hate it, but everyone had a fun time and we spent about 75 minutes walking and knocking (and taking snack breaks). I’ve gone canvassing (or made phone calls…or both) for every election since 2008 and it is the best way, I’ve found, to feel less terrified about the state of Democracy. So, if you’ve got a little extra time I am sure a campaign or two would appreciate your time (at this point maybe even more than your money). And let me just say, if a couple of 4-year-olds can do it, you can do it, too! It was 100% less scary than you’ve decided in your mind.
Speaking of election anxiety the plan is to write a Show & Tell these next two weeks, but there is a world in which I simply can’t because *gestures wildly*. I will give you something, maybe a Show & Tell digest.
I’m hedging right now. As you can clearly read. I just want to reserve the right to not write in case I just can’t.
This Week on Unstacked
Another week, another list of rants and raves!
I paired all five episodes from October with more books, because that is what I do.
Books I Read This Week
Gone Wolf by Amber McBride
This is a middle grade novel about a blue girl, Inmate Eleven, who has never be outside her small small room. The book expands and morphs from there, but I am being extra cautious to not say more. Gone Wolf is a creative look at history and how we carry trauma. I understand exactly what the author was doing with the book, and mostly think she was successful, but I still didn’t love the book. I was a kid who liked things to be told to me straight (I am an adult who likes this, too) and who read and watched documentaries around history, and so I find my adult self cringing at the ways middle grade books simplify history and harm. That being said, this book is solid attempt at a complicated subject matter. The first part is much better than the second part. I wish the book stayed there all the way to the end.
What If We Get It Right?: Visions of Climate Futures by Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson
Dr. Johnson interviewed 20 experts in their fields — farming, energy policy, Hollywood, banking — about our climate future if we get things right. What does it look like? How do we get there? What do we need? The interviews are paired with essays and poems to make this incredible book. To say I loved this book is an understatement. I think this book changed my brain. I have read a handful of “climate” books and none of them have ever inspired me or motivated me. This book made me (an extremely indoor cat) want to quit everything to dedicate my life to healing the planet. This book is smart and exciting. It is the most holistic look at climate justice I have ever seen. Johnson calls, extremely effectively, for us to see a future that is possible and better than what we have now, and a future we all need to be a part of creating. A future we have the tools for. A future we need to start building.
I want to specifically call out the audiobook, because it is almost 22 hours long, and I was confused as to why (the book is under 500 pages) and the answer is all the interviews are presented in the audiobook, its almost like 20 mini-podcast episodes. So worth a listen.
Fave of the week!
Housekeeping
This week I talked with
about her new book Abortion: and it is one of my favorite episodes of the year. I am so proud of this one, and if you have the time please give it a listen and share it with a friend (or eight).
My final installment of “Voter Literacy, with Traci” is now live over on Shereads.com. Instead of giving you a new topic relevant to the election, I went back and gave a bonus book recommendation for each of the topics we had already covered in the column. All of the recs are 2024 releases.
Things I Love…
Book News
This might be a hate (it is fully a hate…but I have bigger fish to fry later), but why in the hell is Aeysha Curry getting her own publishing imprint? Please, explain this to me like I’m five.
This isn’t just about Curry, there are far too many vanity project publishing imprints. I love a celebrity, I live in LA, but this has gone too far. People who are not associated with reading or writing at all now have their own imprints? This isn’t a book club pick. This is them deciding who gets to get a book deal and get resources and attention. And based on what? Why should Curry (or any celeb outside of publishing) get one? Cause they like books? Cause they want one?
Politics
You know Michelle Obama just be out here saying what needs to be said. The way she brings it home is proof of why she is elite. And arguably the best rhetorician in the family.
This little word play bit gave me a little levity today. I hope it makes you smile too.
Last thing, for those of you who live in swing states or any place with a very tight senate or congressional race, if you are tired of getting calls and people knocking on your door, you should vote early. Once you vote, you will be removed from the lists (though you still might get hit up to donate) The campaigns can see that you voted (not who you voted for) and they will remove you. They don’t want to waste time trying to get your vote once they know you have voted. Also, early voting when possible cuts back on long lines that might defer a less motivated voter on election day. It also leaves you free to volunteer on Election day, and prevents you getting caught up in any last minute surprises that might keep you from voting. So if you can, please vote early.