LEWISTON — “Two Books/Two Cities: One Celebration of Reading!” organizers announce three public book discussion opportunities for “Empire Falls.” The programs are free and open to the public.

The discussions will take place at 1 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, at Mr. Paperback; 1 p.m. Thursday, April 10, at the Lewiston Public Library; and 7 p.m. Thursday, April 10, at the Auburn Public Library. Each program will be led and moderated by staff members from each organization.

“Empire Falls,” by Richard Russo, is the story of a Maine mill town without a working mill, and the people who frequent the town’s most popular eatery, the Empire Grill. Miles Roby, who runs the grill, is trying to make sense of his disintegrating life which involves the antics of his ex-wife and her new lover, his teenage daughter and his conniving, retired father.

Russo won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction for this title which realistically captures a wide range of misfits and colorful characters in this look at small-town America.

To reserve a copy of the book, call Mr. Paperback at 783-2273, APL at 782-3191 or LPL at 784-0135.