Oprah picks "Go Gentle" by Maria Semple for book club: Read an excerpt
Oprah Winfrey chose Maria Semple's book "Go Gentle" as her latest book club pick. Read a free excerpt here.
Updated on: April 14, 2026 / 9:55 AM EDT / CBS News
"Go Gentle" is about a divorce philosopher who meets a mysterious stranger and her orderly life is turned upside down.
Semple, a bestselling author, said she reflected on her own life experiences while writing.
"About three years ago, I went through a long-term breakup," she said. "I moved away from Seattle and I thought I can move anywhere. And I thought I'm gonna move to New York to the Upper West Side and I did. And I have been so happy in just loving my life ever since then. I will say it's really scary at first."
When she received the call from Winfrey, Semple said she thought "my life has changed."