what would you do?

[Gwen]

Ok so I took my daughter to the library today to get some books and saw a poster..... They are starting a book club to meet once a month. I thought "cool, might be something to consider to get out and meet some ppl".... Then I read the book list.

November's book "Out of Mormonism: A Woman's True Story by Judy Robertson"so I came home and searched the book. Took me to a site to find that the book is written by one of the founders of "Concerned Christians: bringing the biblical Jesus to the Latter-Day Saints"

January's book is "19th Wife by David Ebershoff " Which

combines epic historical fiction with a modern murder mystery to create a brilliant novel of literary suspense.
It is 1875, and Ann Eliza Young has recently separated from her powerful husband, Brigham Young, prophet and leader of the Mormon Church. Expelled and an outcast, Ann Eliza embarks on a crusade to end polygamy in the United States. A rich account of a family’s polygamous history is revealed, including how a young woman became a plural wife.

So what would you do?

Things to keep in mind.....

This is a very small town.

I know many of the ladies at the library (some do know I'm LDS).

I've never attended this book club before so I don't know how many ppl come, what they usually discuss, or how the books are picked.

[Maureen]

I'd be curious just for curiousity sake. A combination of non-LDS and LDS perspective might make for an interesting book club.

M.

[Daybreak79]

Have the missionaries attend with you to answer any questions the other ladies will have.

[Gwen]

we don't have missionaries....

[Loudmouth_Mormon]

Sounds like you need to know if they'd be receptive to hearing the other side of the issue. Most bookclubs don't pick two antimormon books in three months - I'd discover why that is before deciding to join.

If you decide to interact with these folks, prepare a bunch of lighthearted and nonoffensive things to say during all the awkward silences. Consider a bunch of conservatives getting together and reading a book about why liberals are all stupid. One liberal is looking at joining the group. It's hard to denegrate people and engage in groupthink bigotry if a representative of the target group is standing there with a polite smile on her face.

Good luck! For what it's worth - I pulled it off once. I went to the "Are Mormons Christan" class at our local Mega-church. They were nice people, and we got along fine until I opened my mouth. Then I was politely dis-invited.

[Gwen]

I figure my options are.....

leave it alone and don't think anything else about it.

start going now, read the first 2 books, build a repore and then when the anti books come up I might be able to be a voice of the other view of things.

Go to the head of the library, who I know fairly well, and ask for more info. Who picks the books, why those two, etc. Leave a polite complaint, possibly getting the list changed.

Outcomes of those options....

they sit around and believe the lies and feed eachother in thinking such talk is ok.

might actually get them to see things differently. or they get angry and it turns ugly and I end up leaving anyway.

They complain that some mormon got the list changed without even joining the group. feeds their fodder and they decide they must be right because there is "something there I don't want them to know".

I'm sure there are other options but those come to my mind first. lol


I guess what bothers me most is this is my public library, the one I take my kids to story time at, we did the summer reading program, etc. If their church wants to hold anti classes then that is their right, have fun. If they were doing a religious study and one month was about the baptist church written by a baptist and another was about muslim written by a muslim and another lds by an lds. sounds fun. I know they would not be ok with a book by someone from the kkk explaining why dark skin is really inferior. Or something that attacked any other christian religion. Or a book that used the bible to prove why women are subserviant to men. It's just fun to see ppl pick and choose their bigotry.

[JudoMinja]

You could leave it alone and ignore it, or go ahead and go get involved in the discussion. I think those are your best options. Making a complaint and asking to have the books removed doesn't really get much accomplished. Besides, who knows what the thoughts are of the people attending the book club? They're not the ones who pick the books... That does make me think of another option though- you could find out who picks the books and try to have a nice conversation with them to find out why those books were included. Then share your testimony and ask if they want to come to church with you!

[gopecon]

I think the first question to find out is how the books are chosen. If it's the club members, then I'd take the hint that Mormons are not welcome and let it go. If there was a more official person choosing books (someone from the library), then I'd say a complaint of some sort is in order. As Gwen said, they wouldn't sponsor avowed racists who wanted to read Mein Kampf or other racist writings. Heck, the library management may not be that aware of the books that are being discussed there, so a call or letter to them might be in order in either case.

I would be very surprised if these books came up innocently. That's not to say that all people who read them are rabid anti-Mormons, but for 2 books to come up in 3 months that are anti...Well lets just say Congress will unanimously agree on a budget before that were to just randomly happen.

[rameumptom]

Since the book club is being held at the library, on public property, you should discuss with the book club AND the library about what seems to be a discriminatory list of books being read. For example: Why no books that are suspicious of Southern Baptists, Catholics, or Church of Christ? Offer them alternatives to the books they are reading, or ask if you can discuss the issues in the books from an LDS perspective, so they get a balanced approach.

If no one is receptive, approach the town council and share with them your concerns that the public library is possibly being used by those seeking religious discrimination. Ask them if there can be a group to monitor which books are read, so that a wide variety are considered.

I have no problem with a book club reading such a book. But it should also consider positive writings regarding the LDS Church, as well. Otherwise, they are not getting the full concept behind a book club, which is to read and critique the book. One book is not a problem, but when a couple books show up in succession like this, then it suggests that there is a hidden agenda. In their own homes or at their local church, they can read what they will. But in a public arena, there needs to be a sensitivity towards others in the selections being made.

[Backroads]

It would be exceedingly strange for a book club held at a public library to defend apparently bigoted writings without allowing another perspective--and if that's the case, then yes, a complaint is in order. I like Rammy's idea of approaching the town council in such a situation.

I am surprised that two such books are showing up on the list so close to each other. That is not very likely to be chance.

I do think a little attention should be given to this just because it's so odd. Chances are, it's a group of people who do not think of themselves as being hateful but rather being socially conscious, loving, and standing up against what they believe to be societal evils. In that situation with the benefit of the doubt, they would appreciate another perspective.

(Though now I'm also toying with the notion that it could be an actual Mormon suggesting these books and trying to gage reactions. The notion amuses me.)