Reading Oprah: How Oprah's Book Club Changed the Way America Reads [Paperback]

Cecilia Konchar Farr (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 4, 2004

Reading Oprah How Oprah's Book Club Changed the Way America Reads Cecilia Konchar Farr - Author

$54.50 Hardcover - 164 pages Release Date: 11/4/2004

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this excellent study of an exceptional media phenomenon, Farr, chair of the English Department at the College of St. Catherine, argues that Oprah's book club was a truly significant cultural event. In succinct, stylish prose, Farr describes a "uniquely American Culture War" at the heart of the high-brow versus middle-brow controversy. Farr elegantly summarizes the book club's genesis, its capacity to generate massive sales and the literary content of Oprah's picks. She praises Oprah's democratic, "bottom up" style of teaching, which enabled the least educated readers to try books they might never otherwise have read. She points out how Toni Morrison's crucial presence on the show enabled reflective literary discussions to reach millions, despite the supposed vulgarity of the televisual format. Farr also demonstrates how Oprah's fiction choices forged a link in the public mind between social responsibility and literature, particularly regarding race. In an engaging personal voice that draws on the theories of a range of cultural critics, Farr considers the meaning of middlebrow literature, the history of the novel, immigration and literacy, class, self-improvement and democracy in America and how Oprah mapped a new public space in which a "conversation with books" became possible for millions of viewers normally excluded from the rarefied world of scholarship.
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From the Publisher

An analysis of how Oprah's Book Club has changed America's reading habits. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 164 pages
• Publisher: State Univ of New York Pr (November 4, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0791462587
• ISBN-13: 978-0791462584
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,089,706 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended..., December 28, 2005

By 

Molly (Lincoln City OR) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reading Oprah: How Oprah's Book Club Changed the Way America Reads (Paperback)

I stumbled upon this book at my library and am really glad that I took the time to read it. This book is a short, quick, interesting read that examines the effects of Oprah's Book Club on a nation that had previously given up on reading (not all of us, just most!). I was especially amazed at the sales figures provided that showed just how many people not only watch Oprah but purchase a book just because she takes the time to talk about it on television. While I was previously annoyed by the concept of Oprah's Book Club and felt that it was all about revenue, I have now come to understand that it is because of her that thousands of Americans have once again discovered that joy of reading. This book takes a look at not only what the club has done for Oprah and her readers, but it also discusses how the authors of books chosen to be included in the club often go from being unknown writers to some of the most famous people in the literary world. It's amazing the power that one admired person with a television show possesses...

I definitely recommend that anyone of any age (middle school and up) read this book. It does not read like a textbook...it's much more personal and interesting. I can imagine it being a great conversation piece among friends or used for a term paper/speech topic. The time I spent reading it was time well spent!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth reading!, July 8, 2006

By 

Catherine "ScandinavianMinnesotan" (Minneapolis, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reading Oprah: How Oprah's Book Club Changed the Way America Reads (Paperback)

Oprah has long been maligned in literary circles as a lightweight talkshow host who dishes up weepy, sentimental, "women's" novels. Farr does a great job of poking holes in this stereotype of Oprah. She shows Oprah's thoughtfulness and intelligence, and the service that she has done in getting Americans interested in reading. She explains how a voice like Oprah's is needed in the literary world, which tends to be dominated by men. She outlines the historical context in which Oprah's bookclub operated -- how it was a continuation of the "mass book club" tradition from the turn-of-the-century. This book is a quick read, but there is much in it that can be referred back to later. I recommend this book for anyone who is in a book club, has worked at a library or bookstore, is an English major in college, or who simply loves to read!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!, March 13, 2006

By 

Bruce Oksol "oksol" (San Antonio) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Reading Oprah (Hardcover)

Outstanding, quick read, includes THE list of all Oprah recommendations.

However, $55 for the hardback -- am I missing something here? The paperback is $18 -- and the book is very, very thin. I don't get the $55 hardback price.