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USA Today
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Oprah's June book club pick is here and it's an author she's loved since the '90s
Oprah's June book club pick is here and it's an author she's loved since the '90s Oprah Winfrey has made her latest book club selection, and this time it's a fan favorite. 'The River is Waiting' by Wally Lamb (out now from Simon & Schuster), a propulsive crime novel following a young father after an unforgivable tragedy, is the Oprah book club pick for June. It's the third time Oprah has chosen a Lamb book for her book club – first 'She's Come Undone' in 1997 and 'I Know This Much Is True' in 1998. In a statement, Winfrey says her third pick from the author is indicative of 'what I think of this truly masterful and beloved writer.' 'Wally Lamb takes us on an incredible and transformative journey from the depths of despair to the healing power of facing the truth and finding forgiveness,' Winfrey said in a statement. Oprah's Book Club June pick: 'The River is Waiting' by Wally Lamb 'The River is Waiting' follows Corby Ledbetter, a struggling new father who is already mourning the loss of his job and the consequences of his secret addiction before tragedy strikes. Now incarcerated, Corby struggles with the violence and brutality of prison but also finds a prison librarian, a good-natured cellmate and a troubled teen who give him something to fight for. This novel is his quest for forgiveness and hope. Lamb is the author of nine books, including two nonfiction collections of testimonies from imprisoned women, 'Couldn't Keep It To Myself' and 'I'll Fly Away.' His second novel, "I Know This Much Is True," was adapted into a miniseries starring Mark Ruffalo in 2000. In a statement, Lamb reflected on his four phone conversations with Winfrey over his career, three of which were to notify him of the book club selection. The first time she called him, it was 1992 and Winfrey simply wanted to express her gratitude for him writing 'She's Come Undone.' Five years later, she chose it as her fourth book club pick. 'I'm not sure why I've been on the receiving end of such grace and good fortune, but I try to live each day expressing my gratitude in the way I treat others,' Lamb said in a statement. 'And of those four phone conversations with Oprah, I think my favorite may be the first one, before there was an Oprah's Book Club, when I received a validating gift from an avid reader who just wanted to thank me for having written my book.' Clare Mulroy is USA TODAY's Books Reporter, where she covers buzzy releases, chats with authors and dives into the culture of reading. Find her on Instagram, subscribe to our weekly Books newsletter or tell her what you're reading at cmulroy@
Daily Mirror
23-05-2025
- Daily Mirror
Death row inmate shares bold four-word claim seconds before execution
Oscar Franklin Smith was executed by lethal injection on Thursday morning at the Riverbend Maximum Security Institution in Nashville for the brutal murders of his estranged wife and her two sons in 1989 Oscar Smith was executed by lethal injection on Thursday morning for the 1989 murders of his ex-wife, Judith Smith, and her sons, Jason and Chad Burnett, and he had some bold final words. Smith was convicted of fatally stabbing and shooting Judith Smith, 13-year-old Jason Burnett and 16-year-old Chad Burnett at their Nashville, Tennessee, home on October 1, 1989. He was sentenced to death by a Davidson County jury in July 1990 for the murders. Two of Smith's co-workers testified at trial that he had solicited them to kill Judith Smith, and he had a history of threats and violence against her and the boys. Smith had also taken out insurance policies on all three victims. And one of the child victims could be heard yelling what prosecutors said was, 'Frank, no!' in the background of a 911 call on the night of the murder. Frank is Smith's middle name and the one that he used regularly. Despite the overwhelming evidence the former machinist never wavered in his claims of innocence. In an extensive last statement, he condemned the justice system, claiming it "doesn't work." Regarding the Tennessee Govenor Bill Lee, Smith said: "He has the last word and is the last person who can give justice where justice is needed." He noted that others are awaiting their fate in prison, stating, "I'm not the first, and I'm not going to be the last. The Tennessee prisoner, 75, was secured to a gurney with an IV in his arm connected to a tube leading to another room. But, moments before his death his speech grew strained while talking to his spiritual adviser, with witnesses hearing him assert: "I didn't kill her." Throughout, he remained composed and showed no signs of struggle as his breathing stopped. He was declared dead at 10:47am local time following the lethal injection of the barbiturate pentobarbital. This execution was notable as it was the first instance in Tennessee where a spiritual adviser was permitted inside the chamber. She offered prayers and solace to Smith, even singing "I'll Fly Away" at one point. Over the years, he's had multiple execution dates that were rescheduled because of COVID-19 and moratoriums to review the state's lethal injection process. Judy's sister Terri said: 'The pain of losing Judy, Chad, and Jason is something that we will continue to carry. It's not a moment that goes by that we don't miss them. I miss the sound of Judy's voice — I know my brother does as well — on the other end of the phone. We miss the excitement of planning Chad's driving lessons, and we miss the pure joy of hearing Jason's laughter. These are memories and wounds that will never fully heal.' Despite some fresh evidence in 2022 suggesting the DNA of an unknown individual on one of the murder weapons, a Davidson County Criminal Court judge dismissed appeals to revisit his case. The judge's ruling stated that the proof of Smith's guilt was incontrovertible and that the new DNA findings didn't alter the situation in his favour. At the trial, two of Smith's colleagues testified that he had tried to hire them to murder Judith Smith, and there was evidence of his previous threats and violence towards her and the boys. Smith had also taken out insurance policies on all three victims. Moreover, during a 911 call made on the night of the murders, one of the young victims can be heard shouting what prosecutors claimed was, "Frank, no!" Frank is Smith's middle name, which he commonly used.
