Oprah's Influence

Oprah Winfrey's network talk show ends this week, and with it (at least temporarily) her high-profile book club, which brought 70 chosen titles to the attention of readers and catapulted them to top spots on bestseller lists. The Oprah touch became almost a literary award of its own, with a magic effect on sales and buzz for authors like Wally Lamb (twice selected for She's Come Undone and I Know This Much is True), Toni Morrison, (four times, for Song of Solomon, Paradise, The Bluest Eye, and Sula) and Eckhart Tolle (A New Earth). Tolle's book has turned out to be the number one bestselling selection of all Oprah titles. We always knew these books would check out when purchasing them for the library collection.

She chose fiction and nonfiction, mostly contemporary but some classic authors. The book club was not without controversial, television-worthy moments, like her reproachful interview with James Frey over fabrications in his memoir A Million Little Pieces (incidentally the second-best seller of all Oprah titles.) Author Jonathan Franzen made headlines in 2001 after insinuating that her selection of his book, The Corrections, lowered its literary integrity. He later apologized and his second novel, Freedom, was chosen for the club last year.

Oprah has said she hopes to continue the club on her new OWN network, perhaps even dedicating an entire show to books and authors.

Do you have a favorite Oprah book?