Do you read or avoid books recommended by Oprah Winfrey?

[brecklundin]

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

Also, lay off my Martha.

why? "More"tha is a lying convicted felon who got off easy. And she was arrogant on top of it...as i said Oprah is a better version of "More"tha.

And if you read my comments about Oprah's list the books I recommend are far more than SF...the SF is merely a medium for the message. Character driven SF typically is a better vehicle for certain more open thinking, especially in terms of ethics. Perhaps she has not recommended such types of novels simply because she has never been exposed to them. All I know is her list is drivel for the most part. Now and then there are a couple OK reads but not often...

The problem with things like her list is EXACTLY her control over what those would probably never read are willing to read. One thing is at least she is probably getting some subset to read at all...and that is a start...of course the NYT Best Seller list probably has a similar effect.

BTW, I never wrote Oprah was not smart...just an under educated dolt...that is different. She is obviously a very bright individual to get where she is today from very difficult beginnings....but there are areas she is pretty apparently lacking in either common sense or simple education.

[HarryT]

I'm sure that everybody realises that "product placement" on commercial TV shows is done in exchange for (large) payments, not out of the goodness of the presenter's heart.

[lilac_jive]

Originally Posted by brecklundin

why? "More"tha is a lying convicted felon who got off easy. And she was arrogant on top of it...as i said Oprah is a better version of "More"tha.

And if you read my comments about Oprah's list the books I recommend are far more than SF...the SF is merely a medium for the message. Character driven SF typically is a better vehicle for certain more open thinking, especially in terms of ethics. Perhaps she has not recommended such types of novels simply because she has never been exposed to them. All I know is her list is drivel for the most part. Now and then there are a couple OK reads but not often...

The problem with things like her list is EXACTLY her control over what those would probably never read are willing to read. One thing is at least she is probably getting some subset to read at all...and that is a start...of course the NYT Best Seller list probably has a similar effect.

I keep typing and retyping my response to your comments, trying to find the right thing to say without being insulting. So I'll go with a story.

My friend (very intelligent, etc) met some friends (also smart) at the art museum in Chicago. She wanted to go check out the Monet collection. The one said, "Uggh, Monet, how pedestrian."

You remind me of him.

[brecklundin]

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

I keep typing and retyping my response to your comments, trying to find the right thing to say without being insulting. So I'll go with a story.

My friend (very intelligent, etc) met some friends (also smart) at the art museum in Chicago. She wanted to go check out the Monet collection. The one said, "Uggh, Monet, how pedestrian."

You remind me of him.

If you don't 'get it' then you don't 'get it'...your opinions are as valid as mine...you are under no complusion to agree or disagree. You do, however, appear to be quite polarized and nobody can open your eyes but you.

And it's easy to not be insulting...just be honest in your words. In fact I suspect your frustrations with my comments are because they do not align with yours and I might not be fond of one of your "heroes"...oh, well. That is how discussion works some take them personally others, well, do not.

[Seabound]

Originally Posted by HarryT

I am unfamiliar with the lady (other than the knowledge that she is an American "chat show" hostess), but I would say that if she gets a lot of people to read books who would otherwise not have done so, that can only be a good thing, regardless of her taste in books.

Hear, hear. Anyone who can encourage people to read a tome like "Anna Karenina" deserves credit, in my opinion. Here is a link to Oprah's past recommendations:

http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahsb...0701_orig_list

Not too shabby. I also happen to think she's a smart, savvy woman. Smart and savvy enough to become powerful and rich. As in the case of Martha Stewart, I think a lot of the flack coming her way (I'm not referring to MR members, save maybe for an outlier) is due to the fact that she's powerful, rich, AND a woman. Never underestimate the subtleness of misogyny. Just my opinion.

Full disclosure: I do not watch Oprah (not having a teevee makes doing that a bit difficult, but I also prefer Ellen--she's way funnier), and I do not read books based on her recommendations. But I wouldn't not read books just because she recommended them.

[lilac_jive]

Originally Posted by brecklundin

If you don't 'get it' then you don't 'get it'...your opinions are as valid as mine...you are under no complusion to agree or disagree. You do, however, appear to be quite polarized and nobody can open your eyes but you.

And it's easy to not be insulting...just be honest in your words. In fact I suspect your frustrations with my comments are because they do not align with yours and I might not be fond of one of your "heroes"...oh, well. That is how discussion works so take them personally others, well, do not.

Nah, I could actually care less if you don't like Martha. I have to say though, you seem much more polarized than me. I've already said that I have no problem with Oprah, or people reading her books. I just don't read them for my own (admittedly stupid) reasons. My frustration with your comments are these two things:
1) You are writing pompously.
2) You started name-calling in what was actually a pretty calm thread.

[lilac_jive]

Originally Posted by Seabound

Hear, hear. Anyone who can encourage people to read a tome like "Anna Karenina" deserves credit, in my opinion. Here is a link to Oprah's past recommendations:

http://www.oprah.com/article/oprahsb...0701_orig_list

Not too shabby. I also happen to think she's a smart, savvy woman. Smart and savvy enough to become powerful and rich. As in the case of Martha Stewart, I think a lot of the flack coming her way (I'm not referring to MR members, save maybe for an outlier) is due to the fact that she's powerful, rich, AND a woman. Never underestimate the subtleness of misogyny. Just my opinion.

Full disclosure: I do not watch Oprah (not having a teevee makes doing that a bit difficult, but I also prefer Ellen--she's way funnier), and I do not read books based on her recommendations. But I wouldn't not read books just because she recommended them.

Ahh see here is where I lose. I didn't know she recommended Middlesex, and it is on my list to read. And read it I will, my mom loved it and she has great taste in books.

AGHHHH I'M MELTING, MEEELLLTTTIINNG!!!

He he

[ficbot]

Thanks for posting the list! Some of the authors are pretty middle of the road (Anita Shreve, imho, for example) but others are really quite significant authors, many of whom I had read/heard of before Oprah and who achieved well-deserved success before she came along with her club (Marquez, Allende, Weisel) and/or were known already in their native countries (Mistry, McDonald, Paton). That's actually not too shabby a reading list.

[Seabound]

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

Nah, I could actually care less if you don't like Martha. I have to say though, you seem much more polarized than me. I've already said that I have no problem with Oprah, or people reading her books. I just don't read them for my own (admittedly stupid) reasons. My frustration with your comments are these two things:
1) You are writing pompously.
2) You started name-calling in what was actually a pretty calm thread.

I agree.

Mods, do we really have to behave and be civil in these threads? It's so tempting to...

[brecklundin]

Originally Posted by lilac_jive

Nah, I could actually care less if you don't like Martha. I have to say though, you seem much more polarized than me. I've already said that I have no problem with Oprah, or people reading her books. I just don't read them for my own (admittedly stupid) reasons. My frustration with your comments are these two things:
1) You are writing pompously.
2) You started name-calling in what was actually a pretty calm thread.

Name calling? who did I "call names"? I certainly have opinions on this topic but never called any participant in this thread or member of this board any names. Nor have my opinions been any different from several others posted previously.

Of course the use of the pejorative "pompous" might be considered a personal attack but I just consider it one person's honest opinion. No harm done that is where discussions start. I would invite you to revisit what I posted and go from there. I suspect you might find we are both of similar mind.

Well, have a happy christmas...

[DaleDe]

Originally Posted by delphidb96

No, I did not say that. I do not believe that authors should be forced to suffer by boycotting. However, any careful examination of Oprah's reading habits and suggestions will make it clear that she has very narrow tastes - for one thing, SF needs not apply. Hunh? With a simple wave of her hand she can dismiss an entire genre???

Derek

I am sorry, I thought you said you would boycott any book she recommended. If that is not what you said then what did you say?

Dale

[mjh215]

Ugh, now after 58 votes I so wish I could look at the ballots and see who was the one person that said they read the book specifically based on her recommendation. I probably wouldn't hold it against them, just the fact there is just -1- vote makes me curious...

-MJ

[lilac_jive]

Originally Posted by brecklundin

Name calling? who did I "call names"? I certainly have opinions on this topic but never called any participant in this thread or member of this board any names. Nor have my opinions been any different from several others posted previously.

Of course the use of the pejorative "pompous" might be considered a personal attack but I just consider it one person's honest opinion. No harm done that is where discussions start. I would invite you to revisit what I posted and go from there. I suspect you might find we are both of similar mind.

Well, have a happy christmas...

What did you call Oprah? And her viewers?

It's not your opinion, its the way you presented it.

Originally Posted by mjh215

Ugh, now after 58 votes I so wish I could look at the ballots and see who was the one person that said they read the book specifically based on her recommendation. I probably wouldn't hold it against them, just the fact there is just -1- vote makes me curious...

-MJ

I'm suprised there is only one out of 58. Or maybe not, I got the impression from people who bought her books when I was at the bookstore didn't read often (no Preferred reader cards, etc) so they probably wouldn't need a ereader device.

[Alisa]

Originally Posted by delphidb96

No, I did not say that. I do not believe that authors should be forced to suffer by boycotting. However, any careful examination of Oprah's reading habits and suggestions will make it clear that she has very narrow tastes - for one thing, SF needs not apply. Hunh? With a simple wave of her hand she can dismiss an entire genre???

Derek

That brings up and interesting question to me. Does she have a responsibility to give all genres equal time? It would be nice if she enjoyed SciFi and recommended it because I think there are a lot of folks out there who would enjoy it if they tried it. They're just not exposed to it. However, she's one person recommending books she likes that she thinks her audience will enjoy. Personally, I pretty much dismiss romance and fantasy novels out of hand. It's not my taste. I'm not knocking it but it doesn't appeal to me. I wouldn't rule out a book for it's membership in one of these clubs but I don't don't find myself browsing those shelves in the book store. I don't feel the least bit unjust about it. I don't have her power to shape tastes, of course. Do people here feel that her power obliges her to open up her recommendations to things she may not like? Would people be less "Anti-Oprah" if she did?

Myself, I don't see why she should have to be all things to all people. I think it's a separate issue that "genre fiction" is marginalized. Further, I don't think there's a huge intersection between SciFi fans and Oprah fans so I don't see why she should necessarily branch out from her own tastes (which seem to be successful with her established fan base) to gain their favor.

[lilac_jive]

Originally Posted by Alisa

That brings up and interesting question to me. Does she have a responsibility to give all genres equal time? It would be nice if she enjoyed SciFi and recommended it because I think there are a lot of folks out there who would enjoy it if they tried it. They're just not exposed to it. However, she's one person recommending books she likes that she thinks her audience will enjoy. Personally, I pretty much dismiss romance and fantasy novels out of hand. It's not my taste. I'm not knocking it but it doesn't appeal to me. I wouldn't rule out a book for it's membership in one of these clubs but I don't don't find myself browsing those shelves in the book store. I don't feel the least bit unjust about it. I don't have her power to shape tastes, of course. Do people here feel that her power obliges her to open up her recommendations to things she may not like? Would people be less "Anti-Oprah" if she did?

Myself, I don't see why she should have to be all things to all people. I think it's a separate issue that "genre fiction" is marginalized. Further, I don't think there's a huge intersection between SciFi fans and Oprah fans so I don't see why she should necessarily branch out from her own tastes (which seem to be successful with her established fan base) to gain their favor.

I think you have a good point, and I agree. General fiction is pretty safe ground. Particularly for her viewers, I think SciFi tends to be a more male-oriented genre. If her goal is to get lots of people to read a book, plain old fiction has the best bet. Her tastes could be much more varied, but she might not recommend them as to not alienate viewers.