For most authors, getting selected for “The Oprah Winfrey Show” book club is the stuff of dreams. But back in 2004, Jonathan Franzen treated the honor like an affront to his craft. On learning that the talk show icon had chosen “The Corrections” for an upcoming episode, the author told NPR expressed concerns that he’d be misunderstood by such a populist show, arguing, “I feel like I’m solidly in the high-art literary tradition.”
Soon after, Franzen questioned Winfrey’s general taste in a chat with Powell’s bookstore (via The New York Times): “She’s picked some good books, but she’s picked enough schmaltzy, one-dimensional ones that I cringe, myself.” Of course, the ungrateful writer soon found out that revenge is a dish best served as an ice-cold retraction.
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On learning about his snobbery, Winfrey issued a public statement (via Vox) that read, “Jonathan Franzen will not be on ‘The Oprah Winfrey’ show because he is seemingly uncomfortable and conflicted about being chosen as a book club selection. It is never my intention to make anyone uncomfortable or cause anyone conflict. We have decided to skip the dinner and we’re moving on to the next book.” Franzen, the first ever writer Winfrey had disinvited, later apologized to the billionaire, and in 2010, she selected his novel “Freedom” as a book club pick. This time around, the author kept schtum.
