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title: Oprah Names Behold the Dreamers as Next Book Club Pick
description: &quot;It&#x27;s about race and class, the economy, culture, immigration and the danger of the us-versus-them mentality,&quot; Oprah said.
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author: Sarah Begley
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article:published_time: 2017-06-26T14:35:38.000Z
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# Oprah Named Her Latest Book Club Pick Just in Time for Summer

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by 

[Sarah Begley](https://time.com/author/sarah-begley/)


## Sarah Begley


Jun 26, 2017 2:35 PM UTC

![The Late Show with Stephen Colbert](https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blte723450470906d13/6988d34a196cf4b1f1040c54/gettyimages-631087604.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=3:2)

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and guest Oprah Winfrey during Tuesday's 01/03/16 show in New York.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and guest Oprah Winfrey during Tuesday's 01/03/16 show in New York. CBS Photo Archive—CBS via Getty Images

by 

[Sarah Begley](https://time.com/author/sarah-begley/)


## Sarah Begley


Jun 26, 2017 2:35 PM UTC

Oprah Winfrey has named [Imbolo Mbue’s](http://time.com/4389170/you-can-tell-our-story-in-summer-reads/) 2016 novel [_Behold the Dreamers_](https://www.amazon.com/dp/0525509712/?tag=timecom-20) as the latest selection for her [book club](http://time.com/4435098/oprah-colson-whitehead-underground-railroad/), a coveted distinction that typically serves as a major sales boon for authors.

The novel, which comes out in paperback on Monday, tells the story of a Cameroonian immigrant who finds work as a chauffeur for a [Lehman Brothers](http://time.com/money/4150495/federal-reserve-interest-rate-timeline/item/lehman-brothers-collapses/) executive late in 2007\. When the company declares bankruptcy the next year, both men’s families are left reeling.

[“It’s got everything that’s grabbing the headlines in America right now,”Oprah](http://time.com/4817931/oprah-wonder-woman-party/) said in a [video statement](http://www.oprah.com/oprahsbookclub/Behold-the-Dreamers-Oprahs-Book-Club-Announcement). “It’s about race and class, the economy, culture, immigration and the danger of the us-versus-them mentality.”

Mbue, who won a PEN/Faulkner award for the book, described the honor as “humbling” in a statement.

““Fifteen years ago, I walked into a public library and borrowed my first Oprah’s Book Club selection — Toni Morrison’s [_Song of Solomon_](https://www.amazon.com/dp/140003342X/?tag=timecom-20) _—_ and was so inspired by it that I began writing without thinking much of where my writing would lead me,” she said. 

Amazon is offering readers a [free preview of the book](https://read.amazon.com/kp/embed?asin=B0138OAB80&preview=newtab&linkCode=kpe&ref%5F=cm%5Fsw%5Fr%5Fkb%5Fdp%5FiNAozbN91RH7P&reshareId=90CQQQSQWP1KZ1JN6N68&reshareChannel=system) for readers who want to check out the first three chapters.

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