Book unites Bloomington readers

Uniting a community can be a tricky task, but Bloomington may be one more step closer to that goal. \nThis week marks the conclusion of the "One Book, One Bloomington" project, sponsored by the Bloomington Area Arts Council. Everyone in Bloomington was asked to read "A Lesson Before Dying" by Ernest J. Gaines in an attempt to promote discussion of racial and social issues in the community.\n"We wanted to do a couple of things -- one was to focus on the art of literature. We also wanted to have a way to connect the community, partially because of Sept. 11," said Sally Gaskill, executive director of the BAAC.\nThe book was chosen by a committee of various community members last fall. The book is set in rural 1940s Louisiana. It tells the story of a man sentenced to die for a crime he did not commit, and the black teacher who is assigned to teach him in jail. Racial tension is a major theme, but many other issues are brought to the surface, including religious issues and human dignity.\nCitywide reading programs was an idea initiated by Seattle in 1998. Since then, it has been implemented in cities large and small in the U.S. and England. "A Lesson Before Dying" has been the book of choice several times.\nAssistant Professor of English Dana Johnson teaches fiction classes and is a writer. She said she believes fiction has the power to bring people together by encouraging interaction. \n"Whenever people pick up almost any kind of book, they're educating themselves, becoming more thoughtful about the world and their place in it," Johnson said. "So the notion of an entire community reading -- and reading the same book -- is an exciting thing because this thoughtfulness and enrichment is happening among a large group who can discuss what their impressions and thoughts are."\nIn the past few months, various activities have helped to draw out discussion of the book, including an online discussion and a radio call-in program on WFIU. This week is the final week of organized events for the project. \nA discussion is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Monroe County Public Library. \nWednesday, the play version of the book will be presented at the Rose Firebay Theatre of the John Waldron Arts Center at 7 p.m. \n"It will be a stage reading, so the actors will be holding the scripts. We're hoping it will increase interest in the book," said Allison Batty, producer of the event.\nA second book discussion hosted by the African American Cultural Center Library will take place Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center.\nSince the start of the project, book retailers as well as the local library have ordered more copies to meet the demand.\n"The book is really being read. We have more than 50 copies here and they are always gone," said Amal Altoma, a librarian at the Monroe County Public Library.\nBloomington high schools are also participating. Both Bloomington North and South High Schools already had the book in their curriculum, said the head librarian at North, Kathy Loser. She served on the steering committee which chose the book.\n"I think the purpose of this is to pick a book that would cause a lot of discussion," Loser said. "It takes a look at a racial issue. I think it's a good choice."\nNorth senior Courtney McCullogh believes the book is a good choice for students.\n"This book is wonderful because the author gets his readers inside the characters' heads," she said. "The statement that this book makes is enormous."\nThe author's voice can be heard in Bloomington over the airwaves at 12:20 p.m. April 25 on WGCL. Duane Busick, host of the radio show, "Time for the Arts," will feature Gaines on his show. \n"I'm hoping to involve a sophomore from Bloomington North who wants to be a writer," Busick said. "I'll also be picking out characters and talking about them. All of his successful books have been about rural life, so that's an interest. I'd like to ask him about the effect of being named an Oprah book as well."\nGaskill is hoping that discussion of the book will continue past the formally planned events.\n"The consensus has been that the book is flying off the shelves," she said. "It's a good tool for opening discussions about racism and about our culture"