The Oprah and the Faulkner

[Christien Murawski]

This story link was on the front page of Yahoo tonight. Basically Oprah is suggesting a threesome of Faulkner's books for her book club, and sales are climbing as a result.

Within 24 hours of being picked as the summer reading pick for Oprah's Book Club, a boxed set of the three novels "As I Lay Dying," "The Sound and the Fury" and "Light in August" was the number two seller on Amazon.com, second only to J.K. Rowling's next Harry Potter book, which hits the shelves in July.

I recall As I Lay Dying most vividly, as I think it was the most recent of Faulkner's books I read. I loved it too. I recall being surprised at finding so much dark humor in there.

"You know what he'll do when he comes back? Beat my teeth out then kick me in the stomach for mumbling."

-Amanpour

[Kitsune]

I know Oprah gets a lot of flack and the more cynical will presume she does what she does because its a profitable way to build a self-help empire, but God bless 'er for supporting book reading so much. :) I don't care if her taste isn't always so great, she at least picks books that are more introspective and challenging than say, The Da Vinci Code.

Then again, didn't she pick a Nicholas Sparks book once?

Still, can't fault her for Faulkner.

Did she ever pick a Virginia Woolf book, I would think that would perfect for her demographic? To the Lighthouse is one of my favorite things to read ever. I keep wishing everyone could think out their thoughts as well as the characters in that book.

-Kitsune

[triggercut]

Wow.

Good for Oprah. Faulkner is the guy I most wish I had an iota of the talent of, and if she's moving units, god bless her.

I think I need to revisit Yoknapatawpha County asap my own self!

[Jamie Madigan]

I think Oprah only selects classics for her book clubs any more. Anything she chooses is pretty much guaranteed to hit the best seller's list, so she could pretty much make any author a success. So she's only choosing classics that are already successful.

[Tom Chick]

Yay, Oprah! Although I can't imagine some average Joe or Jane trying to get through The Sound and the Fury. But good call on Light in August and As I Lay Dying.

-Tom

"How often have I lain beneath the sound of rain on a strange roof, thinking of home."

[hido]

I lived in MS for 15 years and I honestly don't know how anyone gets Faulkner without having spent some time in that godforsaken state. Or maybe you just get a different appreciation for the guy. But damn it's funny how quickly you run into Faulkner characters after spending about twelve minutes in that hell hole called Mississippi.

btw, anybody from MS can just save it. I'll go tit-for-tat with you all day about how godawful the state is. I know I know: Elvis, Robert Johnson, and Faulkner. Two words for ya, sport: Ross Barnett.

p.s. But, damn, the women are hot.

[Malathor]

Yay, Oprah! Although I can't imagine some average Joe or Jane trying to get through The Sound and the Fury. But good call on Light in August and As I Lay Dying.

Indeed. If you are going to challenge your readers, why not go for Absalom, Absalom! instead? Wouldn't that be a more...umm relevant choice?