Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Thursday 8 February 2018
Winfrey picks novel 'An American Marriage' for book club

By HILLEL ITALIE bon and Edwidge Danti- American Marriage" was would happen. "An Ameri-
NEW YORK (AP) — Tayari cat and was praised by No. 2 on Amazon, trailing can Marriage" took several
Jones, whose novel "An The Washington Post as a only Jordan B. Peterson's years to complete. While
American Marriage" has compelling story that raises advice book "12 Rules for on a research fellowship at
been chosen for Oprah "punishing questions" and Life." Since starting her club Harvard University, Jones
Winfrey's book club, will spins them "with tender in 1996, Winfrey has helped knew that she wanted to
always remember that patience." In a brief tele- put dozens of books on the write about the criminal jus-
phone call from last Octo- phone interview with The best-seller lists, from con- tice system, but only had
ber. Associated Press, Winfrey temporary works such as a concept. She needed
She was driving in Las Ve- said Jones' novel made her Colson Whitehead's "The real people for inspiration.
gas, expecting to hear from respond in a similar way to Underground Railroad" to During a visit to her native
books editor Leigh Haber of other works she has picked such classics as Tolstoy's Atlanta, she overheard a
Winfrey's magazine, "O," for for her club: She just had to "Anna Karenina." Recent couple arguing.
which Jones has written re- tell others about it. choices have included "And the woman said, 'You
views. "I just get such a deep plea- Cynthia Bond's "Ruby" and know you wouldn't have
"But instead of Leigh's voice sure from the written word Imbolo Mbue's "Behold the waited for ME for seven
coming through the sound This cover image released by and finding out that other Dreamers." Winfrey said years,'" Jones recalled.
system of my car, it was Algonquin Books shows "An people feel the same way," during her recent interview "And the man shot back,
Oprah's," Jones, 47, told American Marriage," by Ta- said Winfrey. "It's kind of like that she liked choosing 'This wouldn't have hap-
yari Jones.
The Associated Press during Associated Press sharing values. It's like say- emerging authors such as pened to you in the first
a recent interview. "I would ing here's an experience Bond and Mbue and help- place.' And I thought, 'He's
have known that voice and prison term — for a that I value and you're try- ing "to expose them to a right and she's also right.'
anywhere. And I just pulled crime no one he knows be- ing to get somebody to wider audience." And that's when I knew I
over, in a not-so-great part lieves he committed — that also appreciate it." Jones' previous books in- had a novel, when I had
of town. And people were upends their lives. Winfrey's Winfrey's interview with clude "Silver Sparrow," ''The a conflict between two
tapping on my windows, production company, Har- Jones will appear in the Untelling" and "Leaving At- people and both of them
and I was like, 'Go away, po Films, is planning an ad- March issue of "O," which lanta." She is a longtime are right." Winfrey, too, was
I'm trying to have the big- aptation. comes out next week. As Winfrey admirer and says drawn to how "An Ameri-
gest moment of my life.'" Published Tuesday, the with other recent books, she was once in the studio can Marriage" attached
Winfrey's magazine and book was already one of Winfrey will promote it in audience for one of her names and lives to an issue
OWN network told The As- the year's most anticipated part through Amazon.com, shows, a broadcast from distant for most people. She
sociated Press on Tuesday novels and had reached where a video message the early 1990s about gay remembered once hosting
that Winfrey had selected the top 1,000 on Amazon. from Winfrey is posted and rights. Like countless au- a program about incarcer-
Jones' story of a young, com before Winfrey's an- an excerpt can be read for thors, she had dreamed ation and struggling to get
newly married African- nouncement. "An Ameri- free on the Kindle e-book of being picked for the viewers engaged because
American couple and the can Marriage" includes device. Oprah book club, but relatively few had direct
husband's shocking arrest blurbs from Michael Cha- By midday Tuesday, "An never let herself believe it experience.q

Jesmyn Ward, prize-winning

author, has 2 new novels planned

Carolinas to New Orleans.
She will then work on her
first novel for middle grad-
ers, a "magical adventure"
featuring a Southern black
woman with "special pow-
ers." "Even though I read vo-
raciously as a child, I never
saw myself in books," Ward
said in a statement. "With-
out narratives to expand
my ideas of who I could be,
I accepted the stories oth-
ers told me about myself,
stories which diminished
and belittled me and peo-
ple like me. I want to write
against that. I've wanted
In this Nov. 15, 2017 file photo, author Jesmyn Ward attends the to write a middle grade/
68th National Book Awards Ceremony and Benefit Dinner in YA book for years, a book
New York. that might reach the child
Associated Press I once was and expand
By HILLEL ITALIE On Wednesday, Scribner that child's sense of self."
NEW YORK (AP) — National told The Associated Press Her other books include
Book Award winner Jesmyn that Ward will write an adult the novel “Where the Line
Ward has her next two nov- novel about an enslaved Bleeds” and the memoir
els planned. woman sent from the “Men We Reaped.”q