Plymouth District Library Also Plans 'Waterland,' 'Beloved' Discussions

Two area professors will share their experiences of teaching Graham Swift's Waterland and Toni Morrison's Beloved at , according to the library's website. 

The two books recently have been challenged by two parents whose daughter is enrolled in the school's AP English Literature program. The parents cited the sexual, violent and thematic content as being inappropriate to teach to minors.

Heather Neff, who has served as a faculty member at Eastern Michigan University since 1993, uses Beloved in her curriculum. Neff was the recipient of the 2001 Eastern Michigan University’s Distinguished Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching, the university’s highest instructional honor, according to the website.

Sidney Bolkosky, director of the University of Michigan Dearborn Honors program and a professor in the Social Sciences and History departments, has examined Waterland in past classes and he will share his thoughts about this piece of literature, the website said. Bolkosky also is the director of the Voice/Vision Holocaust Survivor Oral History Archive and in 2002 received the
Distinguished Service Award and the William E. Stirton Professorship.

Registration is requested online, or by phone at (734) 453-0750, ext. 4.

The discussion joins for Beloved, also on Feb. 27, and Waterland on March 27.

In light of community debate surrounding the books, both Plymouth District Library and Canton Public Library have to borrow a copy of either book.