Oprah Picks Short Story Collection for Book Club

Jonathan Franzen's 'Freedom' lands coveted book club slot

(NEWSER) - Nine years after Oprah Winfrey chose Jonathan Franzen's The Corrections for her book club, and the "uncomfortable" novelist talked his way out of appearing on her show, he's getting another chance, reports the New York Post . The media magnate's people won't confirm the Oprah's Book Club selection—likely the last, because her show is ending —but multiple booksellers tell the AP the highly touted Freedom will get the nod tomorrow. More»

What will we still be talking about next decade? Britney, for one

(NEWSER) - The ‘00s were full of important contributions to culture, but which ones will we still be talking about in another decade? Here are some of New York ’s picks:

• TV: The Sopranos for inventing quality cable, American Idol for changing the music industry, and of course all things Oprah Winfrey.
• Books: The Da Vinci Code for singlehandedly sustaining the book industry, and The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay for blazing the trail of combining geek lit with high lit.

Winfrey's endorsement gave candidate huge boost, especially during primaries

(NEWSER) - As an early backer of Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey may have made the difference in the close primary contest against Hillary Clinton, Jake Tapper writes for ABC’s Nightline. One statistician estimates Winfrey—whose choices for her book club, for example, have an astronomical impact on book sales—delivered between 400,000 and 1.6 million primary votes for Obama. She laid low for the rest of the campaign, but now that he's won, expect a more open role. More»

William Leith defends endorsements

(NEWSER) - Despite a reputation for being over the top, book blurbs are more meaningful than not, writes William Leith in the Guardian. The blurber, as a rule, cannot expect endorsement in return, but he "is flattered to be asked, and wants to score a tiny ad for himself on the blurbee's book." So the book must be worthy, not embarrassing. More»

Publisher pressing 750,000 more copies

(NEWSER) - Oprah Winfrey made The Story of Edgar Sawtelle her latest book club pick today, Publishers Weekly reports. The debut novel by David Wroblewski is about a mute boy who communicates best with his dogs. It's been a best-seller since its June release, and publisher Ecco is set to produce another 750,000 copies in the wake of Oprah's pick. The book is "up there with the greatest American novels ever written," she says. More»