A few weeks ago, while packing up to leave class, a book fell out of my backpack. Emblazoned on the front cover was the Oprah Winfrey book club logo. A friend, having seen the items falling, bent down to help me and before he touched the book, he drew his hand back and grimaced.

"Oh my God. You’re reading a book from the Oprah Winfrey Book Club?"

"What? What’s wrong?" I responded, picking up the book and drawing it closer to my chest.

He straightened up and obstinately proclaimed, "Every book that they recommend sucks."

Harsh words, I thought. But more to the point, I wondered why he held so firmly to such a belief. To figure it out, I took my friend by the arm and sat him down next to me on the floor. Once I saw that he had recomposed himself, I plopped the book on the floor between us and let it fall open.

"So, you’ve only read one Oprah Book Club book, huh?"

"And, what’s your point?"

"Was it this book?"

My friend eyed the book, then flipped it over for another good look at the cover, and returned it to its original position.

"I don’t think so." Clearly more suspicious.

"Then how do you know this book sucks?"

Before he could answer, since I didn’t need to be Sybil to divine his response, I amended my question. "What types of books do you like? Name of the authors you prefer to read."

It only took a few moments for him to start prattling off story lines from books he couldn’t remember the titles of. Within two minutes, I understood why he hadn’t much cared for the Oprah Winfrey Book Club recommendations: My friend enjoyed more intense thriller/mystery books whereas most of the books recommended by Oprah’s list had been philosophical, spiritual, or allegorical dramas. Though there are plenty of men who enjoy Oprah, her target demographic tends to be women of a certain age and background who share Oprah’s literary tastes (I heard she reads every book that makes it onto the list).

"Then, let me get this straight–" Cutting him off in the middle of yet another story line. "You have declared that every book they recommend sucks, not based on any literary merit, but based on your own reading preferences?"

The question caught him off guard. Confusion marred his eyes and brow. His mouth fell slightly open, a fish desperately searching for life sustaining oxygen, before he gathered his senses and spoke.

"What do you mean?"

His sudden show of vulnerability eased my disposition and I gently said, "Not every book the Oprah Winfrey Book Club recommends sucks. Frankly, I’m not a fan of all the titles I’ve read, but I do enjoy the vast majority. They tend to be rich, well-written, and stimulating reads–either intellectually or emotionally. For me personally," I emphasized the last few words. "The reason why you hate the book club, simply, is because it’s not your style. Surely you’re entitled to your opinion, but remember that just because a book’s subject matter isn’t your cup of tea doesn’t necessarily mean the book sucks. My best advice for you is to find a book club that specializes in thrillers and mysteries. The Oprah Winfrey Book Club is not it."