It can be as simple as wearing a pin that says, "Ask me about the book," to participating at a library-sponsored discussion to organizing your own book clubs with city-produced reading guides.

City leaders officially kicked off Salt Lake City Reads Together on Wednesday at the Main Library, though many residents already have heard about it after a city councilman questioned the choice of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon because of its sometimes-gruff language.

That title remains on the list - Mayor Rocky Anderson called it "wholeheartedly recommended to the community" while warning of its profanity - as does The Blood Runs Like a River Through My Dreams: A Memoir by Nasdijj. The children's title is Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O'Brien.

"People are interested in being part of something that's considered to be hip and happening," said Roz Sandack, explaining the popularity of citywide book clubs.

Sandack helped pick Salt Lake City's books, hosts seven book clubs of her own and will facilitate more for the city club. She expects it will be well received because of the Curious controversy.

"It'll be hot. Independent booksellers can't keep" the title in stock.

Anderson said he wanted Utah's capital to join the list of cities that sponsor book clubs to help residents bond over books.

Such programs have been wildly successful across the nation. Seattle started the craze in 1998, when it created "If All of Seattle Read the Same Book." Nancy Pearl, the librarian who came up with the idea, is now immortalized as an action figure.

Chicago's mayor urged every resident in 2002 to read Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. Participants discussed the book at Starbucks. It became assigned reading at schools. Lawyers staged a mock trial.

Now, more than 250 cities in 48 states have similar programs, according to the Library of Congress' The Center for the Book Web site. Some cities invite authors to discuss their works and have dozens of public events. Others simply host one or two discussions.

In Salt Lake City, the Main Library will stage forums for each book in October. Branch libraries will schedule their own discussions. The Web site, www.slcreads.com, will host online discussions in October. It will have reading guides for each book, information about the authors, suggestions for further reading and links to existing book clubs.

The city might invite Nasdijj to discuss his book, depending on the cost. Some bookstores will host book discussions, too.

"We're trying to get everybody to do it," said Betsy Burton, co-owner of The King's English Bookshop and member of the city's book-selection committee.

There also will be information about the club at the Great Salt Lake Book Festival at Library Square on Saturday and Sunday.

Salt Lake City School District Superintendent McKell Withers said schools will stock Mrs. Frisby, but the district won't require students to read it. In a district where at least 80 languages are spoken and 39 percent of the students are learning English, Withers hopes the club eventually will pick a variety of children's books in various languages.

The titles will change in six months. People can suggest new ones via the Web site.

David Cochrane is pleased with the current children's pick. The sixth-grader at the Salt Lake Arts Academy - whose students attended Wednesday's news conference - has read Mrs. Frisby.

"My dad recommended it to me. We went to the library and we got it," he said, sporting a John Kerry button on his black trench coat.

Reading together

The Main Library will stage forums for each book (Oct. 5, Curious Incident; Oct. 12, Blood; and Oct. 19, Mrs. Frisby) from 7 to 9 p.m. Branch libraries will schedule their own discussions. Check the Web site, http://www.slcreads.com, for online discussions, reading guides, author information, suggestions for further reading and links to existing book clubs.

Reading the book alone? Gathering your neighbors to chat about plot and character development? How are you participating in Salt Lake City Reads Together? E-mail us at hmay@sltrib.com.