OT: wondering why

Well, I did read several of her early picks and didn't really like any of them. And I did pick them up because they were her picks not because I was interested in any other way... C

I didn't know she had when I said that and I also did not know Ellen and Jerry supported the other. However, not being a television person myself, no surprises there.

No, but I have to say, certainly up here, I credit it her with getting people to open a book and that can never be bad.

The grouping were all the "Lovely Bones" type book. But, no mysteries, no "fun reads" (a highly unrated type of read), no fantasies, just lots of "tear jerker reads".

Well, she definitely appears to be emphasizing literature and literary works rather than "fun reads," but I wouldn't characterize _Daughter of Fortune_ or _The Pillars of the Earth_ as tear jerkers. I haven't read it yet, but _She's Come Undone_ is meant to be quite funny. I'd consider _Tara Road_ a "fun read" but perhaps you wouldn't.

Without ever choosing to check if something was on her list or not, I've read 14 books that are and have three more on my to read list. I'm not that into mysteries and fantasy, so clearly our tastes differ, which may be why I think her list is a good one.

Elizabeth

Doesn't it just? Gah!

Very well said Gill,,, have seen too many people say they READ a book and than they quote somebody else`s opinions about it ,,,, That is why i try not to read books that are in the News just now ,,, And and anyway i pick my reading off the shelves of the book stores or the libraries .. mirjam

Lucille i have had cases of students who had no habit of reading , mainly because it wasn`t part of their home life. Thus i did encourage them to start a habit by requseting background PRINTED matter for their works , Since this were courses for Handcraft Guides, i said Handcraft mags were good enough for that ,, i Did hope that being exposed to looking at patterns nice photos and explanations how to make some of the shown crafts , which they could use in their teachings, would make at least some of them curious to read more stuff. =46rom experience i can say that about a 1/3 did in fact develop a curiousity to read more. a 1/3 had done their requested reading as `a personal favour for me`. But had no will to read beyond requested material ,,, the last 1/3 either didn`t read requested material or found other materials. Some said they couldn`t read such materials from Religious prohibitions [ which wasn`t so exact since i checked with religious leaders] They copied home work from other people .. The group that developed a curiousity to read were mostly those who had independent thoughts and ideas. Some of those developed into Fiberartists. The ones who read for `favour` , tell me now that they do read here and there but not on a regular basis , they are all excellent teachers within the system, and they know WHERE to find reading materials when they NEED it for their work .,... The last group , mostly didn`t stay in the teaching./ guiding Handcraft groups . mirjam

I had to think about this over night - too many of the "Oprah readers" are staying Oprah readers and won't branch off on their own. I think that sums up my sticking point.

C Some one who is desperate to get her kid to read something other than Guitar Player and USA Hockey.

How do you know this?

Elizabeth

I haven't read "Daughter of Fortune", but I loved Pillars. The end was bittersweet. (so the ending of the sequel)

Binchy is NOT a fun read. As for She's Come Undone - I just read the Amazon blurb; NO THANK YOU; I don't read about abused children or the adults they have become. Sorry, those couple of years I spent working with the "emotionally disabled" kids left me knowing exactly what some adults will do to defenseless kids. I don't need that rubbed in my face.

I love mysteries because the bad guy usually gets it in the end. Science fiction and fantasy takes me to some one's vision of the world or the world they want. If I want catharsis, I'll go weed or clean the kids bathroom.

Conversations at the library or the bookstore or talking with the librarians. The same people read the same list of books - all Oprah choices and never leave the list - even when they ask for recommendations. Got to have her blessing the book.

Cheryl

Still she has made some people read who would never have done so and something is better than nothing. I might add, I don't watch her myself.

It is a recorded fact that boys generally do not read at the same omnivorous rate that girls do - and the survey says, 'mostly because there are not enough books in the genre they would read' such as endless hockey books etc.

True; I remember the eldest grandkid was about 8 or so when he "discovered" the Lemony Snicket books. He loved them, and read all of them. That was about the time of the first Harry Potter, and Mike loved that, too. Ever since he has enjoyed reading; he has read the Lord of the Rings, way before they became necessary for school. he read the daVinci Files as soon as they came out; guess he may have been 12 at that time.

Guess you just have to find the "right" book to get him hooked. Hard to believe he goes to College this fall. He has been accepted at Penn State, at the Erie campus. A nice area, and not a big metropolis.

Gillian

I tried a few of Oprah's early book choices and initially she leaned toward stories about really disturbed and dysfunctional individuals. Not for me. Soon an Oprah endorsement had become the Kiss of Death for me. But eventually I think she did some classics, and if she's now doing "Pillars of the Earth", that's terrific.

Re: Maeve Binchy - she went through a period of some rather heavy-handed "socially conscious" writing ("Tara Road," "Quentin's"), but the last book I read, "Nights of Rain and Stars" had (refreshingly) returned to her previous style of storytelling, though it wasn't quite up to par in comparison to her earlier works. It was almost as if she were adjusting to getting her "sea legs" back after a long break.

I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED "Pillars of the Earth" when I first read it 18 years ago and re-read it this summer in preparation for the sequel. Still loved it the second time, but the sequel was disappointing. I think it reflected the changes in our society in the past 18 years, and not for the better. It was somehow.... tawdry.

A terrific book I read last summer: "Mr. Pip," by Lloyd Jones. Have hardly heard a "pip" about it, though, in terms of word of mouth, though I believe it was listed for the Booker.

For the fantasy readers: Has anyone read the "Fablehaven" books by Brian Mull? Great fun in YA novels. Cheryl - check out these two books for your kids!

Sue

But you do realize that it's a small sampling from which you are making a global statement, right?

Elizabeth

Wow. I really loved her stuff until she started to feel repetitive to me.

Elizabeth

Hey Gillian -congrats. The son of one of our friends had that situation, only it was the satellite campus near the ski resorts (7 springs?). Anyhow, after 2 years, he then transferred and finished at the main campus in State College. His folks were happy with that - State College is a huge campus and definietly a one-horse town of the University. Erie is a pleasant, cold, place - with easy access to Pittsburgh - or of all places - Buffalo.

Ellice

I just came across this when I was looking at some entertainment news from Reuters. It's an interesting read and shows me that I'm not the only one who thinks Oprah is not perfect. Please folks, don't shoot the messenger !!!