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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Minnie-Haha on June 5, 2005, at 21:59:46
I've been looking for something new to move into, and then I heard that Oprah's summer reading is Faulkner... not one, but three books. So I bought them! (They had 'em boxed into a set at the bookstore.)
I've tried Faulkner before, but didn't get far. Also, I'm not even an Oprah fan and have never read one of her suggested books before (at least not because or when she suggested them).
Posted by Sarah T. on June 6, 2005, at 1:31:54
In reply to Faulkner, Oprah... I can't believe I did this, posted by Minnie-Haha on June 5, 2005, at 21:59:46
Which Faulkner books did you get? I like "THE SOUND AND THE FURY" and "THE HAMLET." One of my former professors thought THE HAMLET was Faulkner's best novel, but I like THE SOUND AND THE FURY better.
Posted by Sarah T. on June 6, 2005, at 1:35:56
In reply to Re: Faulkner, Oprah... I can't believe I did this » Minnie-Haha, posted by Sarah T. on June 6, 2005, at 1:31:54
Sorry, the link to Amazon.com for Faulkner's "THE HAMLET" is linking incorrectly. I'll try it again. . .
Posted by KaraS on June 6, 2005, at 3:10:30
In reply to Faulkner, Oprah... I can't believe I did this, posted by Minnie-Haha on June 5, 2005, at 21:59:46
> I've been looking for something new to move into, and then I heard that Oprah's summer reading is Faulkner... not one, but three books. So I bought them! (They had 'em boxed into a set at the bookstore.)
>
> I've tried Faulkner before, but didn't get far. Also, I'm not even an Oprah fan and have never read one of her suggested books before (at least not because or when she suggested them).
>
I was really surprised to hear that Oprah chose 3 Faulkner books for her book club. Somehow I just don't see them going over well with Oprah fans. I've only read "The Sound and the Fury". It was a long time ago. I enjoyed it but wouldn't have had I not had a cheat sheet explaining who was who. Actually, I think half of my enjoyment came just from getting through it.Good luck.
Posted by Minnie-Haha on June 6, 2005, at 10:55:07
In reply to Re: Faulkner, Oprah... I can't believe I did this » Minnie-Haha, posted by KaraS on June 6, 2005, at 3:10:30
> I was really surprised to hear that Oprah chose 3 Faulkner books for her book club. Somehow I just don't see them going over well with Oprah fans...
I was thinking the same thing. I think O is asking her fans to stretch themselves. From what I understand, she has quite a brain. (Her success can't be all accident.)
> ... Actually, I think half of my enjoyment came just from getting through it.
I've read books like that before! And I've got one I've been trying to read for 20 years that I'm about to give up on. Just a bit too scholarly for me. "Eleanor of Aquitane and the Four Kings".
Posted by Minnie-Haha on June 6, 2005, at 11:38:21
In reply to Re: Faulkner, Oprah... I can't believe I did this » Minnie-Haha, posted by Sarah T. on June 6, 2005, at 1:31:54
> Which Faulkner books did you get? I like "THE SOUND AND THE FURY" and "THE HAMLET." One of my former professors thought THE HAMLET was Faulkner's best novel, but I like THE SOUND AND THE FURY better.
June's selection: "As I Lay Dying"
July: "The Sound and The Fury"
August: "Light in August"
I just joined Oprah's book club, because starting tonight (June 6, 7 p.m. EST) there will be a lecture every Monday night featuring guest experts.
As I Lay Dying: Robert W. Hamblin, Professor of English and Director of the Center for Faulkner Studies at Southeast Missouri State University, where he has taught since 1965.
The Sound and The Fury: Thadious M. Davis, Geraldine R. Segal Professor of American Social Thought and Professor of English at the University of Pennsylvania.
Light in August: Arnold Weinstein, has been at Brown University since 1968 where he has held the position of Edna and Richard Salomon Distinguished Professor of Comparative Literature since 1995.
Oprah's bookclub is at oprah.com/bookclub The "official" editions are from Random House Vintage International and can be purchased individually or as a boxed set under "Oprah's Book Club Presents A Summer of Faulkner" (couldn't find a link on Amazon... I got mine at Barnes & Noble when I was at a mall yesterday... complete impulse, as I was there to get my son the fourth book in "The Lost Years of Merlin" series).
Posted by KaraS on June 6, 2005, at 15:38:02
In reply to Re: Faulkner, Oprah... I can't believe I did this, posted by Minnie-Haha on June 6, 2005, at 10:55:07
> > I was really surprised to hear that Oprah chose 3 Faulkner books for her book club. Somehow I just don't see them going over well with Oprah fans...
>
> I was thinking the same thing. I think O is asking her fans to stretch themselves. From what I understand, she has quite a brain. (Her success can't be all accident.)
>
---I'm sure Oprah can handle it. It's a lot of her followers I'm not so sure about.
> > ... Actually, I think half of my enjoyment came just from getting through it.
>
> I've read books like that before! And I've got one I've been trying to read for 20 years that I'm about to give up on. Just a bit too scholarly for me. "Eleanor of Aquitane and the Four Kings".
>
---At least this time you have that extra push to get you through it. It will be interesting to see how many people are still participating by August.I think it's good overall that she is reviving interest in the classics. In this case I think she should have tested the waters with one Faulkner book first. It's too bad that she no longer picks new, unknown authors because she got embarrassed that one time. She really helped a lot of struggling writers. I don't understand why she couldn't just make sure the author wants Oprah's book club kind of attention ahead of time rather than scrapping all new authors from her club?
But she has certainly been successful at what she does so maybe she knows better than I do in this case.
K
Posted by Minnie-Haha on June 6, 2005, at 21:21:10
In reply to Re: Faulkner, Oprah... I can't believe I did this » Minnie-Haha, posted by KaraS on June 6, 2005, at 15:38:02
> ... I think it's good overall that she is reviving interest in the classics. In this case I think she should have tested the waters with one Faulkner book first...
It looks like they read Anna Karenina last summer! They've actually had a pretty impressive reading list: East of Eden; Cry the Beloved Country; One Hundred Years of Solitude; The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter...
> It's too bad that she no longer picks new, unknown authors because she got embarrassed that one time. She really helped a lot of struggling writers. I don't understand why she couldn't just make sure the author wants Oprah's book club kind of attention ahead of time rather than scrapping all new authors from her club?
>
> But she has certainly been successful at what she does so maybe she knows better than I do in this case.She's got such a big audience that it is a shame she's not helping the new authors much any more, but more than Oprah, I blame the growth of the mega-publishing houses and super-huge, mega book chains. (I try to buy at my local bookseller as much as possible.)
Posted by KaraS on June 7, 2005, at 1:26:45
In reply to Re: Faulkner, Oprah... I can't believe I did this » KaraS, posted by Minnie-Haha on June 6, 2005, at 21:21:10
> It looks like they read Anna Karenina last summer! They've actually had a pretty impressive reading list: East of Eden; Cry the Beloved Country; One Hundred Years of Solitude; The Heart Is A Lonely Hunter...
OK, maybe I'm just being a snob.
> She's got such a big audience that it is a shame she's not helping the new authors much any more, but more than Oprah, I blame the growth of the mega-publishing houses and super-huge, mega book chains. (I try to buy at my local bookseller as much as possible.)
Yeah, the mega book chains make it more difficult for new writers to get started as well.
This is the end of the thread.
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