In the spirit of our Aussie/Kiwi rivalries, let me point out my home town's lead role in the matter that has New Yorkers so in a snit:

The concept of inviting all the residents of a city to read the same book was the brainchild of the Seattle Public Library, later adopted by Buffalo [Hi, Angel!] and Rochester, N.Y. But Chicago's initiative brought national and international attention to the concept. As follow-up to [last year's] "To Kill a Mockingbird," the city's shared book will be Elie Wiesel's "Night."

"Everybody's using Chicago as a role model," said Tom Jacoby, executive director of Philadelphia Reads ... Los Angeles has chosen Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451" The California Council for the Humanities is asking Californians to read "The Grapes of Wrath" by John Steinbeck this summer. Milwaukee has chosen "Snow Falling on Cedars," by David Guterson. In Florida, Palm Beach County is reading "Fahrenheit 451." And many cities, including Cleveland, Colorado Springs and Valparaiso, Ind., will follow Chicago's lead with "Mockingbird."