The Color Purple

"The Color Purple" by Alice Walker won the Pulitzer Prize in 1983. It's the story of Celie, a poor black woman in the rural South. The novel covers several decades in the early to mid-20th century and chronicles Celie's growth from an abused 14 year old into an independent, self-sufficient woman.

The book is written in letters. Celie was raped by her stepfather when she was 14. He told her "You better not never tell nobody but God." So she writes letters to God in the beginning. Celie has learned to make herself invisible so this is her only way of self-expression. As the novel progressess letters to and from her sister Nettie appear. Through her relationship with Nettie, Shug and Sophia, Celie learns to fight back against the forces that control her life.

I loved this book. I read it in 1 day. And I would recommend it to anyone.