WALLOWA — A new book club is going strong in Wallowa County thanks to librarian Holly Goebel.

The Loosely Bound Book Club started in September 2024 for adults ages 18 and older.

The club meets once a month, on the last Friday at 6 p.m., at the Wallowa Public Library, 201 E. First St., Wallowa.

Genres vary — for instance, in January readers were encouraged to bring a personal growth or self-help book they recently read to share with the group. December focused on middle grade fiction, November was a mystery and October discussed a fantasy book.

February will be about graphic novels and the group meets Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. Goebel said she has about 15 suggested titles at the library, but attendees can also choose their book to read and share with the group.

“There’s no pressure,” she said. “We’re trying to encourage reading in our adult community.”

Goebel plans to run the book club each month through May, then take a break for the summer.

And, if you don’t like the month’s pick, she said it’s fine to skip that gathering.

The only rule for this book club, she said, is to not judge what other people choose to read.

Each club meeting includes a couple of minutes to talk about a book and whether or not the reader would recommend it to someone else.

The gathering also includes coffee, tea and snacks.

To find out more about the Loosely Bound Book Club, call the library at 541-886-4265, check the Facebook page or stop by the library.

The Wallowa Public Library is open Mondays from 1-5 p.m., Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Thursdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Bestselling Books

Here’s a look at the bestselling books according to the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association.

Hardcover Fiction

1. “James” by Percival Everett

2. “Onyx Storm” (deluxe limited edition) by Rebecca Yarros

3. “Onyx Storm” (standard edition) by Rebecca Yarros

4. “Iron Flame” by Rebecca Yarros

5. “The God of the Woods” by Liz Moore

6. “All Fours” by Miranda July

7. “Small Things Like These” by Claire Keegan

8. “Water Moon” by Samantha Sotto Yambao

9. “Witchcraft for Wayward Girls” by Grady Hendrix

10. “The Women” by Kristin Hannah

Hardcover Nonfiction

1. “The Let Them Theory” by Mel Robbins

2. “The Serviceberry” by Robin Wall Kimmerer

3. “The Sirens’ Call” by Chris Hayes

4. “The Harder I Fight The More I Love You” by Neko Case

5. “Cabin” by Patrick Hutchinson

6. “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt

7. “Want” by Gillian Anderson

8. “The Creative Act” by Rick Rubin

9. “On Freedom” by Timothy Snyder

10. “The Messge” by Ta-Nehisi Coates

‘The Little Read’

David Weaver of the Wallowa History Center and Rich Wandschneider will lead a discussion group on Grace Bartlett’s “Wallowa Country, 1867-1877,” at the Southfork Grange, 602 W. First St. in Lostine, on Sundays through March 9 from 1-2:30 p.m.

They are calling this series “The Little Read.”

The book is a day-by-day account of the last days of the Nez Perce and first days of White settlers in the Wallowas. There is no charge to attend, although donations will be accepted for heat and coffee. Books will be available to purchase.