Newly released books often dominate celebrity book clubs, but every now and then, an older title slips through the cracks.
Oprah Winfrey is the champion of one of those books this month.
“Bridge of Sighs” by Richard Russo, originally published by Penguin Random House in 2007, is the August pick for Oprah’s Book Club. Russo is the Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “Empire Falls” and over a dozen other works.
“Bridge of Sighs” follows a small-town American man and his wife who are preparing to embark on a family vacation to Italy. Winfrey calls it a “classic summer read.”
Oprah’s Book Club pick for August: ‘Bridge of Sighs’ by Richard Russo
“Bridge of Sighs” is a multigenerational story about family and destiny in the Lynch family, convenience store owners in small-town New York. Protagonist Louis Charles (known as “Lucy”) is a 60-year-old man excavating his hometown and family history through old memories, including an old friend (and rival for his wife’s affection) who lives in Venice.
“This book has everything you need for a classic summer read – romance, unrequited love, life-long friendships, and of course – epic family drama,” Winfrey said in a statement. “If you’re a fan of Richard Russo or discovering him for the first time, here’s your opportunity to read one of America’s most beloved writers.”
It’s not the first time Winfrey has chosen an older book for her monthly book club pick. In January, she chose Eckhart Tolle’s “A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose” when it was reissued for its 10th anniversary edition. She picked the same book in 2008. Other recent picks, like AI family thriller “Culpability” by Bruce Holsinger and “The Emperor of Gladness” by Ocean Vuong, came out this year.
“It is, of course, a profound honor to be chosen for Oprah’s Book Club,” Russo said in a statement. “But to be chosen for a novel written two decades earlier? A book that will introduce a whole new generation of readers to my work? How special is that?”
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Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY’s Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter or tell her what you’re reading at cmulroy@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Oprah’s Book Club has a new pick, but it’s from 2007: See the title
