The book, “The Paris Wife” has been selected as the book that will be read by patrons of eight west suburban libraries participating in The Big Read.

According to the website for the Hinsdale Public Library, “The Paris Wife” is a story of ambition and betrayal, which captures a remarkable time period – Paris in the 1920s – and the extraordinary love affair between author Ernest Hemingway and his wife Hadley Richardson.

The Big Read is a collaborative project of the Hinsdale, Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, Indian Prairie, La Grange, La Grange Park, Lisle, Thomas Ford, Westmont and Woodridge public libraries. The goal is to build community by promoting reading. This is the eighth year the libraries have hosted the program.

As part of the program, the libraries will host a variety of programs including book discussions and other events related to dance, music, cuisine and the arts. The Hinsdale library has slated programs in March on making crepes and classic French cooking techniques. The La Grange library has scheduled programs on dance in the 1920s including the Foxtrot and the Charleston, Spanish tapas, French pastries, and a book discussion.

“Part of the reason we chose the book is for the programs that can be gleaned from the book,” said Nicole Zimmermann, marketing and public relations coordinator for the La Grange library. “It’s about creating the whole world that surrounds the theme of the book.”

The Big Read will culminate with a visit from the author Paula McClain. She will talk about the book, her research and how she immersed herself in the world she created at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 3 at Ashton Place, 341 75th St., Willowbrook.

The participating libraries will have copies of the book for readers to check out. For specifics on programs, go to www.thebigread.org