Oprah Winfrey announced “Tel” By Amy Griffin as her latest book club selection on Tuesday, appearing on “CBS Morning.”
Griffin’s memoirs explore how keeping secrets leads to shame and how revealing those secrets can empower them. The book details Griffin’s teacher’s childhood sexual abuse experiences, as well as the trauma she had been suppressing for years.
“This book will help us to reveal for ourselves many other people, especially those suffering from all sorts of sexual abuse and shame,” Winfrey said.
Griffin described writing memoirs as a lengthy process, but said it was “free.” She explained that she built “walls, castles, moats and moats” in hopes of keeping her safe, but finds liberation by sharing her story.
“When I realized that vulnerability is actually a power you have…it’s changed a lot in my life, in all forms of my relationship,” Griffin said.
Winfrey revealed that he was raped at the age of nine and molested until the age of 14, leading to Griffin’s journey, focusing on the number of women trying to maintain perfection while hiding their trauma.
“When you live in this perfect environment, you don’t have to admit to yourself that something is wrong,” Winfrey said.
Griffin recalls how her children helped her realize she needed to talk to her past, and how her daughter said, “Mom, you’re here, but you’re not here.”
Griffin pursued legal action against the abuser, but she emphasized that a true solution came through her own healing process.
“This isn’t his story,” Griffin said.
“Tel” Now on sale.
For more information, you can listen to Oprah Podcasts, which are available on YouTube and podcasts everywhere.
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