The Stacks Podcast: Unabridged Episode – Most Anticipated Books of 2025 with Sara Hildreth and Cree Myles

Release Date: January 17, 2025
Host: Traci Thomas
Guests: Sara Hildreth (Creator of Fiction Matters) and Cree Myles (Creator of Always Black Book Content Machine)

Introduction

In this special bonus episode of The Stacks, host Traci Thomas welcomes two esteemed guests, Sara Hildreth and Cree Myles, to discuss the most anticipated books for 2025. This episode provides exclusive insights tailored for Patreon and Substack subscribers, focusing on the evolving landscape of book recommendations and literary discussions.

Reflecting on 2024: A Year in Books

The conversation begins with reflections on the previous year’s reading experiences.

• Cree Myles shares her mixed feelings about 2024:
  “I felt like it was a good but not great reading year for me... I had a lot of disappointments in my new release reading” (04:03). She attributes some of her disappointment to reading “James and Martyr” early in the year, which set a high benchmark that other books couldn’t match.

• Sara Hildreth echoes a transformative experience:
  “I was just tired of it... I was feeling, like, pressure to read things that I didn't want to read because of my job” (05:00). She emphasizes a shift towards reading for personal fulfillment rather than external expectations, highlighting her emotional connection to books like “Martyr”.

Anticipations for 2025

Looking ahead, the trio discusses their hopes and goals for the upcoming year in reading.

• Cree Myles expresses excitement for finding her "book of the year" without the overshadowing presence of a single standout book from the previous year:
  “2024 was the year of James... I'm excited this year to find, like, my book of the year” (04:56).

• Traci Thomas shares her intentions to diversify her reading choices:
  “I’ve always read a super diverse group of books. I just feel like I'm not gonna feel as guilty about it when people” (11:24). She aims to continue exploring a wide range of genres and authors without succumbing to restrictive reading lists.

Navigating Identity Politics in Reading

A significant portion of the discussion centers on the impact of identity politics on reading choices.

• Traci Thomas voices her concerns:
  “I'm just really want to leave that behind because I don't think it's useful” (07:37). She critiques the pressure to only read books by authors who share one's identity, arguing that it limits literary exploration and critical engagement.

• Cree Myles supports this viewpoint, emphasizing the importance of diverse conversations:
  “All of these, like, books are in conversation with each other... if we silo our reading, we don't get that full experience” (10:48). She advocates for reading across different perspectives to enrich understanding and discourse.

Cree Myles Introduces the Reader's Almanac

Cree unveils her upcoming project, the Reader's Almanac, scheduled for mid-January release.

• Cree Myles describes it as a personalized reading guide crafted from her 2024 readings:
  “It's a reading guide, basically... putting them into this almanac divided by, like, reading mood” (12:04). Features include seasonal recommendations, a world map for international reads, and flowcharts for 20th-century classics.

• Traci Thomas expresses enthusiasm:
  “I cannot wait to see this” (14:07), highlighting the collaborative effort with her friend Katie from Clumsy Words, who designed the almanac.

Enhancing Critical Engagement Through Community

The episode underscores the value of community interactions in shaping critical perspectives.

• Cree Myles reflects on their group interactions:
  “I feel like we're all kind of like, narrowing in on our or sharpening our critical voices... getting more out of every book I read without feeling like I have to love every book I read” (07:02). This collaborative environment fosters deeper analytical skills and a balanced appreciation of literature.

Conclusion and Call to Action

Traci wraps up the episode by encouraging listeners to join The Stacks community for full access to the conversation and additional exclusive content. She directs interested individuals to subscribe via Patreon or Substack to engage with the book club and other literary discussions.

Notable Quotes

1. Cree Myles:
   “2024 was the year of James... I'm excited this year to find, like, my book of the year” (04:56).

2. Sara Hildreth:
   “I was just tired of it... I was feeling, like, pressure to read things that I didn't want to read because of my job” (05:00).

3. Traci Thomas:
   “I'm just really want to leave that behind because I don't think it's useful” (07:37).

4. Cree Myles:
   “All of these, like, books are in conversation with each other... if we silo our reading, we don't get that full experience” (10:48).

Key Takeaways

• Growth and Reflection: Both guests acknowledge the challenges and rewards of their 2024 reading journeys, emphasizing personal growth and a desire for more diverse literary experiences in 2025.

• Critical Engagement: The importance of developing critical voices and not feeling compelled to love every book is a central theme, promoting a balanced and thoughtful approach to reading.

• Community Influence: Engaging with a community of readers enhances the depth of literary discussions and supports individual reading goals.

• Upcoming Projects: Cree Myles’ Reader's Almanac introduces an innovative way to organize and discover books based on mood and themes, encouraging readers to explore their literary preferences dynamically.

For listeners eager to delve deeper into the discussion and access the full episode, subscribing to The Stacks via Patreon or Substack is recommended.