WC Reads program kicks off Jan. 17

Published 4:00 pm Tuesday, January 15, 2013

The inaugural event of this years Wallowa County Reads, centered around the book A River Runs Through It, by Norman Maclean, will include a presentation by Jim Hepworth, an authority on the Maclean family.

The event, typically called the Big Read, is sponsored by Fishtrap Inc. and includes numerous activities. This is Fishtraps eighth year of a winter community read program, centered around a single book.

The kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 17, at Hurricane Creek Grange Hall west of Joseph. Ben Hayes of Fishtrap will interview Hepworth as part of the kickoff. While A River Runs Through It is fictional, it is based on Macleans own life and family, and was made into a well-known movie. Hepworth is editor of the collection Norman Maclean from the American Authors series.

Jim (Hepworth) has a collection of photos of the family that has never been shown in public before, Hayes said. The photos will be presented in a slide show at the kickoff.

A drawing will be held for tickets to the limited-seating evening Feb. 5 event with the authors son, John Maclean. The Bookloft will be on hand with copies of A River Runs Through It and the young readers companion book, Heart of a Shepherd for sale.

Among other events associated with the Wallowa County Reads program will be a four-week art exhibit titled Rivers that will open at 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 19, in conjunction with the grand opening of the Josephy Center for Art and Culture in Joseph.

Among other upcoming events are: Art and Fish with biologist/wildlife illustrator Judy Goodman of Joseph, 7 p.m., Jan. 22, Fishtrap House, Enterprise; Gambling and A River Runs Through It, Jan. 24, 7 p.m., Enterprise Elks Lodge; and Fish Like Norm and Paul, a community fishing day on the Imnaha (followed by a book discussion and lunch at the Imnaha Store and Tavern), Jan. 25.

Other events will include an intimate presentation on his father by John Maclean, a screening of the film A River Runs Through It and a Battle of the Books-type finale on Feb. 10.

For a list of reading groups and a complete Wallowa County Reads schedule, visit www.fishtrap.org.

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