BANGOR – What could be nicer than curling up with a good book on a cold winter’s night? What if the book is a prize-winning novel with an adventure at sea, animals and a look at some of life’s big questions? What if all of Bangor was reading this adventure at the same time?

Think of the opportunity to talk about something you’re reading with your neighbor, someone in line at the grocery store or your teenager, suggest local library officials. Think of the possible discussions, displays, talks and related events that could go on around town.

The Bangor Public Library thinks this is a good way to bring the community together during the darkest part of a Maine winter.

Bangor is a city of readers, so the library has selected for its third annual Bangor Reads book “The Life of Pi” by Yann Martel, the story of a zookeeper’s son whose family sets sail from India to Canada. When the ship sinks, the boy escapes on a lifeboat with a dwindling number of animals, until only he and a hungry Bengal tiger remain.

“I was alone and orphaned, in the middle of the Pacific, hanging on to an oar, an adult tiger in front of me, sharks beneath me, a storm raging about me,” the author writes.

Published in 2001, “The Life of Pi” won the prestigious British Man Booker Prize and the Canadian MacLennan Prize for fiction.

Bangor Reads is a monthlong program aimed at getting everyone in the city to read and discuss the same book at the same time.

During January, the library will hold discussions, show films and explore aspects of survival, religion, animal behavior, navigation and the ocean as it relates to “The Story of Pi.”

Organizers of Bangor Reads hope to involve students, members of civic organizations, senior citizens groups, elected officials and local businesses. The library encourages organizations to join in by holding a program that encourages its members to participate in Bangor Reads. It could be a private event just for members or one open to the public, or they could bring the entire group to programs offered by Bangor Public Library.

In mid-December, the library will provide information packets containing discussion questions, suggested activities, resource guides and a calendar of events.

Copies of “The Life of Pi,” are available at Bangor Public Library. Call 947-8336 for more information.