Oprah Winfrey announced her latest book club selection, “Small Things Like These” by Claire Keegan, during an appearance on “CBS Mornings” on Tuesday.
Set in Ireland in December 1985, the story follows her father, local merchant Bill Furlong, as he discovers the truth about the Magdalene Laundries, a convent where women and girls were forced to work in harsh conditions. This is a story that reveals.
“What spoke to me? First, read this story. I had never heard of Magdalene Laundry,” Winfrey said. “This story is heartwarming and meaningful, about a father who tries to do what is best for his family, and then has to make a decision. For me, finding a story that is based on truth… , but it’s actually fiction, and that’s what was really exciting to me.”
Keegan explains that focusing on the details of everyday life, saying, “We often think about our lives and measure it by the big events that happen…but in reality, the details of our daily lives… Our character is how we operate.”
Winfrey resonated with certain lines in the book. “Was there any point in living without helping each other?”
“That’s how I live my life,” Winfrey said. “But that’s also why it’s such a beautiful Christmas story at this time of year.”
This book also examines real history. Magdalene Laundry operated in Ireland from 1922 to 1996, and Keegan pointed out that survivors are still demanding recognition and an apology from the Catholic Church.
Winfrey also announced a new podcast, The Oprah Podcast, in partnership with Starbucks. We feature conversations about books and social issues. She shared that the first episode includes an interview with a woman who was sent to the Magdalene Cleaners at the age of 12.
Small Things Like These was made into a movie starring Oscar winner Cillian Murphy. The book is available now, and episodes of “The Oprah Podcast” can be streamed on YouTube and other platforms.
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