Blog

August 14, 2018

August’s bookclub meeting continued the discussion of our service project, and we began making decisions to narrow the focus and come up with a more exact definition of what we will do and what we hope to accomplish. We have scheduled a meeting with school personnel and will ask for feedback regarding their needs, as well as ask specific questions to direct our efforts. We are anticipating learning more specifics and hope to begin working directly with them soon. More information to follow!

July 11, 2018

Bookclub members took some time away from reading and discussing all kinds of books to investigate ideas for a service project in order to give back to the community. Although we are still discussing the ideas that came up, we have decided to emphasize books in whatever we do. We have several options to pursue, including a short-term project for local community development, and something longer term that would involve children and support their involvement with books in school and at home. Literacy in general and love of books are ideas we hope to foster. More details will follow as the project develops. Stay tuned!

June 13, 2018

June’s meeting was a discussion of the book The Anvil of the Spirit by Morris Taylor.

Book club members observed that overall, the book describes a way to revitalize Feast in Baha’i communities by encouraging members to try a variety of different approaches. They felt that the book was compelling, and saw it as having an impact in many ways. It offers a toolkit of ideas and methods to help with challenges in the community, personal lives, relationships, and at work. Many of the ideas emphasized the importance of relationships, and of specific tools such as listening, humor, building trust, and resolving conflict. Discussion participants felt that the ideas, methods, and techniques presented were applicable in their own lives as well as the Baha’i community at large.

May 9, 2018

Our last meeting included a reflection on our previous six months, and planning for the rest of the year. The group was positive about the use of themes in our book selections, and decided to continue their use. Members felt that use of themes encouraged expanded variety of both books and genres, and were hopeful that this variety could appeal to non-Baha’is as well as Baha’i members. Reflection also included a discussion of suggestions to attract more members and increase participation, including holding more events (such as the author lecture held last year), announcing the bookclub more often at events to increase awareness, calling people with personal invitations, and ensuring that all types of announcements/invitations are clear that the bookclub is not specifically a Baha’i book club.

April 11, 2018

Our last meeting was a discussion of The Saddlebag, a book by Bahiyyih Nakhjavani. It is based on an anecdote about the theft of a saddlebag from the Bab, recounted in The Dawn-Breakers (pg. 103). Ms. Nakhjavani imagines the travels of the saddlebag after the theft, and how each person coming in contact with it, and the writings it contains, is affected.

Bookclub members were quick to point out the many Baha’i references contained in the story, which also has characters from most, if not all, of the current world faiths. As the setting is the area around Mecca and Medina, readers also discussed the many cultural references, some of which were understandable to western readers, and some of which were not. For example, the Bride is bringing her dowry along, marriage is arranged, and a slave is present. Superstitions play a part in the plot, but there are also occasions of apparent precognition or “sight”.