Councillors across Bedford Borough are telling us about their favourite books as part of our Year of Reading.
And this week Councillor David Sawyer told us about the latest tome he has completed - A Calamity of Souls by David Baldacci, a gripping legal thriller.
He said; “The story is set in Virginia in 1968, and it’s perhaps somewhere between a John Grisham and the iconic To Kill a Mockingbird (set in 1930).
“The story is centred on two black people on trial for the murder of two white people and whether an all-white jury will convict simply on the basis of colour and race.
“1968 was a progressive yet tumultuous year in US history, during which Martin Luther King was assassinated, the Black Power Movement was emerging, and another Civil Rights Act was passed.
“The issue under examination is, given that many forms of inequality had by then become illegal, whether white Southerners really changed any of their racist behaviours, and the evidence offered is that progress was extremely slow.”
Councillor Sawyer shared his choice as part of Bedford Borough Council’s Year of Reading, a Borough-wide initiative taking place throughout 2025. It features a wide range of events and initiatives to celebrate and promote reading, including town centre performances, literary trails, and author readings.
Councillor Sawyer highlighted the books’ timeless themes, as well as worrying parallels with modern-day events.
He said; “The story reveals the impact that a community steeped in Southern traditions and post-Confederacy denial about the South’s legacy can have on people of colour and how that past can cause present-day issues regarding integration.
“The conclusion is that white America has questioned and even resisted diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives for decades, and that there is an ongoing struggle between the Old South and a new, progressive, and racially integrated America.
“Without wishing to spoil the plot, the parallels between this book and To Kill a Mockingbird extend beyond the impact of undiluted racism and an unreconstructed society to the storyline.
“Finally and sadly, the novel’s portrayal of Civil Rights era right-wing rhetoric seems to mirror President Donald Trump’s current racist and anti-immigrant rhetoric, as well as the anti-DEI policies he made official on his first day in office.”
To find out more or to get involved in Bedford Borough Council’s Year of Reading, visit www.bedford.gov.uk/yearofreading or email yearofreading@bedford.gov.uk
And remember - if you want to read a copy of Frankenstein or any other book recommended by our councillors, you can always see if it's available in one of our libraries!
Visit or call any of our libraries during staffed hours and staff will help you to request titles, remembering to have your library card with you. You can also search the catalogue and request books on the library app or online catalogue using your library card number and PIN. If you’re not sure of your PIN, you can request a reminder. There is a charge for requesting books, but it’s free for children.
Library opening hours, PIN requests, and online catalogue is all accessible on the dedicated page on our website, and the app is called Bedfordshire Libraries in the App Store.