Saul Bellow novel chosen for Chicago book program

The Chicago Public Library has chosen its 21st book for the city’s “One Book, One Chicago” program. It is Saul Bellow’s “The Adventures of Augie March.”

The 10-year-old program encourages Chicagoans to all read the same book at the same time. The city then sponsors tours and discussions to accompany the reading. Mayor Rahm Emanuel calls the book “a quintessential Chicago novel.”

For Bellow’s work some of those programs include a lecture from a Chicago historian and a discussion with Bellow’s widow, Janis Freedman-Bellow.

There also will be a staged reading of book excerpts, creative writing workshops and poster design contest.

Previous selections have included classics like “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee and “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller.