Friday, September 18, 2009

Book Club Books

Say what you will about Oprah, and I agree sometimes she is over the top; but one thing she has done changed my life. Her book club. If Oprah had not picked the books on this entry; I would have never found them. I would have missed my best book of all, A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry.

I actually remember where I was when I started the book. Mike and I had gone to Costco and I bought the book there. Then we went across the parking lot to look at a furniture store. While Mike shopped around, I sat in a chair and started the book that was to become my #1 read of all time!
Stones from the River: I remember Mike and I were living in our first apartment together. I was working at the hospital then, 3-11 shift, so I got to see the announcement of the new book that morning......I absolutely love this book. I love the zweirg, Trudi.
On a couple of occasions my friends and I were lucky enough to get tickets to go to Oprah's book club show! On one occasion we got the new book that was just announced, We Were the Mulvaneys. I probably would have never read a book by Joyce Carol Oates if not for this. She is brilliant.
Ahhhhh, Wally Lamb. What a man, what an author. These books of his are perfect. I remember reading I Know This Much is True one summer in our first house. I remember the feel of the pages and the fact that I could not stop reading.
I think I had The Poisonwood Bible on my shelf unread. When Oprah announced my interest peaked; and may I say that this is a Must Read! I remember we were between our first house and our current house; we were staying in a cheap, kind of yucky apartment to save money. I was reading this book then.
House of Sand and Fog. Could not put it down.
So, that is why this morning when I heard there was going to be a new pick I was really excited. I was at work so I had to surf the net to find out what Oprah picked.
Above is the current book club pick, Say You're One of Them. Needless to say; I am off to get my copy tomorrow! It looks totally fabulous.

10 comments:

Barb said...

Great post Laura! I think I started the Oates book but didn't finish it for some reason but I loved all the others. It is a lucky author that gets their book picked by Oprah. Looking forward to the new one!

beth said...

I agree...her book choices are usually fantastic...it's the clothes she wears that are usually wrong and awful :)

Patti said...

I totally missed her Book Club announcement- darn school- can't have the tv on in the room (lol). I agree with Beth, as you know, but I hear you on the books! I would have LOVED to be at one of her dinner book parties. Happy reading- let us know how the book is.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for your review of oprah's book club books. I think oprah is all around wonderful!

Jennifer said...

Hi Laura, I love Poisonwood bible and Stones from the river! I am reading " Three Day Road " for my first book club meeting of the year. It was hard to get into but now I love it. It is a few years old.It will be interesting to hear what you think of the new Oprah pick. Happy reading weekend!

CathyR said...

I used to read all the time. Nowadays, I barely have any time for stitching! Enjoy your new "read".

Relyn Lawson said...

This is a terrific post. I can not believe I've only read one of them. I did love The House of Sand and Fog,. Loved it.

Cindy said...

Thank you for a great post! I'll have to start paying attention to her picks. I haven't read any of the ones you listed, but will definitely add them to my list :)

donna g said...

I totally agree with you, Laura. I feel like I would have missed some of the best books of my life if it weren't for Oprah's book club. Her newest selection is on my list, right after I work my way thru David Copperfield.

Jeanie said...

This is a terrific post on two levels -- one is that it introduces me to new books, and that's pretty cool. But the other is observing your connection of book to place, and I haven't thought about that much. Where were you when you read...? And yet, I can remember reading "Little Women" on the couch in our old house when I was nine and Elizabeth George mysteries on the beach at the lake... A different sense memory -- not scent or food, but books. Love that idea.