A Million Little Pieces of Cake: The Oprah Winfrey Story

-- Library Journal, 4/1/2006

 Frey, James. A Million Little Pieces of Cake: The Oprah Winfrey Story. Prevaricator Pr. Apr. 2006. 2500p. photogs. ISBN 0-1954-2006-X. $49.95. BIOG

Weighing in at a hefty 2500 pages—the Big O doesn’t do anything small—this Oprasaurus clearly defines why Winfrey arguably is the most successful African American woman in history and a role model for legions of adoring fans. Still, one must wonder if Frey is up to his old tricks, as along with her vast TV empire and role as publishing’s patron saint, even ardent admirers will be shocked to learn that prior to her early news and broadcasting work, the author claims that Winfrey, under assorted aliases, played a season with the Chicago Bears, was an Olympic weightlifter (“she could heft Tom Cruise over her head with one hand,” swears Frey), trained for the space program (her mission ultimately was scrubbed), is close to finding a cure for cancer, and may run for president after retiring from television. Frey is especially sympathetic to Oprah’s childhood, perhaps feeling a kinship as Oprah too did time in a juvenile center at age 13, but escaped by digging her way to freedom with a soup can, and returned to her strict father, who packed her off to college. Although readers would be wise to approach this book with a pinch rather than a grain of salt, Frey, nonetheless, is a master storyteller and will suck you in to the point where you don’t quite care if it’s true (the revelation of his own memoir having a lie on every page hasn’t stopped it from being a smash best seller). This book is going to be on everyone’s must read list, so fire a staffer and use the money to buy as many copies as possible. Highly recommended.—Truth Sojourner, Liesburg PL, MS

See all April fool's stories...