Go Read, Richmond's community reading initiative, has announced this year's selection.

The book is "White People," by Allan Gurganus.

If the title hits you like a ton of bricks, you are not alone.

" 'White People,' a collection of stories both funny and poignant, challenges the reader first of all with its title," says a member of the Go Read selection committee, Ann M. Reinke. "Let's not judge a book by its cover."

It's an entreaty Go Read may be repeating.

The title and book have already generated preannouncement controversy, but Go Read programs will be held in libraries, schools and book-discussion groups in the fall.

Gurganus will conclude the program with a community reading Nov. 11 at 6 p.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in downtown Richmond, followed by a students-only presentation the next day at James River High School in Chesterfield County.

"White People" is Go Read's third selection, following Ernest J. Gaines' novel, "A Lesson Before Dying" (2002), and Tim O'Brien's collection of short stories, "The Things They Carried" (2003).

Gurganus, probably best-known for "Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All," has drawn praise for word value and storytelling.

"White People," a collection of 10 stories and one novella (some with decidedly mature themes), was written in 1990. It won the Los Angeles Times Book Award and the Southern Book Award.

"Elegant, mysterious and satisfying," the Los Angeles Times called it. "Each story is a gem," the San Francisco Chronicle said. "Blending trenchant satire with outrageous humor, Gurganus's stories recall both Mark Twain and Flannery O'Connor," the Chicago Tribune said.

The selection, though, drew disagreement even within the Go Read committee.

Then, the Henrico County school system indicated that the full book will not be assigned to students. Other school systems have not yet made or announced their decisions.

The Times-Dispatch, which did not participate in the book-selection process, is supporting Go Read as it has in the past, with newspaper ads and a Web site, www.goreadrichmond.com.

The book may be hard-pressed to reach the more than 50,000 readers O'Brien's book did - including nearly 28,000 students in Henrico and Chesterfield.

Go Read is hoping readers will get past the title.

"The issues the characters struggle with - the nature of identity, the courage needed to make moral decisions, the decisions made and the effect they have on the world - all resonate with the life of any reader," Reinke said.

"Go Read wants to connect people in the Richmond community through literature and discussion, and Allan Gurganus gives us flawed, very human characters to accomplish that goal."

A New York Times review in 1991 said in part:

"The conflicts - art versus commerce, love against greed, open-mindedness against rooted bigotry, old versus new and young - are constant. . . .

"The stories are linked by a color symbolism. Whiteness is associated with sickness, pain, blankness, rigidity. And, in 'Breathing Room,' the sixth-grader, Bryan, learns what this adds up to from his teacher, Miss Whipple: 'If a group cannot bend, it fails to grow - it loses out to heartier and therefore worthier life forms.' . . . When it comes to this statement, like any other, you can take it or leave it. Trust these tales and through them you will come to know and enjoy the teller, who can tell his stories as well as anyone alive and kicking in our time"

Ray's column appears Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Call him at (804) 649-6333; fax (804) 775-8059; or e-mail rmcallister@timesdispatch.com.