So Oprah’s show is coming to an end. I was never a fan of her show, so I don’t have a personal thought on its departure. I will say, for what its worth, it continues to keep the nonsense called “Tyra” at bay. And no one wants her to take over.
There is, however, a hint of sadness within the literary world. What does this mean for Oprah’s Book Club? Personally, I think it moves online or print (most likely online); some people have come to depend on Oprah’s recommendations to guide their current reading habits. It would be a shame if it, like the show, disappeared, because any exposure to literature only serves as a benefit to the community as a whole.
Oprah’s Book Club selections: 2002 – 2009
(Boy, that book from 2005 just sticks out. Surprised she didn’t retract it from the record books.)
If we pretend for a moment, and assume that the Book Club will cease in 2011, let’s consider the impact it had over the years. Primarily, as stated earlier, it got people to read, to browse the bookshelves for something new and different. You know how it goes. You read one book, then look for another by the same author, then maybe something similar by someone else and on and on. The proliferation of literacy is at the center of her Book Club’s success and, whether you like her selections or not, the impact should be commended.
…All of that said, her unwillingness to pick self-published titles can’t be ignored or downplayed. I understand the reasoning. It’s easier to pick one book you happened to read (and that’s assuming she read her selections beforehand) than opening the gates, letting the self-published (or unpublished) hordes storm The O’s castle, manuscripts in hand, looking for airtime. But, I don’t know, the impact could be that much more meaningful to the literary community. A self-published selection from Oprah legitimizes the choice to forgo traditional publication routes…the very last thing a dour publishing industry needs these days.
But enough of that. When Oprah’s show rides off in the sunset, I hope the Book Club transfers to other outlets because there’s no replacement for it. Do you want book recommendations from her?
I know I don’t.
