Oprah and the classics: The e-book angle
Ophrah Winfrey’s revived book club will do the classics–three to five a year. Great excuse for local libraries to print out hard copies of Project Gutenberg texts and also recommend them in e-book form, not just on paper. And if Oprah can send a little money in PG’s direction, so much the better.
Again, I’m not saying, “Hey, Oprah, just talk up the e-books and the printouts.” Most readers will want the familiar medium of paper, and many will insist on commercial editions–I’m happy to see the publishers get the business, which, these days, they badly need. But she could do a major service by also reminding viewers of the “free” electronic option and the printout one.
If, along the way, Oprah can promote the concept of public domain and call for reduced copyright terms, then so much the better.
My suggestion for the first title, by the way, is My Antonia–hardly the most original selection but a very appropriate one. Find it at Amazon.com or via a Web site with material from PG.
October 29th, 2005 at 10:35 pm
All of my friends love Oprah so much.
THey watch her shows and read her magazines!
December 14th, 2005 at 7:22 pm
My Book Club, Divine Soulz will be active 8 years on March 21, 2006!
We’ve read and discussed some of Ophrah’s Book Club great selections. We’d love to one day be invited to the show to share our unity and strong commitment in our club.
Sincerely,
Delores Lett, Vice-President
Divine Soulz Book/Social Club
March 30th, 2006 at 8:18 pm
Hi Ophrah. My name is Joyce Read and I am sending this e-mail on behalf of Maggie Dell McClain. She is a new and emerging author of poetry. I am assisting Maggie in the exposure of her book “Black Love.” It is an enthralling collection of twenty poems that are simultaneously of romantic dreams and erotic fantasies, and wish fulfillment.
Ophrah we are in need of assistance in the publication, distribution, and exposure of her book. We are working with limited capital funds and are in need of help.
If you are willing to take a look at her book, she will be happy to send it to you. Ophrah, your help and assistance in this matter will be greatly appreciated.
October 13th, 2006 at 3:28 pm
I have heard of a School for girls Oprah opened, any chance her school will employ the use of OLPC, or the Childrens Machine? It seems like if there was ever a situation where the techology can be afforded and the teachers make sure its implementation is more than just IM and games.. it would be this.
July 12th, 2007 at 9:14 am
Hi Oprah I got a chance to look on teleread.org and found my book Black Love, I was so surprised to read lots of other comments.
Proffessor Sterling Plumpp visited the writer’s workshop last year at the Majestic Star Hotel, he was looking for serious writers , he read o one of my manuscripts telling me I have conquered the speech vanacula of America. Last September we began to put together an Anthologist book ,it will be in all the stores around August ,2007 or before. We have’nt given it a name yet .
Maggie Dell McClain
East Chicago, Indiana
February 20th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
I just wish that someone like Oprah would promote/endorse ebooks. Even just for the ecological point of view. They are green as no trees need to be killed to produce paper. You dont even have to drive to the store, so there is another gain. eBooks need a famous person to stand up and promote their qualities before the concept will really take off. Free ebooks are available from many site now, even the old classics, which is more than can be said about their paper cousins. Give them a try and help save the World.