The Color Purple

by Alice Walker

In Brief

A young black girl struggling against poverty and racism in the American South is beaten and raped by her 'Pa' and her husband. But Celie's life begins to change when a very different kind of woman comes to town, bringing with her music, sex, and the joy of being alive.

Why you should read it

This Southern classic gives voice to a silenced people. In Celie we have a narrator who fights her way to freedom and reunites with those she loves. Not just a great classic but a great read.