About this episode

Oprah and Tayari Jones discuss the themes of friendship and family in Tayari's novel 'KIN' during the celebration of Oprah's Book Club's 30th anniversary.

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…

People in this episode

Host: Oprah

Guest: Tayari Jones

Topics covered

• friendship
• motherless daughters
• segregated South
• chosen family
• literature
• book discussion

Keywords

• Oprah
• Tayari Jones
• KIN
• Oprah’s Book Club
• friendship
• motherless daughters
• literature
• book discussion

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Oprah’s Book Club, Penguin Random House

Books & works: KIN

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