Oprah Winfrey, who used to be a television celebrity here in Baltimore, must think a lot like I do when it comes to literature.
Yesterday, Oprah announced Jeffrey Eugenides’s 2003 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Middlesex, as the selection for her summer book club.
Interestingly enough, last week I finally picked up my copy of the novel after hearing so many great things about it. It’s been on my “must read” list for years. What a coincidence that I picked up Middlesex for summer reading just before Oprah announced it as her summer book club pick.
But it’s not the first time that has happened. I happened to buy a copy of Jonathan Franzen’s The Corrections a month or so before she made it her book club pick. I also enjoyed White Oleander, Mother of Pearl, Jewel, and I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.
Perhaps most impressive to me was when Oprah announced John Steinbeck’s East of Eden —one of my all-time favorite novels — as an Oprah pick. When she did that, she put John Steinbeck back on the New York Times bestseller’s list more than thirty years after his death — forty years after the novel was published.
So say what you will about Oprah and the cult-like empire she’s built up. The A Million Little Pieces scandal aside, Oprah knows how to pick her lit.
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Eric D. Goodman, Books Correspondent Eric’s column, Lit Bit, is published every Wednesday to Gather Essentials: Books. Featuring bits on writing, writers, books, and literature, Lit Bit will fulfill your literary longings.
Eric is a full-time, professional, published writer and editor. His work has appeared in local, national, and international publications, including a story in the current issues ofThe Baltimore Review, Coloquio,and To Be Read Aloud. Listen to Eric read an excerpt from his fiction on National Public Radio on the WYPR website.
You can find all of Eric’s Lit Bit articles at www.gather.com/litbit. Keep up with Eric’s other postings and Gather activity by joining his Gather network -- just click here www.edgewriter.gather.com and select the orange “Connect” button on the left-hand side of the page.
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Comments: 33
Great article.
Even with the scandal of A Million Little Pieces...I liked the book very much.
:Þ
sorry, I couldn't resist.
~~Becka
Funny enough, I had ordered a copy of "The Road" by Cormac McCarthy, at the recommendation of a friend, before she did the first and only TV interview with him
I have no use for her. It is interesting---that people do...
I haven't read the book, of the title you've tantalizingly played with. Maybe someday. I have just begun John Steinbeck's "East of Eden ". That man was just genius in writing style.
Thanks for the article.
Thanks for all the comments.
Chicago For All
I remember her first A.M. Chicago Show, the half-hour local show that became The Oprah Winfrey Show
Picked up East of Eden when she'd recommended it - was not pleased.
I felt the Cain/Abel metaphor was overused and overworked.
I felt it was too long.
Did you realize the term "chicken head" that the kids seem to think is so modern was in that book!?
Saw the Oprah show that day – might or might read Middlesex. Did read The Road and was pleased to see that an author the caliber of Cormac McCarthy does 'have use for her', dennis. McCarthy doesn't do interviews, but he did for Oprah. I'm convinced that those people who dis the Oprahs of the world are just airing sour grapes and showing their envy of the people who follow their dreams and succeed. Oprah wasn't content with just achieving her dream; she determined to help as many people as possible achieve their dreams as well - class act.
Middlesex is on the list ... but it'll probably have to wait until after my Prague plunge.
I thought East of Eden was great -- such a well-done book and a diverse set of characters. But even if you didn't dig it, check out Of Mice and Men as well as The Grapes of Wrath. Two of his best, in my opinion ... if not in Oprah's.
what some billionaire who just
wants to make more billions
said.
I read certain authors whose
work I like and also like to
read local Minnesota authors'
work as well.
There are some great writers
here in Minnesota.
Which leads me to believe that perhaps I should read more of her picks.
Many of these books have already gotten rave reviews, awards, and lots of publicity before Oprah picked them, so I guess it's not that much of a surprise she'd pick something many others already have.
By the way, Brian, whoa re some of your favorite Minnesota writers?
I like Chuck Logan's work. He hails from Stillwater, MN
and writes excellent mystery novels.
I've also read the Staggerford series by John Hassler.
Those books are about the happenings in a small town,
with elements of humor.
I identify with that because I grew up in a small town.
When I was a child I read Lord Grizzly, by Frederick Manfred,
an excellent Western novel.
I suppose Lord Grizzly was my first introduction to Minnesota writing.