You get a book! You get a book! You get a book!
… I couldn’t resist.
Journalist and media mogul, Oprah Winfrey, picks books for a nationwide book club. Not exactly on a monthly basis, however. So, I’ve provided a list of all her picks from the decade. Oprah’s picks tend to lean toward the serious and deeply thought-provoking literature. Find more info on Oprah’s Book Club here.
House of Sand and Fog by Andre Dubus III
In this gripping novel, a struggling recovering addict fights to keep her California home, just as a former Iranian colonel seeks to reclaim his family’s dignity by buying it. When her married lover, a cop, gets involved, the situation spirals into a volatile clash. Andre Dubus III delivers a powerful, deeply human portrait of flawed individuals caught in a tragic battle over identity, love, and belonging.
Drowning Ruth by Christina Schwarz
In the winter of 1919, Mathilda Neumann drowns beneath the ice of a rural Wisconsin lake, sending shockwaves through her family. Told through multiple voices and shifting timelines, the story gradually uncovers dark family secrets and the haunting truth behind her death.
Open House by Elizabeth Berg
A recently divorced woman named Samantha rebuilds her life by opening her home to boarders and her heart to change. As she navigates financial struggles, unexpected friendships, and personal rediscovery, she learns that true happiness comes from within. This is a story of healing, self-discovery, and the quiet power of starting over.
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
Follows the wife and four daughters of Nathan Price, an evangelical missionary who brings his family to the Belgian Congo in 1959. As their beliefs and possessions unravel in the face of a foreign land, the story becomes a powerful epic of the family’s collapse and transformation over three decades in postcolonial Africa.
While I Was Gone by Sue Miller
Jo Becker seems to have it all—three vibrant daughters, a loving husband, and a fulfilling career—but a lingering unease haunts her. When an old housemate resurfaces, Jo is drawn back to the summer of 1968 and a communal house in Cambridge, where a buried secret threatens to upend her present life. As memories resurface, she struggles not to lose herself to the past.
The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison
Pecola Breedlove, a young Black girl, longs for blue eyes and the beauty she believes will make her lovable and accepted. As her desire intensifies, her world begins to unravel under the weight of racism, rejection, and trauma. Toni Morrison’s powerful debut explores the destructive impact of beauty standards and societal expectations around race, class, and gender.
Back Roads by Tawni O’Dell
Nineteen-year-old Harley Altmyer is stuck in a bleak Pennsylvania town, caring for his three younger sisters after their mother is jailed for killing their abusive father. Burdened by adult responsibilities and teenage desire, Harley becomes obsessed with a troubled neighbor as buried family secrets begin to surface. Both heartbreaking and darkly humorous, Back Roads explores the chaos of adolescence and the fragility of family with raw honesty and emotional depth.
Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende
Orphaned Eliza Sommers is raised in Chile by British guardians, but her life changes when she falls for Joaquín Andieta, who leaves for California in pursuit of gold. Pregnant and determined, Eliza follows him to the chaotic world of 1849 San Francisco, where her search for love evolves into a journey of self-discovery. With the help of Tao Chien, a compassionate Chinese doctor, she finds strength, freedom, and a new identity.
Gap Creek by Robert Morgan
Seventeen-year-old Julie Harmon works tirelessly and marries young, hoping for a better life in the rugged valley of Gap Creek. But she and her husband Hank soon face harsh realities—natural disasters, difficult neighbors, and the trials of a young marriage at the turn of the 20th century. A powerful story of resilience, love, and survival in the face of relentless hardship.
A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry
Set during India’s 1975 State of Emergency, A Fine Balance follows four strangers—a widow, a student, and two tailors—brought together by political turmoil and personal hardship. Sharing a cramped apartment, they forge bonds amid adversity, revealing both the cruelty and resilience of the human spirit. With sweeping narrative and deep compassion, the novel paints a powerful portrait of hope and dignity in the face of oppression.
The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
A darkly comic and deeply human portrait of a dysfunctional Midwestern family grappling with aging, mental illness, and personal failures in a rapidly changing world. As Enid Lambert longs to reunite her fractured family for one last Christmas, her husband’s decline and her adult children’s unraveling lives reflect a broader cultural shift. Jonathan Franzen’s acclaimed novel sharply explores the collision between tradition and modernity in contemporary America.
Cane River by Lalita Tademy
A powerful, multigenerational saga tracing four African-American women from slavery through the Civil War and into the pre-Civil Rights South. Based on Lalita Tademy’s own ancestry, the novel follows Elisabeth, Suzette, Philomene, and Emily as they fight to preserve their family, dignity, and independence amid relentless injustice. Richly detailed and emotionally resonant, it offers a deeply personal view of American history through the lens of one resilient family.
Stolen Lives: Twenty Years in a Deert Jail by Malika Oufkir
The daughter of a former aide to the Moroccan king—executed after a failed assassination attempt—recounts how she, her mother, and five siblings were imprisoned in a remote desert penal colony for twenty years.
Icy Sparks by Gwyn Hyman Rubio
A poignant and often humorous tale of a young girl growing up in 1950s Kentucky, struggling with mysterious verbal and physical outbursts later diagnosed as Tourette’s Syndrome. Orphaned but raised by loving grandparents, Icy faces confusion and isolation before embarking on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance. Narrated by her adult self, the story captures her resilience and search for belonging beyond the mountains.
We Were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates
The Mulvaneys are a seemingly perfect family, blessed with charm and promise on their idyllic New York farm—until a traumatic event slowly unravels their lives. Over twenty-five years, they drift into emotional and physical exile, each struggling with loss and isolation. Through the eyes of the youngest son, Judd, the family’s painful journey toward understanding, forgiveness, and eventual reunion is revealed.
Sula by Toni Morrison
Sula and Nel grow up as close friends in a small Ohio town, sharing their dreams and secrets. But when Sula leaves and returns a decade later, their bond is tested as Nel has settled into family life and Sula’s rebellious ways unsettle the community. Their once-deep friendship becomes strained amid changing lives and values.
Fall on Your Knees by Ann-Marie MacDonald
Follows five generations of the Piper family from Cape Breton Island, haunted by secrets that threaten to destroy them. Centered on four unforgettable sisters, the story spans from their stormy homeland to World War I battlefields and Jazz-era New York. It’s a darkly compelling saga of ambition, forbidden love, and the enduring bonds of family.
Cry, The Beloved Country by Alan Paton
A powerful and lyrical novel about Zulu pastor Stephen Kumalo’s search for his son amid South Africa’s deep racial divisions. Set against the backdrop of apartheid, the story explores themes of justice, fear, and hope in a land torn by inequality. Alan Paton’s timeless classic is both a poignant personal journey and a profound call for compassion and reform.
East of Eden by John Steinbeck
A sweeping family saga set in California’s Salinas Valley, where the Trask and Hamilton families struggle with love, identity, and inherited sin. Through the lives of Adam Trask and his troubled sons, Steinbeck reimagines the biblical story of Cain and Abel, exploring the dark and redemptive forces that shape generations.
The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck
Tells the story of Wang Lung, a poor Chinese farmer, and his wife O-lan, whose hard work and perseverance lead them from poverty to prosperity. As they rise in wealth and status, new challenges emerge, threatening the values that once grounded their lives. Pearl S. Buck’s classic explores the cycles of fortune, family, and the enduring connection to the land.
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
Tolstoy’s masterpiece of psychological realism, portraying the tragic affair between the elegant Anna and Count Vronsky, set against a sweeping backdrop of 19th-century Russian society. As Anna seeks passion beyond her loveless marriage, the novel contrasts her fate with that of Levin, a character echoing Tolstoy’s own philosophical struggles. With profound insight and moral complexity, the novel explores love, duty, and the search for meaning without casting judgment.
The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
Follows John Singer, a deaf-mute whose quiet presence draws in a group of misfit souls in a Southern town. Each confides in him, seeking solace and understanding, never realizing his own deep loneliness. Through their connections to Singer, their lives are quietly and profoundly transformed.
One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Chronicles the epic saga of the Buendía family in the mythical town of Macondo. Blending magical realism with profound human truths, the novel captures the cycles of love, loss, and destiny over a century. It remains a landmark of world literature and a testament to Márquez’s literary genius.
A Million Little Pieces by James Frey
Powerful, unflinching, and immediately captivating, this story offers a raw and unprecedented look at addiction and recovery.
Light in August by William Faulkner
Contrasts deep tragedy with resilience through unforgettable characters: Lena Grove, a determined woman seeking her child’s father; Reverend Gail Hightower, a haunted outcast; and Joe Christmas, a troubled drifter struggling with his identity. The novel explores themes of mortality, race, and belonging with Faulkner’s trademark intensity.
The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner
Tells the tragic story of the Compson family, whose lives are fractured by loss, legacy, and time. Through the distinct voices of Benjy, Quentin, Jason, Caddy, and their servant Dilsey, Faulkner weaves a powerful and experimental narrative hailed as one of the greatest novels of the twentieth century.
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner
Powerful portrayal of the Bundren family’s journey across Mississippi to bury their wife and mother, Addie. Told through multiple narrators—including Addie herself—the novel blends dark humor and deep emotion. Its innovative structure and style make it a landmark of 20th-century American fiction.
Night by Elie Wiesel
Wiesel’s harrowing memoir of his experiences as a teenager in Auschwitz and Buchenwald, where he lost his family and faith in humanity. This new translation by his wife, Marion Wiesel, offers the most accurate English rendering of his powerful testimony. It stands as a stark reminder that such horrors must never be repeated.
The Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett
Epic tale of a twelfth-century monk’s quest to build the world’s greatest Gothic cathedral amidst war, intrigue, and romance. Set in vividly rendered medieval England, the novel follows a rich cast of characters whose lives intertwine around the cathedral’s construction. With betrayal, ambition, and love at its core, it’s a sweeping story of human struggle and triumph.
Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
In their youth, Florentino Ariza and Fermina Daza fall deeply in love, but she marries another, leaving him heartbroken. Over the next five decades, Florentino has countless affairs but remains devoted to Fermina. After her husband’s death, he seizes the chance to declare his love once more—fifty years later.
Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
Follows Calliope Stephanides and three generations of her Greek-American family, from a village in Asia Minor to Detroit’s rise and turmoil. As Calliope unravels a buried family secret, she discovers the genetic truth that transforms her into Cal. Sweeping and lyrical, the novel reimagines the American epic through a singular and unforgettable narrator.
The Road by Cormac McCarthy
Haunting postapocalyptic novel about a father and son journeying through a burned, desolate America. With only each other for survival and love, they face a world stripped of hope and humanity. Stark and deeply moving, it’s a powerful meditation on devastation, endurance, and the bond that keeps them going.
The Measure of a Man by Sidney Poitier
Poitier’s reflective memoir, exploring the values, integrity, and personal journey behind his groundbreaking career. With deep honesty, he examines the forces that shaped his life—as a man, actor, and father—and the moral convictions behind his iconic roles. A powerful testament to character and purpose, the book offers an inspiring portrait of a man who lived with courage, dignity, and unwavering principle.
The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski
Follows a mute boy who lives peacefully on a Wisconsin farm breeding exceptional dogs—until the return of his uncle Claude shatters that harmony. After his father’s sudden death, Edgar suspects foul play and sets out to uncover the truth, a journey that takes him deep into the wilderness and back again. A modern epic, the novel explores grief, loyalty, and the power of unspoken bonds.
A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
Tolle’s follow-up to The Power of Now, exploring how transcending the ego is key to personal peace and global transformation. Through accessible stories and insights, Tolle reveals how ego-driven thinking fuels conflict and unhappiness—and how awakening to a higher consciousness can lead to lasting fulfillment. Uplifting and thought-provoking, it’s a spiritual guide to living with greater awareness and purpose.
Say You’re One of Them by Uwem Akpan
Akpan gives voice to African children facing extreme poverty, violence, and moral dilemmas across countries like Kenya, Rwanda, Nigeria, and Ethiopia. Told through the eyes of young narrators, these powerful stories reveal the resilience and heartbreak of childhood in unimaginable circumstances. Akpan’s writing is both harrowing and transcendent, making the suffering deeply human and unforgettable.
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