Book club explores Southwest literature at heritage center

A monthly book club hosted by the P.W. Litchfield Heritage Center is offering readers an opportunity to explore literature with regional themes in a public setting.

The “Regional Reads” book club meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. at the Heritage Center, 13912 W. Camelback Road. The free event features fiction and nonfiction titles connected to the history and culture of the Southwest.

The P.W. Litchfield Heritage Center is a local museum dedicated to preserving and sharing the history of the Southwest Valley, including the communities of Litchfield Park, Goodyear, Avondale, and surrounding areas. Its exhibits and programs highlight local development, early settler families, and the regional impact of major industries such as Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.

The next book club meeting, scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 5, will feature “Hardland,” by Ashley E. Sweeney, a novel set in 1899 Arizona. The book follows a former Wild West performer navigating single parenthood and running a business in a frontier town.

On Wednesday, Dec. 3, the club will discuss “Brave the Wild River,” by Melissa L. Sevigny, a nonfiction account of two women botanists who traveled the Colorado River in 1938 while mapping its plant life. The book draws from expedition diaries and historical research.

Each session includes tea provided by a local vendor and recorded music on vinyl. Space is limited, and attendees are encouraged to RSVP by visiting PWLHC.org.