What's The Top Rated Read Of All Time From Oprah's Book Club?

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When it comes to celebrity book clubs, Oprah was the pioneer, having begun hers in 1996. Once the former television host endorses a good read, it can't help but gain popularity, but actor Viola Davis didn't need too much help with her memoir, "Finding Me." The book currently holds a 4.8-star rating on Amazon and 4.54 on Goodreads, making "Finding Me" one of the best-reviewed books of Oprah's Book Club. Chosen as Oprah's 95th pick, the media mogul said on her website, "There are so many lessons to be learned from this breathtaking memoir [...] from her beginnings in South Carolina as the fifth of six children born in a sharecropper's shack to acclaim as an actor, producer, and philanthropist. I was so moved by this book that I just had to share it with our entire OBC audience."

Many readers became even bigger fans of Davis after reading her life story, and one wrote on Goodreads, "This has got to be my favorite read of the year. I loved Viola Davis before, but now I'm IN love with her. The immense respect and admiration I have for her is deep. The things she endured as a kid, teen, woman — period." Another reader shared on Amazon, "What stands out in Davis' narrative is her vulnerability and authenticity — she doesn't shy away from the pain of her past, including childhood trauma and discrimination." The memoir details all the hardships Davis went through throughout her life, and while it was difficult for her to write, the "Fences" star realized just how strong she became by delving into her past.

Viola Davis opened up about just how important it was to share her story with the world. "I'm trying to get back to me, and I think that's why I wrote the book. That if I somehow explored it, went down sort of that path, and somehow I could find my peace," she told People in 2022. Despite going through some difficult times in her life, such as poverty and violence, Davis has learned to embrace that part of her. "I celebrate all of it because what I realize is everything that I've experienced is what connects me to the world. It's given me an extraordinary sense of compassion, and it's a huge foundation for my work," the "How to Get Away with Murder" actor shared.

Davis had to re-live all her memories when she recorded the audiobook version of "Finding Me," which she admitted was a bit daunting. "I felt I was living through those moments with every word I spoke. It made me question how I remember things," she said in an interview with The New York Times. However, Davis added, "It also made me celebrate what I did remember and what I was able to express. More [importantly], it brought me to a very powerful realization. And that is that the past no longer exists. It has no power to hurt me anymore." So, if you're looking for a celebrity book club pick to add to your reading list, Davis' story will be sure to inspire you, whether you read it the old-fashioned way or listen to the full memoir on audiobook.