On The Rack

If you are a fanatic member of Oprah's book club, close this window and go at once to her safe and happy promotional website.
Otherwise...

I'm eager to see the film of Philippa Gregory's novel The Other Boleyn Girl. Although I haven't picked up the book yet, it's on my reading list. Deft, believable characterization and a richly detailed historical backdrop of tense political intrigues make her books consistent winners. Read the hook for TOBG here.

On the other foot...
I'm not exactly sure what the hell Ken Follett was doing with The Pillars of the Earth. Certain distasteful, repetitive - and overdone - scenes mark this Oprah book club selection IMHO as one to be missed. Where was the editor on this one? Why is this book a runaway success when it reads like a How To manual? Who let him ramble on with boring details that read like a well-researched library reference book? Read the shamefully boring opening page here.