At 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 7, James River High School stood still.

All 1,875 students and 200 staff members received a copy of "The Things They Carried," Tim O'Brien's much-honored book about the Vietnam War.

They turned to Page 39.

They began reading "On the Rainy River."

"Everyone stopped and read the same chapter for 30 minutes," says librarian Ann M. Reinke. "It was awesome! . . .

"I don't think a high school has ever been that quiet with so many people in the building."

In a fall full of dramatic moments for this year's Go Read campaign, that was one of the most dramatic.

The capper comes this evening with the public's chance to meet O'Brien and to hear him read from his fictional-yet-autobiographical short-stories-yet-novel.

The reading and reception begin at 5:30 p.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, alongside Capitol Square. (Details below.)

O'Brien once considered dodging the draft but went instead to Vietnam, with a division that would become embroiled in the infamous My Lai massacre. A number of his award-winning books were drawn from the experience.

Thanks to Go Read, the impact has reached this area.

Take the schools: 40,000 local students have read either "The Things They Carried" or companion books for younger ages.

It's not just in schools.

Once Go Read (Richmond's "one-city-one-book" program) announced its choice, the first big event was an Aug. 21 book discussion led by four Vietnam War veterans at the Chester library in Chesterfield County.

The next day, Virginia Voice began reading the book in seven installments broadcast for the visually impaired.

Through the fall, there have been dozens of library, book group and church discussions, many of them open to the public.

Last week, the activities came full circle with another emotion-filled panel discussion, at the main branch of the Richmond library.

This panel featured two Vietnam vets, one a soldier and one a nurse, as well as a mother of a soldier who died in Vietnam. Also on the panel was a conscientious objector to the war.

O'Brien's visit today, much like that of last year's author (Ernest J. Gaines, "A Lesson Before Dying"), will reach different parts of the community.

This morning, O'Brien will meet with 700 students and 50 teachers from around the area.

This evening's event will be the only one open to the public.

Tomorrow, he will have two events for veterans at McGuire Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

O'Brien's book is likely to have affected all the groups, albeit in different ways.

There is some overlap, though.

"I know here at James River many more parents read the book because it spoke of their generation," Reinke said, "thus opening dialogue with their children about a time in their life when they were about the same age as their children are now.

"We have been amazed by the power of this book to reach all levels of students."

Tonight's free public reading and reception will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 815 E. Grace St. Early arrival is advised. For more, visit www.GoReadRichmond.com or call (804) 646-0290.

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