What I don't enjoy are "serious" works of literary fiction. Oprah book club kind of books make me want to gouge out my eyes.

I totally agree with this! I always say that I was an "English major who hates literature." A lot of it is so boring and wordy! By the time you get through the descriptions of the rolling hills covered in tall grass and heather, you've forgotten what the story's supposed to be about. I realize that's the style of much of what is considered literature, but guh, it's dreadful! I'm more fascinated by contemporary novels that will one day be considered literature . . . though people seem resistant to believing anything being written now is good enough to be considered literature.

Remember when Oprah discovered both 100 Years of Solitude and The Grapes of Wrath? I'm so glad she discovered these little-known books and brought them to the housewife masses. Seriously.

*whispers* Oprah annoys the hell out of me.