Oprah Winfrey has revealed that her book club will be announcing its next pick on September 19. It's a hardcover, published by HarperCollins.
But who wants to wait until then to find out what it is? Not me!
So I put my thinking cap on and started clicking around Amazon -- I even picked up the hotline to some of my top secret, deep background sources. It took me ten minutes, but I nailed it down.
The next Oprah pick is...
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski.
I've never even heard of it, which I realize makes me a bad, bad book critic. (Does this mean I have to go to bed without liquor?)
So, you heard it here first. I may be wrong...but that's your own fault for getting your news from blogs.
Can I make a guess? I think it's Dennis Lehane's THE GIVEN DAY. He's published by Morrow which is an imprint of Harper Collins, isn't it?
Posted by: tess | September 11, 2008 at 03:40 PM
Lehane was one of my first guesses, along with Laura Lippman. But I decided against him since his book is being published after the date on the secret Amazon book. So that made me think it wasn't it. (Has Oprah ever picked a book that isn't out yet? I have no idea.)
Posted by: David Montgomery | September 11, 2008 at 03:49 PM
I have it sitting on my coffee table. Neither my husband or I have been able to get into it. Too much back story.
Posted by: Patti Abbott | September 12, 2008 at 07:23 AM
Which, Patti? I haven't read EDGAR SAWTELLE, but I thought THE GIVEN DAY was magnificent. It was my first guess too, David, but I think you're right about the pub date. Though if it was a pick, I'm sure Morrow would happily move the date forward to accommodate Oprah. From what I've heard from my publishers, they're happy to do pretty much anything for her.
Posted by: Marcus Sakey | September 15, 2008 at 11:21 AM
My guess is "The City of Refuge".
Posted by: Pam | September 15, 2008 at 02:44 PM
The reason for City of Refuge is if you notice her book is available in hardback and large print only. City of Refuge fits the mold. It's about Katrina and a black and white family and typical Oprah style. Published by Harper in 2008. I personally hope I am wrong.
Posted by: Pam | September 15, 2008 at 02:48 PM
Damn. I thought it was going to be...
...never mind.
Posted by: Sean Chercover | September 15, 2008 at 02:56 PM
I always get The Story of Edgar Sawtelle mixed up with The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. Now that would show imagination on Oprah's part!
Posted by: Laura Benedict | September 16, 2008 at 10:18 AM
Hey - You probably know this already, but SAWTELLE is a re-telling of Hamlet set in a dog-training school (think Smiley's "Thousand Acres"). It got wonderful reviews in the NYT and other places so I peeked at it, but it didn't grab me. Interesting enough, a dog trainer I know said that the fictional breed of dogs in the book was very well done and quite believable.
Posted by: Clea Simon | September 18, 2008 at 12:37 PM
I picked up the Edgar Sawtelle book this week and read it. Yuck!!! Too wordy. Could have been written in half the pages.
Any wonder Oprah liked all
the flowy descriptions. Pleeeze!!!!!!!!!!!!! You find me with my theology.
Posted by: Pam | September 18, 2008 at 05:44 PM
Saw this morning that you hit the nail on the head with your "prediction". Read quite a few reviews on this book. From what I read, I won't be reading this book. Too wordy. Too long. Depressing ending. Yep, just what Oprah would believe is "literary". Also confirms my personal belief - Never ever read a book chosen by Oprah. Read one of her picks. Fool me once, shame on her. She won't get a second chance.
Posted by: ArkansasCyndi | September 19, 2008 at 11:03 AM
Could someone explain to me why anyone other than the author and publisher would give a rat's ass what Oprah's latest pick is?
Posted by: Michael P | September 19, 2008 at 12:00 PM
The real SECRET is from ancient yoga. Research the KALPA TARU chakra if you want to learn more.
Posted by: Dave G. | September 24, 2008 at 08:08 AM