Chabon novel chosen for Chicago reading initiative

Chicago residents are being encouraged to enter a world of superheroes through the city's popular One Book, One Chicago program.

The Chicago Public Library Commission announced Friday it has chosen the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel "The Adventures of Kavalier & Clay" for its 2014-15 initiative.

One Book, One Chicago began in 2001 as a way to bring people of all backgrounds together around one book and theme.

Set against the backdrop of World War II, "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay" by Michael Chabon is a work of fiction that chronicles the lives of two Jewish cousins who become major players in the comic book industry with their superheroes and villains.

From October through spring, the library system will focus its programs around the subject of real and imagined heroes, with exhibits, book discussions and storytelling and other programs at neighborhood libraries

Chabon will visit Chicago Public Library on Oct. 9 to discuss the novel.

The program will include a collection of original essays by Chicago authors, who will reflect on heroes. The free essays will be released online the first Friday of each month at onebookonechicago.org.