I made a big mistake. I’m participating in the book club at church, and this month I’m hosting. That means I picked the book and the meeting will be at my house. I thought a lot about the book and decided to go with one that I’d read a year and a half or two years ago and really liked when I read it. It’s Empire Falls and it is a really powerful story. I remembered that there might be some questionable content for a church audience, but I really thought it wasn't too bad. (Does it mean that I'm getting old that I've forgotten what was in there?) I asked around about what people thought and got reassuring answers that it should be fine.
Last week, I started re-reading the book. It’s bad. The language is foul and there are sexual innuendos that are really off-color. It’s not OK for church book club. On Saturday, the Relief Society president told me that she hadn’t read the book, but that a few women had called her and asked her if she knew what was in it and they really thought it was inappropriate. My first instinct was to say that everyone has agency and they can just put the book down. My second instinct is to be horrified that I recommended the book. It doesn't help that I was unable to attend church today because I had to be at a Ward Conference in another ward.
The meeting is on Tuesday of this week and it’s too late to choose another book. What would you do in this situation?
5 comments:
Rest assured, the decision has been made - the RS President announced the book has been canceled, but not the activity. So you still get to host a lovely bunch of sisters :)!!
Don't worry about it either. All of these women know you and know you have a good and rightous heart. You didn't knowingly do anything you thought would upset anyone. I read the reviews on Amazon and they are glowing, it's written by a pulizer prize winner, ect. Trust that people can and should take responsibility for what they CHOOSE (and yes, they chose it, reguardless of who recommended it) to read, because we are all affected in different ways. ie- I don't read fiction at all because I know it has an unhealthy affect on me. If you highly recommended a work of fiction to me and I read it and it resulted in me having and anxiety attack, that would be my fault and mine alone.
I like the Duchess' comments. If anything you can share in their anxiety attack. I'm always amazed at how my standards have changed in the past ten years of my life--I think that others can relate to that, too. Maybe that's what your discussion can be about. I once shared in a book club discussion about book selection and I gained so much insight into the hearts of other the other girls. Knowing you, your honesty and good desires will lead you to a good experience with them.
By the way, I'm so happy to know that the ward has a strong book club turnout. Remember when I tried very unsuccessfully for six months to start a book club? That was kind of comical. Oh, the follies of my youth--I feel so bad that you had to put up with me as a counselor! Don't worry, I'm laughing not distressing.
WHY I NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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