Society's ignored populate One Book Yuma selection

It's time for area residents to dust off their library cards and join Yuma's annual celebration of literature.

One Book Yuma, to be held on April 11-12, is an annual event designed to engage the entire community in conversation about contemporary issues that affect the Southwest and beyond.

“This event is an opportunity for our community ... to read a common book and then come together at various locations around town to share their thoughts, opinions or ideas on what they just read,” said Maria Aguirre, Arizona Western College's curriculum and diversity coordinator.

To select a book, representatives from the AWC library, the Yuma County Library District, Northern Arizona University library, Aguirre's office and the Yuma Sun collect feedback from previous years' participants and discuss various books that touch on topics important to our area and our lives.

“Since we are a border community, we try to select books that really highlight our region's issues,” she said. “But this year, we chose a book that talks about a group of people that in our society, border communities or not, are within” plain view, even if we choose not to acknowledge them.

This year's title, “Women Who Live Their Lives in Coffee Shops and Other Stories” by Stella Pope Duarte, focuses on individuals who live and struggle on the periphery of our society.

Duarte uses the stories of prostitutes, fallen priests, mendicants, illegals and more to guide the reader through the tragic underbelly of her native Phoenix and to cast a light on the people who exist in the crevices of our manicured cities.

“She gives a name and a voice to people who we otherwise may not notice, like someone who is dealing with drug addiction or is homeless or is depressed,” Aguirre said. “And although the stories are fiction, her characters come from when she was growing up in the Phoenix area.”

To participating in this year's event, pick up a copy of the book and read it before the April 11-12 discussion dates.

“We contact local booksellers to tell them the book for the current year and they stock more of that book. Also, the library has additional copies for people to check out,” Aguirre said. “So there should be plenty of copies for everyone.”

After participants finish the book, they can choose to attend any or all of the four discussions being held throughout the county to hear the author speak and to talk about the book with their neighbors.

“Every event is different because you never know what aspect of the book someone will bring up,” said Aguirre, “and (Duarte) is a great speaker. So people should be prepared for an interactive conversation with a dynamic author.”