Daron Letts
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Oct 14/05) - Conventional wisdom suggests that avoiding discussion about religion and politics makes for good neighbours.

The Yellowknife Public Library launched a community-wide reading program this week that goes against that advice.

The first annual One Book One Community is a two-month long initiative that will promote discussion of Miriam Toews' award-winning novel, A Complicated Kindness - a story about growing up in an oppressive religious Manitoba town.

"What's good about this book is that it's readable for high school students and adults," library manager Deborah Bruser said.

Students at St. Pat's high school already listened to the audio version of the book earlier this month. English teacher Gerard Landry is using the novel in one of his classes and will propose it as a selection for the school's monthly book club for students and parents.

Educator Barbara Miron will present a lecture titled Spiritual Abuse: the Road to Recovery, in the library meeting room at 7 p.m. on Nov. 7, to discuss themes raised by the book.

"Her talk will deal with the effect of oppressive religious regimes," Bruser said.

A Philosopher's Cafe is being planned at the library for late November or early December. Participants in the round-table discussion will tackle the question of religious diversity and children's spiritual development, building on the experiences of the book's teenaged main character.

The library has multiple copies of the book to lend, Bruser said, including an audio version on CD.

Readers can discuss the book online at oneyellowknife.blogspot.com.