According to author Melinda Haynes, Mother of Pearl is a story about six people, black and white, whose lives become intertwined in small town in 1950's Mississippi. It's about racism, family secrets, and everyone's search for love. Oprah urges readers not to be stumped by what some may call a dense few beginning chapters, because, "That, my dear, is called reading," referencing a Toni Morrison quote. When Oprah asked Melinda, "What is this book about?" Melinda simply replied, "It's about finding self."
Featured in Oprah's Book Club 1999