Episode Description
We are celebrating the 30th anniversary of Oprah’s Book Club and Oprah’s first pick of 2026 which is her 121st Book Club selection. The novel KIN by international bestselling author Tayari Jones explores the life-long friendship of two motherless daughters in the segregated South. The story explores how their decisions lead them to live vastly different lives causing them to grow apart. From page one to the stunning conclusion Tayari’s emotionally rich and witty novel inspires a soul-searching, introspective conversation about chosen family. Oprah and Tayari Jones talk with an audience of readers in New York City.
BUY THE BOOK!
https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/635411/kin-by-tayari-jones/
00:00:00 - Celebrating 30 years of Oprah Book Club
00:03:20 - Oprah introduces ‘Kin’ by Tayari Jones
00:04:13 - Welcome Tayari Jones
00:06:42 - Thando on ‘Kin’
00:08:30 - Letters as storytelling
00:10:30 - The professor that inspired Tayari
00:12:35 - Tayari on the 8 years between books
00:17:38 - The plot of ‘Kin’
00:20:40 - Being a girl without a mom
00:22:00 - Belonging and sacrifice
00:23:57 - Tayari’s understanding of her mother
00:28:30 - What can save friendship?
00:30:15 - Honor your friendships
00:37:20 - The feeling of completing a novel
00:42:20 - Tayari on ‘Kin’
00:43:48 - How Tayari sees the world
SUPPORT THE SHOW
https://www.tayarijones.com/books/an-american-marriage/
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices