But Beverly’s daughter Lindsay sneaks in by night and secretly fills Lula Dean’s little free library with banned books wrapped in “wholesome” dust jackets. The Girl’s Guide to the Revolution is wrapped in the cover of The Southern Belle’s Guide to Etiquette. A jacket that belongs to Our Confederate Heroes ends up on Beloved. One by one, neighbors who borrow books from Lula Dean’s library find their lives changed in unexpected ways. Finally, one of Lula Dean’s enemies discovers the library and decides to turn the tables on her, just as Lula and Beverly are running against each other to replace the town’s disgraced mayor.
That’s when all the townspeople who’ve been borrowing from Lula’s library begin to reveal themselves. It’s a diverse and surprising bunch—including the local postman, the prom queen, housewives, a farmer, and the former DA—all of whom have been changed by what they’ve read. When Lindsay is forced to own up to what she’s done, the showdown that’s been brewing between Beverly and Lula will roil the whole town...and change it forever.
Comment: The first book I've read in July is also a buddy read. This time it was a suggestion by my friend and although I had heard some positive comments about it, I had not investigated before starting. I only knew it would be about books, which, I suppose, is incentive enough!
In Troy, a Georgia state town, the community has been following the opinions of Lula Dean, a supposedly concerned citizen, regarding the type of books that the children should be allowed to read. However, not everyone sees things the same way, and the decision to ban some books and, in turn, Lula Dean' s idea to present a few others in a small library in her front yard will originate surprising results. What is behind this situation, though? A real concern of a convenient opportunity for Lula Dean to finally be seen as a better person than Beverly, the cheerleader who refused he entry to squad? The citizens of the town will all need to make a choice, but will that mean the suffering of some?
This was certainly an engaging story with a very contemporary topic, kind of disguised under the book ban situation: in which side are we on, shall we defend democracy and free choice and will, or should we limit the choices for everyone for the sake of identity and customs? I'd say that in the middle of so many fictional and even superficial details, there is food for thought that cannot be ignored.
The story was written in a very captivating style for me, because the early chapters seem to be focusing on different characters and each one has a challenge to face. What will result from that is the beginning of several situations and, of course, this will affect what others do after. The main factor is that some people check out books from Lula Dean's small library. The books placed there are all dated and inconsequential and even pointless but they supposedly defend morals and ideas that people should follow. Then someone switches them for titles which had been banned, under the other titles' covers. This, obviously, propels people to change something about or in their lives under the "lesson" of that book.
It is a fact some books have the power to influence people but wisdom cannot be as simplistically applied as that and I think the author does present this in an oversimplified way. One could say this is just a fictional example of the power of change but anyone who could be this easily moved by books would need to have more mental preparation and disposition I think, and the impression is that a certain book would cause a radical change of opinion feels unlikely. I think a slightly different way of presenting the story would have been more acceptable. Still, as a fan of books and of fiction, reading this story was a fun experience too. If only people in real life could as easily see the wrongness of some ideas/attitudes!
As the story and the characters progress, some decisions seem to lead to a conflict which could become quite dangerous, and not just for the ideas defended by some. In a way, banning books is certainly only the beginning and I think the author addressed important themes and ideas, which often we might not get since social media and television also twist the messages of what we are told. In terms of sending off a message, this was a well done story, yes.
Still, I can see how the same great elements can seem unfairly explained if we were to put ourselves in a different side. Is Lula Dean the best character to represent what the author intended? Perhaps if the majority of the situations had been dealt with in a more serious way, her character would have been taken more seriously too. It's not that her prejudice and reasons aren't as petty as they would be by any real person we all probably know, but... surely, from a fictional POV, the author could have done other choices.
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