Oprah Winfrey chose Kin by Tayari Jones (Knopf) as her first Oprah's Book Club Pick of the year, Oprah Daily reported, noting that the novel "meets the moment perfectly" and "is rooted in the kind of human connection the club has always championed, while also delivering a sweeping, immersive story that reminds us all why we love reading--and love reading together even more." Jones's 2018 novel, An American Marriage, was also an Oprah's Book Club pick.
"Tayari's storytelling washed over me like a trip back home, like a visit with my own 'kin' I hadn't seen in a long while. It is masterful and reminds us of the true bonds we share with family, whether biological or chosen," said Winfrey, calling Jones "one of those writers who has trained herself to write, but she also has the gift. She's able to allow the divine to come through her and light up the pages with her words."
"To be selected for Oprah's Book Club is a writer's dream, and to be chosen twice is a stunning gift," Jones said. "Oprah knows that our stories will heal us. For decades she has elevated the voices of the world--book by book. Like the old folks say, I'm honored to be one in that number."
Winfrey interviewed the author on her podcast, available here.