Show & Tell: Happy Huskies, Sad Dukies, and One Very Chatty Cory

Unstacked Digest for the week of March 31 - April 6

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.

Not a lot of preamble for you this week. Mostly, just feeling proud that The Stacks turned seven last week. To celebrate, I have the most random, amazing, iconic guest coming on the podcast on Wednesday. I still can’t believe I got to speak to this person. Truly beyond all of my wildest young dreams. To make sure you don’t miss this one…

---

This Week in The Stacks

Show & Tell: AWP, Perfect Pants, and the Cornbread that Haunts Me

My AWP roundup post plus a pair of pants I’m obsessed with.

It is National Poetry Month, and to kick things off, I spoke with Tiana Clark, the author of the new poetry collection, Scorched Earth. She had so many wonderful things to say about thinking about and connecting with poetry.

March Reads Ranked & A Quick Q1 Evaluation

I check in on my reading goals after getting through Q1, and I ranked the ten books I read in March.

---

Books I Read This Week

Who Is Government: The Untold Story of Public Service edited by Michael Lewis
I wasn’t expecting much from this little anthology that focuses on the people who make the United States government run, which is a good thing, because I allowed myself to be completely and totally surprised by it in the best way. Who Is Government is sweet and charming and tender and earnest, which feels like a list of the all the things I am actively not feeling when I think of the US government at the moment¹. It is easy to lose sight of, or never learn about, the people who do the work of keeping this country going day in and day out. It is not the wack ass politicians letting us down at every turn, it is actually more likely the guy in charge of the National Cemetery Association. I so enjoyed meeting this outstanding public servants and learning about their niches and stories. Plus, having a range of writers² tackle these individuals allow for a level of sincere enthusiasm and curiosity that could’ve easily gotten stale had this book been from the voice of a single writer. Bravo to Michael Lewis for the idea and execution.
Fave of the week!

---

Housekeeping

I need your help to pull off Stack the Shelves, the big event we’re hosting for those impacted by the LA fires. We’re four weeks out and we need donations, volunteers, and so much more. Please spread the word, tell you rich aunt, and all your LA friends. Click the button for all the details, and share like crazy.

Coming up in a little under a month is the LA Times Festival of Books, and as usual, your girl will be there. This year I am on The Mainstage in conversation with actress, comedian, and author Jenny Slate. This goes down on Sunday April 27, no tickets needed.

---

Things I Love…

Book Things

In an effort to be more like

Saeed Jones

on Vibe Check and to celebrate Poetry month, I wanted to share poem. I talked about it on this week’s episode with Tiana Clark. It is my most favorite poem. Nothing snarky to add. Just me, earnestly loving a poem³. If you like this poem too, you should check out Bass’ collection Mules of Love.

And a huge thank you to

José Olivarez

for introducing me to Ellen Bass on last year’s Poetry Therapy bonus episode⁴.

Sports

Congrats to Paige, Geno, and all the Huskies out of UConn on their decisive NCAA championship. Paige Bueckers crying and hugging her teammates and coaches almost made up for the game being a total bust.

Congrats to

Rosamond

for winning our bracket this year. Real MVP status.

Now, the other sports thing I love, even more than a huge win, is a devastating loss. Duke delivered the kind of choke job I live for. Well, I actually love any time Duke loses. I am convinced that rooting for Duke is a moral failing. Shout out to the men of the University of Houston for bringing me, and every other hater, joy on Saturday night. When Duke loses, America wins.

Politics

Speaking of America…Cory Booker talked for 25 hours straight, and while that was great. I guess⁵. Personally, it felt like a gauntlet was thrown… at me, Traci Thomas, a person who really thinks talking is one of her few marketable skills. I don’t mean to brag or whatever, but in middle school I never lost the “talk-a-thon”⁶ on our annual outdoor ed trip. Not once. Do I have to get elected to the Senate to prove that I could outdo Booker? Would a 25 hour podcast episode count? Should I have Cory on my podcast and then just talk over him the whole time?

Here is what I do know, if given the chance and elected by the great state of California to lead our nation, I could talk circles around Cory Booker⁷. I have never felt so sure about anything in my life⁸. No shade to Cory, but I was born to filibuster.

But, in a pivot that is in fact shade at Cory, after talking 25 hours straight about morality, and Trump and them being assholes, he turned around and voted against limiting funds to arm Israel.

Even in the aftermath of the highest moment in his career, Cory Booker found a way to fumble the bag. Truly, a modern day Democrat.