How Oprah, lobster rolls, and a flight to Maine got me back to the library

The twenty-seventh one

I never considered myself an avid reader—though there were rare moments when I couldn’t put a book down—but by 2019, it had been years since that had happened. Then a friend, who always carried a book in her bag, inspired me to give reading another shot. Unsure where to start, I turned to Oprah’s Book Club, which my mom used to follow religiously. The first book Oprah selected when I started following along was The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates (how lucky is that?).

I picked up my copy and dove in immediately, completely immersed in the world Ta-Nehisi Coates created. His storytelling drew me in so deeply it felt like I was part of the story, and I never wanted it to end.

⭐️ Fun little note: I posted a photo of the book on Instagram, and Oprah’s Book Club actually reposted it. I felt famous!

Following along with the book club, my next read was Olive, Again and man what an incredible introduction to Elizabeth Strout! She quickly became one of my favorite authors. In fact, I included her recent book, Tell Me Everything, as an honorable mention on my 2024 Top 5 Book List.

⭐️ Fun little note: I actually got to meet Elizabeth Strout and Oprah during a live conversation on Apple TV+. They flew me out to Maine for the event, where I even tried a lobster roll for the first time (it wasn’t for me). You can watch my episode on Apple TV+ and hear my question to Elizabeth about her book at the 29-minute mark.

After that unforgettable experience, I was hooked. I couldn’t wait for Oprah to announce her next book pick, I felt like a kid on Christmas morning!

First up was Caste by Isabel Wilkerson, a book that completely shifted the way I thought about society and history. Wilkerson examines the unspoken caste system that has shaped America, comparing it to those in India and Nazi Germany, and reveals how deeply ingrained these hierarchies are in our culture. Her writing is powerful, eye-opening, and deeply moving—it felt like every page taught me something new.

Next, I read American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins. I totally remember the controversy surrounding this book selection and spent some time reading up on the debates and discussions it sparked. Watching Oprah facilitate such a challenging and nuanced conversation on her Apple TV+ episode was remarkable, she handled it in a way that only Oprah could.

Honestly, I really loved this book. Setting aside the controversy, the debates about who wrote it, and all the surrounding noise, the story itself was powerful, heartbreaking, and incredibly eye-opening. Cummins crafted a narrative that gave me a new perspective on the harrowing journeys so many people face, and I’m grateful I had the chance to read it.

What came next was Hidden Valley Road: Inside the Mind of an American Family by Robert Kolker. This gripping and heart-wrenching book tells the true story of the Galvin family, where six of their twelve children were diagnosed with schizophrenia! I remember being unable to put this book down, it was that compelling. It also awakened something personal in me, reminding me of my uncle who suffers from Schizophrenia. Reading about the Galvin family’s journey encouraged me to start exploring my own family’s mental health history and to prioritize my mental well-being. This book wasn’t just a powerful read, it was a catalyst for reflection and action in my life.

⭐️ Fun little note: I was featured on Oprah’s Book Club Instagram again for Hidden Valley Road; apparently, they loved me there!

Okay, as if it couldn't get any better, the next book pick was Deacon King Kong by James McBride. Oprah has introduced me to so many incredible authors, but McBride has quickly become my favorite. This was the first book of his I read, and it's easily one of my top ten books of all time. Since then, I’ve devoured so much of his work and shared it with everyone I know. After falling in love with Deacon King Kong, I was hooked on his writing, so I decided to go off the book club path and explore more of his stories on my own and The Good Lord Bird is where I landed!

I picked it up because I discovered that HBO Max was turning it into a show, and I wanted to read the book first. The show was great but the book was better (I’ve always wanted to say that). Last year, I read The Heaven and Earth Grocery Store and fell in love with James McBride all over again. This new story quickly became another favorite, and I even included it as one of my top five books for 2024.

The final Oprah pick I read along with was Marilynne Robinson's Gilead. From there, I decided to chart my own course, feeling more confident in my reading preferences and knowing exactly what kinds of stories I enjoy immersing myself in. I started walking into my local bookstore, Kew & Willow, and effortlessly picking out books that piqued my interest.

Then, I rediscovered the library and I couldn’t stop reading. I devoured books like:

• The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

• Black Girl, Call Home by Jasmine Mans

• Perelandra by C.S. Lewis

• Grown by Tiffany D. Jackson

• The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett

• The Fellowship: The Literary Lives of the Inklings by Philip and Carol Zaleski.

I discovered new authors like:

• Oyinkan Braithwaite

• Nathan Hill

• Lisa Jewell

• Benjamín Labatut

And poets—oh, the poets!

• Mary Oliver

• Rupi Kaur

• Jane Hirshfield

I can’t wait to see which new authors and stories I’ll discover this year.

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Want some more? 👉🏽 One of my goals this year was to keep the Fruit of the Spirit front and center. To make it fun and intentional, we decided to honor the Sabbath once a month and carve out time to truly Rest while cultivating our Fruit. Each first Friday of the month, we’re focusing on one Fruit at a time. This month, I kicked things off with Love. Curious about how we honored the Sabbath (think dinner, drinks, and even a Pinterest board)? Let me fill you in!

‘Who am I that the highest King would welcome me?'