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Wonderly.

The Wondry! It's 1996 in Oprah Winfrey's office at Harpo Studios in Chicago, Illinois.

Oprah leans back in her chair flipping through the pages of a novel.

She wants to start a book club to get America reading again, and she's landed on the perfect

first choice, The Deep End of the Ocean, by Jacqueline Mitchard.

It's a heartbreaking story of a mother whose child is kidnapped. And Oprah sees a bit of herself and the

main character, and she knows her audience will too. So now she's calling up the director of

publicity at the book's publishing house to share the good news. The light on her phone blinks,

and Oprah picks up the receiver. Hi, is this Patty? It's Oprah Winfrey. Oprah, goodness, hi. When your assistant said you wanted to talk to me, I thought it was a joke.

What can I do for you? Well, this might sound a little crazy, but hear me out.

I'm starting a book club on my show, and I swear to you, it's going to be the biggest book club in the world.

That's fantastic. You know, anything that encourages people to read is music to my ears.

And...

And?

I want Jacqueline Mitchard's book to be the first pick.

The Deep End of the Ocean?

Yes.

I loved it.

...