COMMENTARY | As "The Oprah Winfrey Show" ends, I wonder what I am going to do during her allotted time slot. For many years at 4 p.m., I faithfully found a remote control to tune in to the episodes of irreplaceable entertainment, encouraging me to live my best life. The media mogul is now ending her show after 25 years.
Oprah's star-studded farewell celebration will air early this week, leading up to her final show on Wednesday. The surprise event kicked off at Chicago's United Center last week, according to the Associated Press.
Harpo Productions received over 154,000 ticket requests to see the historic event, but that number pales in comparison to all of the "extended family" she has accumulated over the years. Although her show is ending, she will still be in the forefront, with her new network, OWN, and O Magazine.
Yet as this particular chapter ends, I cannot help but feel like a close friend is moving away. As a small girl, I could remember the women in my life always had Oprah on at her dedicated time, whether I liked it or not. As the issues floated over my young mind, I could not possibly know the impact that she would make upon my life.
One legacy that has made an impact on the world, including myself, is the Oprah Book Club. For over 10 years, the show featured books that she felt worthy of her stamp of approval and a global conversation.
Like Winfrey, it seems like I have been an avid reader my whole life. I read one of her book club selections, The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, around the age of 12. When my peers' favorite pastimes were music and fashion, it comforted me to know that Oprah was a reader too.
Though the show is ending and my heart is saddened, it has caused me to reflect on my favorite books that Oprah has enticed me to read.
1. A New Earth by Eckhart Tolle
Oprah decided that she would use her show to give back to the world. One of those ways was discussing the spiritual side of our lives, so she introduced authors of books exploring different approaches to our traditional thoughts of spirituality. In Tolle's display of thinking, we should be conscious of our thoughts and the world around us.
This book is so profound: It attempts to explain the part of us he calls the "egoic mind," which is dysfunctional by nature. With this book, I became more aware of what was going on around me, from my thoughts to the movies I watch. The book points out that science and technology, although beneficial, magnify our abnormal behavior. That is why we can watch movies of people beaten and killed for our entertainment.
2. She's Come Undone by Wally Lamb
Oprah was so taken by this book in 1992 that she gave Wally Lamb a call to thank him personally for writing it, the author wrote for USA Today. A few years later, Oprah offered this book as a one of her book club selections. That is where I come in.
This book is incredibly sad. The main character, Delores, went from having depressing circumstances as a teenager which catapulted her to a sad adulthood. Nonetheless, the craftsmanship is undeniable. As my heart twisted with all of her wrong choices, I could not help but think, "Did someone actually make this up?" The character seemed so real.
I would have never picked up this nondescript book if it had not been for Oprah. This book prompted me to look at my life and declare that it is not so bad. Whatever hand that is given to me, I have the choice to hold it or fold it.
3. White Oleander by Janet Fitch
Oprah brought this book to my attention. Astrid, the main character, is a young girl who was born into awful circumstances, such as a murderous mother and moving from foster home to foster home. Oprah loved this book; not only were the characters believable, but the way Fitch put her words together made a beautiful arrangement.
"I fell in love with a story that deeply moved me, and vivid passages that described the sky as the color of peaches and compared sorrow to the taste of a copper penny," writes Oprah. This book, although sad, was not depressing. A poetic journey of youth and self-discovery, White Oleander, a book I would never have read, will have a place in my heart forever.
When Winfrey does her final closing, her ambition to bring hope to her viewers will be a success. From her candid conversations with celebrities and newsmakers to prompting her viewers to enjoy literature, she must know her efforts are appreciated and will be missed dearly.
This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.
0 comments:
Post a Comment