Challenge your group to go beyond conventional reading. With
the internet unlocking connections among people, more strength has come to
humanitarian and rights movements. In coming weeks, I'll be listing books that
revolve around, or argue for, animal welfare, human rights, economic and racial
equality. Many contain brilliant writing by thoughtful, philosophical writers;
some are explorations of the beauty and interlocking worlds we inhabit. Your
group might want to choose one or two to explore a new area of discussion.
First off are books about animal behavior and rights, with
the recognition that animals are not simple possessions or objects in our
lives, but are in many cases sentient beings with a right to humane treatment.
This notion has grown in recent years. Controversial
theorist Peter Singer wrote about it in "Animal Liberation," in 1975.
Today's internet, however, has led to widespread pet adoption services, cruelty
alerts and social movements surrounding animals. Many of us have read novels
and non-fiction about animals, but the movement for animal rights is growing,
and should provide intellectual and emotional fodder for book groups.
To begin to explore animal rights and emotions in a light
fashion, several popular books consider respect, even awe, toward fellow
creatures: T.C. Boyle's "When the Killing's Done," is a fictional
account of experiments wreaking havoc; "Merle's Door," by Ted
Kerasote, is a highly readable memoir about interpreting canine feelings and
needs; Sara Gruen's "Ape House," in which we meet several bonobos, chimpanzees
who know sign language. There are more; members will probably be able to
suggest helpful books to get started.
Getting into more serious viewpoints is important, however.
Jonathan Safron Foer ("Everything is Illuminated;" "Extremely
Loud and Exceptionally Close") has written an explanation of how humans
justify carnivorous eating in "Eating Animals."
Melanie Joy wrote "Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows: An Introduction to Carnism,
The Belief System That Enables Us to Eat Some Animals and Not Others."
Long title, big topic. It explores how humans blind themselves to needless
suffering among animals we eat.
A well-respected animal rights activist, Tom Regan, has
written several books: "The Case for Animal Rights," "Empty
Cages: Facing the Challenge of Animal Rights" and "Defending Animal
Rights" among them.
A recent documentary may also increase your group's
understanding of the issue. Steve Wise, of the Nonhuman Rights Project (www.nonhumanrightsproject.org)
is the source of the film, "Unlocking the Cage." Wise argues that
animals deserve to be recognized as legal entities with certain fundamental
rights. That may be a hard pill for some to swallow, but it's an idea with
increasing support. (Wise's TED Talk in 2015 dealt with chimpanzee
behaviors—and argues for guaranteed animal rights.)
"Dominion: The Power of Man, the Suffering of Animals
and the Call to Mercy" is Matthew Scully's shocking look at the hypocrisy,
cruelty and thoughtless ways we deal with animals, ranging from big-game hunts
with penned-in animals to modern factory farms, where animals live their lives
until they reach the supermarket.
Leading animal rights activist Gene Baur has written
"Farm Sanctuary: Changing Hearts and Minds About Animals and Food."
In it, he
examines
the real cost of the meat on our plates—for both humans and animals alike. You
might be surprised, even shocked, at the illusions we preserve about the food
we eat.
Book groups:
The Lancaster Thayer Memorial Library's evening adult group
has slated "Anatomy of Injustice: A Murder Case Gone Wrong" by
Raymond Bonner (non-fiction) for 6:30 p.m., July 26.
Gale Free Library contemporary book group in Holden has
planned discussion of "One America: America, 1927" by Bill Bryson for
its Aug. 2 meeting.
At Boylston Public Library, book club members will discuss
"Between the World and Me" by Ta-Nehisi Coates at 1:30 p.m., Aug. 3.
Audio Book Club in Worcester, www.audiojournal.net., has
slated "Half a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie for Aug. 2.
Listeners may call in to Speaking Volumes at 508-752-0557 to join the
discussion, 8 to 9 p.m.
Banister Book Group at the Merrick
Public Library (Banister Memorial Hall), Brookfield, meets at 7 p.m., July 26
to discuss "Red Ruby Heart in a Cold Blue Sea" by Morgan Callan
Rogers, about a girl coming of age in coastal Maine during the 1960s.
NOW Women's Issues Book Group has
slated Suzanne Strempek Shea's memoir, "Shelf Life: Romance, Mystery, Drama,
and other Page-turning Adventures from a Year in a Bookstore" for July 11.
After the author takes a job in a local bookstore, she describes her relationship
with books and the customers who seek them, and marvels at the strange
situation of being a published author ringing up her own works at the counter.
Shea lives in western Massachusetts.
At Gardner's Heywood Public Library, the next selection is
"The Blind Assassin" by Margaret Atwood. Meeting is at 4:30 p.m.,
July 27.
Reading, Sharing and Laughing meets at the food-tacular
Chaibo in Fitchburg for its meetings. Next up, "Fates and Furies" by
Lauren Groff at 7 p.m., July 28. Sign up at Meetup to participate in this book
group.
Worcester Public Library's Self-Help Spirituality Book Club
meets the second Wednesday of each month, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. This book club is
for people seeking direction on the road of life. July 13, "The Four
Agreements" by Don Miguel Ruiz.
Ann Connery Frantz, a
cofounder of Seven Bridge Writers Collaborative, welcomes your group's
suggestions for classic reads, plus news of your book club, at
ann.frantz@gmail.com. Please send in book selection announcements as early as
possible.
