Part of the idea of The Big Read: 1ABC is that nobody needs to be left out of the community-wide reading of Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451."

That's particularly true today. If a visual disability or other problem has kept you or a friend or neighbor from reading the book, you can hear some other friends and neighbors read it aloud.

Jaec's Coffee House at the corner of Union and Dunham streets is the setting for a marathon reading of "Fahrenheit 451" that begins at 4 p.m., when Mayor Kevin Dumas is scheduled to read the opening, and wrap up around 10:15 p.m.

In between, some three dozen other community leaders will be reading sections of the book.

As much as any other single event, this one, with its many voices, will bring the meaning of 1ABC to life: One Adventure. One Book. One Community. We encourage you to be a part of it, by reading "Fahrenheit 451" on your own or by attending today's marathon.

Admission is free and audience members are free to come and go as they wish, something to keep in mind if your priorities include a certain 7 p.m. baseball game involving a team from Boston.