Tayari Jones: “Kin” | Oprah’s Book Club

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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.

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 your friendships

00:37:20 - The feeling of completing a novel

00:42:20 - Tayari on ‘Kin’

00:43:48 - How Tayari sees the world

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