Oprah's Book Club Pick: Say You're One of Them by Uwem Akpan
Oprah Winfrey has selected a book of short stories for her next book club selection. Say You're One of Them is a debut work from African Jesuit priest Uwem Akpan. The collection of stories deals with African children who have been put into unimaginably horrifying circumstances. From the 12 year old girl who must become a prostitute to the two boys who are being fattened up to be sold into slavery, the plots are difficult to read. But Akpan infuses the stories hope, humor and humanity.
Uwem Akpan says he is
humbled that his book was chosen by Oprah.
Uwem Akpan, who runs a parish in Lagos, told Entertainment Weekly that he was "very, very humbled" to be chosen by Oprah.
He said he was not currently working on another book as his parish had been so busy but the church supports his writing with no conflict of interest between writing and being a priest.
"I have permission to write, but I do not need an imprimatur from the church -- that is more for people who are writing about theology and philosophy. They see that I am writing fiction and assume it is made up," he said.
"Don't forget that Jesus was a priest and a poet."
Oprah's book club is the biggest in the world with almost two million online members and books chosen for Oprah's book club invariably skyrocket to the top of the U.S. bestseller lists.
Akpan studied philosophy and English at Creighton and Gonzaga universities then studied theology for three years at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa.
He was ordained as a Jesuit priest in 2003 and received his master's degree in creative writing from the University of Michigan in 2006.
Say You're One of Them is available at a discount from Amazon.com.
