Dear Oprah

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Dear Oprah,

It's all over the news now. Your choice. Your last book club selection. I'm cool with it, really. I mean, I love the Fran Man. I can't wait to read Freedom. The Corrections blew my freakin' mind and I'm sure I'll feel the same way about your "pick".

But, Oprah. Did you even consider a debut author, an author who writes in the voice of a teenager? I mean, you are picking Franzen for the SECOND time.

You have the power to make careers. Even with all of the James Frey hooplah - well, he sold a lot of books and got more book deals, didn't he? And you helped to spur a global discussion on the parameters of memoir and truth in fiction. These are topics that fascinate me as both a writer and a teacher of writing, having spent many formative years in the presence of my late grandmother, Madeleine L'Engle, who stretched these boundaries in both her fiction and non-fiction.

All I'm sayin' is - I grew up watching your show, and it has been a lifelong dream to meet you, and chat with you about books and being of service in the world. Your presence has helped so many people find their voice and their bliss. I have found my bliss as a writer and I'm hopeful that my books will be of service.

So. I am asking you on a blogorific bended knee to please consider keeping up your book club even after your wonderful show ends. Better yet, add a kid-lit book club to the mix, and please be sure to include me, Léna Roy, author of EDGES.

Sincerely yours,

Léna

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• Oprah picks Franzen's novel "Freedom" for book club (reuters.com)