Oak Harbor readers are collectively turning the pages of a single novel, called “Bellwether.”

All teens and adults are invited to participate in Oak Harbor Reads project, modeled after “If All of Seattle Read the Same Book,” presented by the Washington Center for the Book.

For the Oak Harbor effort, a group of Friends of the Oak Harbor Library, Sno-Isle Library staff, and community members selected the book “Bellwether,” by Connie Wills, for this year’s Oak Harbor Reads program.

“Bellwether,” published by Doomsday, is Willis’ fifth novel. According to Publishers Weekly, “her practiced screwball style yields a clever story which, while imperfect, is a sheer pleasure to read.”

The plot revolves around Sandy Foster, a sociologist/statistician, who is researching the source of fads at a Dilbert-like corporation, Hi-Tek. Somehow this turns into a love story involving a chaos theorist. “The real pleasure is the thick layers of detail and the wryly disdainful commentary on human stupidity,” states Publishers Weekly. “Something like a collaboration between Jane Austen and C.M. Kornbluth. It’s sprightly, intelligent fun.”

Amazon.com customer reviews typically give the book four or five stars. Most mention how much fun the book is to read. “Ms. Willis has achieved a fun, light-hearted, very readable novel that obviously entertains, and pokes fun at management, fads and fashion,” states one.

inda McNamara, a member of Friends of the Oak Harbor Library, said members are enthused about the Oak Harbor Reads project. “The program has been successful in many other cities across the nation because of the opportunity it creates for people of all ages and backgrounds to talk and share ideas and beliefs about life, relationships and literature based on the experience of reading the same book together,” she said.

o participate in the program, check out a copy of “Bellwether” at the library, or buy one at a local bookstore. Book discussions that are open to the pubic will be held at the library and other locations, probably in March after people have had a month to read the book.

McNamara said the Friends group provided funds for the library to buy 50 copies of the book, and the Daily Grind and Wind and Tide in Oak Harbor also have copies on hand.

To participate in “Oak Harbor Reads …”, find a copy of “Bellwether” at the library, read it and discuss it in your classroom, book club or with friends and neighbors. The program will conclude Wednesday, April 23, when author Connie Wills appears at the Oak Harbor Library at 7 p.m. For more information go to www.sno-isle.org or call 675-5115.