Oprah Book Club Picks
M.J. Rose has been keeping track for years now. It just boggles my mind that a woman who seems to stand for female-empowerment seems to only connect with male-authored books in the last 7 years.
As M.J. Rose accounts:
Since Jan 2005, Oprah has picked 14 books for her club.
All of them have been by men!
If you go back, since 2003 she’s picked 20 titles.
18 of them are by men.
What do you think of that?
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Natasha Fondren is a writer traveling the U.S. in a camper with her four cats. She is currently enjoying the lizards and desert heat in Arizona.
Please refer to my previous comment about that Sound of Music song for my feelings about The O’s foray into literary dealings.
*like*
I adore Oprah, but that whole “boys only” thing she has going on in her book club really pisses me off. It’s a slap in the face to her viewers, most of whom are middle-aged women. She might as well say, “Feel free to watch my show and give me your money, but sorry, you’re not smart enough to write books I want to read.” Seriously, Oprah? So not cool.
Totally, L.C.!
I just don’t buy or even read most of the books she picks. Every other way I adore her. But for the most part, not her choice of reading material.
I don’t watch her, but I do like her and admire all that she’s done.
I think I quit liking Oprah back when I saw a special where they documented and traced various stars’ DNA. When told she had no European (white) blood, she exclaimed happily: “Oh, that’s good!”
Really, Oprah? Really?
That is really confusing. Sarah’s explanation makes sense, but on the other hand, it would have been nice if she’d clarified, for sure.
Sorry. Never much liked Oprah. Never thought much of her literary taste. But she did run a marathon. So that was cool.
She did? LOL! THat is!
Color Online has a Letter to Oprah and details some excellent books by women authors. I need to check into them myself.
Seriously, about her not being part white? That’s a problem that she’s happy there were no white rapists in her family history? I’d be happy about that myself.
I love that letter, Sarah! Yeah, I’m not sure what’s up. That’s just weird.
I don’t think I’ve read one of her “picks”. It always grates on me when people tell me what I should be reading. I’ll read whatever the hell I want, thanks. Seriously, if I want book recommendations, I’ll ask my coworkers at the library. All of them are very well read and each has such different tastes.
And just remember, Oprah was all over that Million Little Pieces book that turned out to be a big fat lie. So I’d take her recommendations with a big grain of salt (and maybe a shot of tequila).
I read Billie Letts back in the day. Where the Heart Is was fantastic. I haven’t read many of her recent ones.
I haven’t really kept up with what books she chose or how they stacked up against other books so I can’t really make a judgment. Have never watched Oprah a day in my life.
I stopped noticing when she took this turn. In 2002 is about when I dropped off.
Shelly, I understand the part about the white rapists, but it didn’t come across that way, and it isn’t the first racist remark I’ve heard her make when she’s supposed to be a proponent of tolerance. And not all interacial mixes are the result of rape.
While that’s very true, racial identity can be as strong as gender identity for some people. If she expressed a sense of relief that she didn’t have to rethink who she is on a basic level, then I don’t see a problem with that.
I’m not saying she is or is not racist. I think your example isn’t a good one.
I’ve seen others on that show who found out they were 50% white and though the high percentage surprised them, it didn’t floor them because there was oral history of such intermingling in the family.
I never noticed this before. Maybe she hasn’t either. I doubt she picks the books herself. I’m sure some low level flunkie is chosing them.
Maybe someone should point this out to her?
Let’s start an email campaign! Everyone email Oprah and say ….WTF???
I wonder, Aimless! I’m surprised she hasn’t heard already. It’s remarked upon often!
I hate Oprah. Always have. I think she’s a bitch under all that syrupy sincerity. So a recommendation from her is like an anti-recommendation to me.
Bah hah hah hah! Oh, Betsy. You just made my entire week. Nah, the week’s almost done. You made my fortnight!
LOL! I often get that sense, too.
Glad to be of service, Avery.
It’s all about marketing, of course. Are we to honestly believe that Oprah just read those books & loved them? *snort* I think not! The Amerikan Corpocracy doesn’t work that way.