The Color Purple

Told through a series of letters, The Color Purple follows Celie, a young Black woman in the early 20th-century American South, as she endures abuse, separation, and silence. Through her correspondence with God and later with her sister Nettie, Celie’s voice grows stronger, especially after meeting the vibrant and independent blues singer Shug Avery. Their relationship—full of complexity, tenderness, and desire—becomes a turning point in Celie’s journey toward self-worth, independence, and joy. Walker’s Pulitzer Prize–winning novel is both an unflinching portrayal of injustice and a luminous celebration of resilience, love, and community.

~ Included for its groundbreaking portrayal of a Black queer woman’s journey from oppression to self-liberation, and its lasting influence on literature and queer visibility. A transformative classic that blends pain, beauty, and hope in equal measure. ~