Many of us think of reading as a solitary activity; for the last several years in Oak Harbor we have taken a different approach. Bringing a group of readers together to celebrate a book or an author is very much a community activity for us here. We are confident this year will be no different.

Many of us lead busy lives, and don’t often have the opportunity to connect with our friends and neighbors. Reading is one of the ways we can do that. Book clubs continue to grow throughout Whidbey Island, and all of the libraries on Whidbey Island do a booming business keeping up with our reading needs. Sharing your thoughts on a book is one of the most community-building activities I can think of.

From science fiction to expeditions, Oak Harbor residents have journeyed through the wonderful world of books. This year, we are excited to welcome the renowned author Ivan Doig to the Oak Harbor Yacht Club Thursday, April 27. He will talk about writing one of his most renowned books, “The House of Sky.” For those of you who have not read this wonderful book, here’s the excuse you were looking for. For those of you who have read it, it’s worth a second shot. Then join us on April 27 to tap into the author’s mind when he developed this book.

Over the last three years, our community has stepped up to support this wonderful event. This year, the author’s visit is sponsored by Wal-Mart, Island Thrift, the Washington Humanities, Friends of the Oak Harbor Library and Friends of the Coupeville Library. Without their generosity and belief in this annual event, we would not be able to bring you an evening with a critically acclaimed author of Ivan Doig’s caliber.

Pick up the book at the library or bookstore. Spend a couple of evenings reading it. And then join us, and become a part of our growing community of readers.

Dani Fowler is chair of the Whidbey Reads Committee.