"The Soloist" will be 2009 One Book, One Philadelphia pick

by Dan Gross

Published Oct. 3, 2008, 4:48 p.m. ET

“The Soloist,” by former

Inquirer

columnist

Steve Lopez

will be the city’s next

» READ MORE: One Book, One Philadelphia selection

, the Free Library is expected to announce Oct. 14. The book, about Lopez, now with the

Los Angeles Times

, striking up a friendship with a homeless and talented musician

Nathaniel Ayers

, has also been made into a movie starring

Robert Downey, Jr

. and

Jamie Foxx

. The movie opens Nov. 21. "What is the What" by

Dave Eggers

was this year's selection for the program that encourages literacy and promotes the library system. Lopez will be in town Oct. 14 when the Free Library reveals its selection and again Jan. 14 for the program's kick-off lecture at the Central Library branch on the Parkway. One Book, One Philadelphia will run from January 14 – March 19, 2009.