Color Purple (2019)

A powerful cultural touchstone of modern American literature, The Color Purple depicts the lives of African American women in early twentieth-century rural Georgia. Separated as girls, sisters Celie and Nettie sustain their loyalty to and hope in each other across time, distance and silence through a series of letters spanning twenty years, first from Celie to God, then between the sisters despite the unknown. Abused repeatedly by the man she calls “father,” Celie has two children taken away from her and is trapped in an unhappy marriage. Then she meets the glamorous Shug Avery, a singer and magic-maker who has taken charge of her own destiny. Gradually, Celie discovers the power and joy of her own spirit, freeing her from the past and reuniting her with those she loves. Beloved by generations of readers, The Color Purple broke the silence surrounding domestic and sexual abuse, portraying women’s lives through pain and struggle, companionship and growth, resilience and courage. Deeply compassionate and beautifully imagined, Alice Walker’s epic carries readers on a spirit-affirming journey towards redemption and love.