Beating Oprah
During my usual Internet routine (mainly checking CNN.com), I came across this story:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/books/06/05/books.winfrey.ap/index.html
I don't read much, but I am interesting in other artists talking about (or not talking about) their work. Within the text of the story, I read that Oprah's next book is Middlesex, by Geoffrey Eugenides. On the one hand, I am thrilled because I've already read this book (three years ago) and know that it is a fantastic read that is hard to put down. On the other hand, there is something about that damn "Oprah's book club" sticker on the cover (my copy doesn't have it - yay!) that seems to be some kind of symbol for...
Success (good: he sells mroe books)?
Selling out (I guess the Pulitzer win rules that out)?
Passive aggressive pandering (perhaps because the book is accessible in its style)?
Lacking in intellectual content (as a result of the above comment)?
The Wifer and I were Book Club fans years ago. The books were decent enough. In conversations with other musicians (mainly the biggest artsy-fartsy snobs you'll meet), it seemed like a bad idea to mention that I read, and liked, Book Club selections. Middlesex is definitely a wonderfully told, multi-generational story that feels quite contemporary. And, I think it is quite intelligent. But, how does its value change now with that damn sticker?
Probably, it doesn't. And if it does to you - suck it.
posted by Rafael Hernandez @ 2:43 PM
5 Comments:
Actually...it does.
Book clubs make their own books, which are less duriable and crappily and cheaply made, therefore viturally worthless in terms of actual monetary value for the book. So any book with the sticker is crap (again, actual physical book, not the content, necessarily).
Which really has not a hell of a lot to do with the post, but it's one tiny bit of information I learned working at that bookstore.
I should read that book too. hm.
I concur.
I think that nowadays they actually print the seal on the book itself - So, it isn't a sticker, per se, but an emblem incorporated onto the cover of the book which is printed during the printing of the cover.
But, that isn't what I was getting at. We're talking artistic value, not monetary value.
Dorks!
oops... i meant, i concur with your blog post. not related to comment above. i even wrote about your post on my post today. so, uh, yeah, i guess that still makes me a dork.
I realize that wasn't what you meant. But to comment on your post, personally, I tend to stay away from book club recommendations. I like to find books on my own, or hear through friends, reading book club books is sort of like following the latest fad or trend. And maybe if I think it's really cool, or it interests me anyway, I'll read it, but I sure as hell wouldn't read it just cuz Oprah said I should.
And go Cormac McCarthy. I hate talking about my work too. good for him. Don't suppose I can use him as an example for why I don't have to talk about my music, can I?
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