I have a library book club in a rural library. I usually only have 2 participants, and this month it was 3! We were excited! For background, I’ve worked mostly as a youth services librarian, so I’m not as familiar with adult authors as I could be yet.
However, two of the participants are very religious. If the book has any sex or cursing, they’re unhappy. They’ve requested going forward that we minimize it, and since they are 2/3 of the club, I’m going to try to accommodate it as best I can. (I’ve actually asked for Christian fiction, but I refuse because a) I don’t want a library-sponsored religious program and b) I’m not Christian.
They also have preferred the mystery books we’ve chosen, and when I suggest non mystery, they aren’t into it.
Books we’ve done so far:
The Lincoln Lawyer (they liked it, despite not really being as clean as they like)
Lost December by Richard Paul Evans (they loved this and I hated it because it was too religious. It was chosen before I became the facilitator of the club)
A Christmas Legacy by Anne Perry (they loved it, but it was too short for much discussion)
We have always lived in the castle by Shirley Jackson (had great discussion, but they hated it because they didn’t care for the writing style)
We Remember by Mary Higgins Clark (they loved the story but the language was “too strong.” I checked in my kindle, and there were 23 damns, 7 hells and 1 bitching.)
Our April club will be No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency. (They said that it didn’t sound super interesting based on the description, but I didn’t have enough other choices for them to select. )
I’ve tried recommending non-mysteries (Jane Austen, The Giver, My Sister’s Keeper, A Man Called Over, Cold Sassy Tree, and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks were all other options for next meeting), but they shot them all down.
I just need a few more to get me through June before a new librarian takes over the book club. I figured asking here might get me some titles that I hadn’t considered yet. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
by library_pixie
5 Comments
Maybe something like Agatha Christie’s A Murder Is Announced for a Miss Marple story or Death on the Nile for a Poirot.
I think Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry would be a great choice. It has Christian themes and ethics, but it’s novel with literary merit.
It’s been awhile since I read it, so you may want to preview, but the Benni Harper mysteries by Earlene Fowler might be a good choice.
Cripes, what was their issue with Austen??
It’s technically sci fi, but they might like Doomsday Book by Connie Willis.