Megha Majumdar’s New Novel Receives Oprah’s Coveted Book Club Endorsement

From Kolkata to Oprah: Megha Majumdar’s New Novel Shines in Global Spotlight

In a remarkable turn of events, Indian-origin author Megha Majumdar has captured the literary world’s attention with her latest novel, A Guardian and a Thief, which has been selected as the 119th pick for Oprah Winfrey’s renowned Book Club. The announcement, made via Oprah’s Instagram, has sent ripples of excitement through the literary community and beyond.

In a heartfelt video, Oprah praised Majumdar as “an exquisite writer” who masterfully weaves the complexities of humanity into her storytelling. “You are going some places, sister!” Oprah exclaimed, offering a pat on the shoulder that encapsulated her enthusiasm for Majumdar’s work.

This endorsement comes at a pivotal moment for the author, as A Guardian and a Thief was recently named a finalist for the National Book Award and has also been shortlisted for the prestigious Kirkus Prize. Set in a near-future Kolkata grappling with the dire consequences of climate change, the novel explores ethical dilemmas in a world where basic necessities are alarmingly scarce.

Oprah described Majumdar as “one of those exquisitely skilled authors who takes us into the story of characters and cultural conflicts,” leaving readers spellbound until the very last word. Majumdar, who gained acclaim for her debut novel A Burning, was visibly moved by the recognition. “My heart is beating so fast,” she told Oprah during their phone conversation. “Every word feels too modest to capture this expansion that you’ve just brought into my day and into my life.”

The author later joined Oprah for a live conversation at a Starbucks in New York, further engaging with readers and fans.

Born and raised in Kolkata, Majumdar now resides in New York. Her debut novel, A Burning, became a New York Times bestseller and garnered multiple nominations, including the National Book Award and the Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar in India. It was also celebrated as one of the best books of the year by major publications like The Washington Post, The New York Times, and TIME magazine.

With Oprah’s endorsement, Megha Majumdar’s literary journey is poised for even greater heights, inviting readers worldwide to explore the rich narratives she crafts with such profound insight.