« Mixed Blessings | Main | Thai petcams »

June 18, 2003

A Club Not To Join

Oprah Winfrey is doing her part to ensure that the literary classics sit unread on millions more bookshelves across America.

On Wednesday, Winfrey announced that Steinbeck's "East of Eden" is her first selection in the recently rejuvenated Oprah's Book Club. The late Nobel laureate's sales may soon be rejuvenated, too -- if the flurry of buying that took place on Amazon.com in the first post-pick hours is sustained.

Apparently, standing the test of a half century as a revered work of literature isn't what's needed to convince folks that a book is worth reading.

But, hey now, look out, what's that you say? You say Oprah says it's good? Well, heck yeah, alright, let me get on over to Amazon and grab a copy - but it's gotta be the copy that Oprah recommends! That book club banner improves the book in an intangible way!

Yep, I'm the new Jonathan Franzen, but without my own novel. Yet.