A critique of Oprah's book club

[SFG75]

Now imagine this scenario somewhat differently. Your 16 year old announces that her English class will be reading Great Expectations. Fabulous, you think. A real piece of literature, a break from the Twilight nonsense and the watering down of education. “What will you discuss?” you ask your child. “Oh, we don’t know yet,” she says. “My teacher has never read it before. In fact, she’s never read any Dickens. She just thought it would be fun to read this with a cup of tea in hand!” My guess is that you would be annoyed.

And yet, Oprah does just that, only it’s worse: She has asked millions of people to follow her into some of the more difficult prose to come out of the nineteenth century—prose she knows nothing about. Put simply, a TV host whose maxim is to “live your best life” is not an adequate guide through the complicated syntax of Dickens, not because she lacks the intelligence—she is quite clearly a woman of savvy—but because her readings of the texts are so one-dimensional.

Oprah’s approach to her Book Club is all about herself. Her recent announcement contained not a word of reasoning or insightfulness about Dickens’s work; instead, she explained her reason for picking two of his novels by shouting, in a lame attempt at literary humor, “Cause it’s the best of times!” Just as she deems her “favorite things” worthy of an annual consumer-fest, she happily pushes to her audience of millions whatever books she herself wants to read.

Getting Dickens & literature wrong-The New Republic

I hope this link turns up for non-subscribers. :innocent::flowers:

 

[sparkchaser]

The link works for me.

I suppose the real question is: if it gets them reading, does it matter why they are reading it?

 

[abecedarian]

I don't watch Oprah, so I don't know how she handles her other book group discussions, but she might be able to pull it off well if she's willing to bring in guests who can bring in information that helps readers understand Dickens' and his settings. I read Great Expectations in the ninth grade, and I know for a fact that I wouldn't have gotten much out of it if not for a knowledgeable teacher who helped us understand not only the language, but the historical setting as well. If it had been me, I think I'd have chosen Great Expectations, Oliver Twist, or A Christmas Carol first, then added A Tale of Two Cities. This is like giving steak to an infant.

 

[Polly Parrot]

I'm with Sparky here, as long as they are reading it's a good thing as far as I'm concerned; besides, it might inspire people to read other novels by Dickens or any other author who has featured in Oprah's book club.
And I'm not sure if the "they'll not be able to understand it" is a valid criteria for whether someone should read a book or not. Saying people lack the intelligence for certain authors sounds rather elitist to me and there's nothing wrong with someone trying to challenge themselves by reading a more difficult text than what they're accustomed to.

 

[abecedarian]

I'm with Sparky here, as long as they are reading it's a good thing as far as I'm concerned; besides, it might inspire people to read other novels by Dickens or any other author who has featured in Oprah's book club.
And I'm not sure if the "they'll not be able to understand it" is a valid criteria for whether someone should read a book or not. Saying people lack the intelligence for certain authors sounds rather elitist to me and there's nothing wrong with someone trying to challenge themselves by reading a more difficult text than what they're accustomed to.

That's true, but if Oprah doesn't use the resources she can muster, there will be lots of readers out there who will toss Dickens aside, declaring themselves either to dumb to understand him, or his works have nothing to offer the modern reader. A sad outcome either way.

 

[Peder]

"Tale of Two Cities?!" She is going to recommend that ending to her followers? :devil:

 

[pontalba]

That's true, but if Oprah doesn't use the resources she can muster, there will be lots of readers out there who will toss Dickens aside, declaring themselves either to dumb to understand him, or his works have nothing to offer the modern reader. A sad outcome either way.

That's just it, if she goes the superficial, simple route, so much will be lost. If people read it, but don't get any real understanding out of it, what use is it?

"Tale of Two Cities?!" She is going to recommend that ending to her followers? :devil:

Self-sacrifice, of course.

 

[Libra]

It's about time.I don't think her book club members only read her recommendations and if one person gets it,that's one person more than before.

 

[pontalba]

I don't think her book club members only read her recommendations and if one person gets it,that's one person more than before.

What gives you that impression? I hope it's true, but I would find it interesting to know if there is any sort of follow up on the participants of Oprah's Book Club members. For example, what have they read before, do they understand the book in question, do they in fact go on to read more classics.

 

[Peder]

Perhaps there are some Oprah-readers here? I don't know of any on other forums I visit.

 

[beer good]

So basically, reading is only to be encouraged as long as people read for the right reasons?

Wasn't Dickens considered a popular bestseller author back in the day? Surely people haven't gotten stupider since the 1800s?

 

[pontalba]

Isn't any reason the right reason?

Baby steps.

 

[Peder]

So basically, reading is only to be encouraged as long as people read for the right reasons?

You lost me.

 

[abecedarian]

So basically, reading is only to be encouraged as long as people read for the right reasons?

Wasn't Dickens considered a popular bestseller author back in the day? Surely people haven't gotten stupider since the 1800s?

Nothing wrong with a public figure encouraging people to read. In that respect, God bless Oprah. I just think it would be good if she continued to use her status and resources to bring historical and social background to the discussion. The people of Dickens' day were totally familiar with the social and economic issues he wrote about, and the language he used to portray the harsh realities of life in those days.

 

[beer good]

Nothing wrong with a public figure encouraging people to read. In that respect, God bless Oprah. I just think it would be good if she continued to use her status and resources to bring historical and social background to the discussion. The people of Dickens' day were totally familiar with the social and economic issues he wrote about, and the language he used to portray the harsh realities of life in those days.

Good point. I'm not very familiar with Oprah so I don't know to what extent she does that, but yeah.

 

[UglyFury]

Was it Franzen who said he didn't want his name associated to her book club, I believe so....and I believe his point was on point. I usually avoid books labeled as being part of her grouping, of all the books I own I only own one with her seal of approval, and that's because I bought it second hand and it was already a well regarded book...a little of subject I know.

 

[SFG75]

What gives you that impression? I hope it's true, but I would find it interesting to know if there is any sort of follow up on the participants of Oprah's Book Club members. For example, what have they read before, do they understand the book in question, do they in fact go on to read more classics.

A poor, starving, sociology doctoral student somewhere thanks you.

 

[Libra]

That's just it, if she goes the superficial, simple route, so much will be lost. If people read it, but don't get any real understanding out of it, what use is it?

So,are you saying they should not bother with it?They are not smart enough or because it's Oprah?

What gives you that impression? I hope it's true, but I would find it interesting to know if there is any sort of follow up on the participants of Oprah's Book Club members. For example, what have they read before, do they understand the book in question, do they in fact go on to read more classics.

I am only assuming because someone who loves to read doesn't just read one book a month.I will look into it though and get back to you.Does it matter what they read before and so what if it's the first book with any meaning comparing to the others they might have read? Baby steps like you said Pontalba.

 

[abecedarian]

So, how does this book club of Oprah's work? I'm used to f2f or forum discussions, so I wonder how useful her 'group reads' really are. Does she just gather a few people together to discuss it on her show or what?

 

[Libra]

So, how does this book club of Oprah's work? I'm used to f2f or forum discussions, so I wonder how useful her 'group reads' really are. Does she just gather a few people together to discuss it on her show or what?

I think that happens but I want to check her site and see if there is something specific about it because others do participate through her site.