Recently, Oprah’s Book Club newsletter recommended a list of books touted to be “Mood Boosters.” As we have grown to expect, Oprah’s choices were literary, challenging, and a bit surprising. Check them out and drop me a comment below!
The Winter’s Tale by Shakespeare
In this romance written late in Shakespeare’s career, a king who believes his wife died as a result of his misguided jealousy is shown a “statue” of her 16 years later—and is given the opportunity to begin anew through the transforming power of love, art, and forgiveness.
Flush by Virginia Woolf
Virginia Woolf’s funny and moving biography of Elizabeth Barrett’s cocker spaniel is a life story—and a love story—told from the dog’s point of view. Flush, born and raised in England, accompanies his poet-mistress as she escapes the tyranny of her father’s house and elopes to Italy with her husband, the poet Robert Browning.
Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas
Originally a radio play, first produced in the dark days of World War II, Dylan Thomas’s incantatory, poetic dialogue gives voice to the inhabitants of a small Welsh village, who sleep, speak, and retell their often comic, sometimes beautiful, always vivid dreams.
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
This story for readers of all ages features a pig named Wilbur who is rescued from slaughter through the ingenuity of his friend Charlotte the spider. When words like 
some pig, terrific, radiant, and humble mysteriously appear in the spider’s web above his pen, Wilbur attracts widespread attention, wins a prize at the county fair, and is spared to live a comfortable life in the barnyard. A paean to the value of true friendship, good writing—and timely publicity.
Persuasion by Jane Austen
The last completed novel by Jane Austen traces a narrative of autumnal happiness worth waiting for, as Anne Elliot and Captain Wentworth learn that there can be a second chance at love—with the person you loved the first time around.
So, do you disagree with any of her picks? Are you surprised that Oprah picked “feel good” works that will have you in tears? Any other comments welcome, too!
I’ve never seen Oprah or anything but I always appreciate her lists of books. What a great list this is! I’ve never heard of that particular Shakespeare being on “this is a good book to read list” and I’d never heard of that Woolf book, which sounds quite fun. The Dylan Thomas book is on my TBR as is Austen, and I always loved Charlotte’s Web as a kid.
I don’t know about the tears: I think sometimes touching books are cathartic. I personally love a good cry when I’m reading a powerful book!