Pull yourself away from the season premiere of “Gossip Girl” for just a bit and consider picking up a book. If you’re looking for some recommendations, check out the “The Soloist,” by Steve Lopez, and “Pay it Forward,” by Catherine Ryan Hyde, if you haven’t already.

These two titles were selected for Concord Reads this year, and there’s still plenty of time to hit the books prior to the first event on Sept. 29. “Gossip Girl” will have to wait.

Concord Reads is an annual community reading project organized by the Concord Public Library Foundation and the Concord Public Library. Typically, the Concord Reads committee selects one book for the entire city to read and then dreams up events to go along with the book. Since the committee is full of movers and shakers, they decided to do things differently for the program’s eighth year and selected not one book but two.

You may be thinking, “Two books?! Don’t you know how many hours of valuable reality TV I’ll have to miss in order to read two whole books?!?!” Don’t worry, the people behind Concord Reads haven’t lost their minds. In fact, the very sane Shawn LaFrance, head of the committee, agreed to answer a few questions regarding this year’s selections.

Tell us about the books that were chosen. Unlike prior years, we selected two books, not one, because we wanted to offer the community the choice of either fiction, nonfiction or both! We built the program around a theme – how one person can make a difference. The committee was discussing these choices last winter in the midst of the recession and related uncertainties. Several of us were inspired by the president’s reference in his inaugural address to earlier generations of Americans who reached out to one another to build a greater common good. “Pay it Forward” makes this point simply from the experience of a boy who tries to help three people with no expectation of reward, only that they each help three more people. It doesn’t work as he planned, but unexpected good things happen. “The Soloist” is the true story of a newspaper journalist in Los Angeles who meets Nathaniel Ayers, a homeless mentally ill man with musical talents. The lives of both are changed when the author tries to help Nathaniel.

Both of these books are movies. So, does that mean we can just watch the movies and skip the books? I’ve not seen either movie, but my experience is that a book usually offers more. I like to read the book before seeing the film version although I’ve been inspired to read a book after seeing the movie, too.

Are these books anything like the required reading I got in English class? No one likes required reading, after all. These are not like the reading I had in English class since they are more contemporary stories, and we read more classic American authors in high school.

How many copies of the book does the library have? Where else can you find copies? The Concord Public Library Foundation purchased 50 copies of each book for the library and the library has each one on audio-book and both films. Gibson’s Bookstore has copies to sell on a display rack near the front door, and I’m sure you can get them from Borders or other national outlets.

Do I have to read the books or see the movies to attend the events? No, there will be no “homework” checks at the start of any program. I hope all our program events will offer an exchange of information, ideas and probably opinions. I think the programs will be more interesting if you have read the book or seen the film.

So tell us, honestly . . . which book do you like better? I liked “The Soloist.”

For more information about Concord Reads or to learn how to join next year’s committee, visit concordpubliclibrary.net or call 225-8670.

Here is the programming planned as of publication. All events are free unless otherwise noted.

Book discussions
Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. “Pay it Forward.” Concord Public Library auditorium.
Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. “The Soloist.” Concord Public Library auditorium.
Oct. 22 at 12:10 p.m. “Pay it Forward.” Horseshoe Pond Place Senior Center.
Nov. 10 at 12:10 p.m. “The Soloist.” Horseshoe Pond Place Senior Center

Films at Red River Theatres
Oct. 8 at 6 p.m. “The Soloist.” The film will be followed by an audience discussion. $5.
Nov. 5 at 6 p.m. “Pay it Forward.” The film will be followed by an audience discussion. $5.

Bach Lunch Series
At Concord Community Music School
Nov. 5 at noon. Music therapy presentation.
Nov. 12 at noon. Performance from “The Soloist” with cellist Matt Laughlin and piano accompaniment.

More events!
“Telling Their Stories: The Newspaper Columnist’s Role.” Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. The Woman’s Club of Concord, 44 Pleasant St.
“A Chance to Shine!” Oct. 22 at 3:30 p.m. Children’s program. Concord Public Library children’s room.
“ ‘The Soloist’ and the Road to Recovery.” Oct. 29 at 7 p.m. Panel/audience discussion for “The Soloist.” Salvation Army, 58 Clinton St.
“What’s Your Story?” Nov. 8 at 2 p.m. Join us for stories of giving and receiving. NHTI library.
“Paying it Forward in Your Own Backyard.” Nov. 19 at 7 p.m. Panel discussion for “Pay it Forward.” Salvation Army, 58 Clinton St.

Non-perishable food donations will be accepted to all events and distributed to local food pantries.