Oprah's Book Club: Three Books for Your Summer Reading List

With the expected news that Oprah Winfrey will make her last show on Wednesday May 25, 2011, I have decided to consider adding books from her Oprah's Book Club to my summer reading list. Personally, I have not read one book that has she has recommended through her book club, but this summer I will have time to thoroughly read, analyze, and probably enjoy at least three of her recommended books.

A Million Little Pieces by James Frey
Another interesting "memoir" that has received rave reviews is A Million Little Pieces. Written as a memoir, but in reality a fictitious story, A Million Little Pieces is about a young drug-addicted male who is "living on the edge", so to speak. The 23 year-old narrator also is an alcoholic, and becomes so addicted to drugs and alcohol that he enters a rehabilitation center in order to help solve his troubled behavior. Although Frey has received negative publicity for originally falsely stating that this was a memoir of his, Frey's book has received great and positive reviews. As a young adult and with friends who have drug-related issues, I am going to read A Million Little Pieces to gain a better understanding on how alcohol and drugs can batter and corrupt your body, mind, and spirit.

The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
Written by the talented author Jonathan Franzen, The Corrections is a novel that chronicles three stories of a Midwestern family who are spending their final Christmas as a family before the end of the second millennium. The lives of the three children in the family are narrated over a span of forty years. After reading a little blurb on the novel, The Corrections does seem like an interesting story, but will probably be a little gloomy. For individuals who like Jonathan Franzen and want to read a sad yet intriguing novel, I would recommend adding this to your summer reading list.

The Deep End of the Ocean by Jacquelyn Mitchard
Known as the very first Oprah's Book Club selection, The Deep End of the Ocean describes the story of a mentally unsound young woman and her family and the ordeal that they go through when their young son is kidnapped. Although the story line does not appeal to me, I will probably read this novel as I have heard that the book inspired a good movie starring Michelle Pfeiffer, Treat Williams, and Ryan Merriman.

Sources:

Mary Cadden, "Oprah's Book Club selections", USA Today.

Verne Gay, "Looking ahead to Oprah's future", The Republic.