Written by Alice Walker
Celie is an almost illiterate, 14-year-old girl living in Georgia in the early 1900′s. She is being raped and impregnated by the man she believes is her father and that he has killed at least one of her children. When Albert (called “Mister” by Celie) comes to ask for her sister Nettie’s hand in marriage, their father instead marries him to Celie. Celie’s life is once again controlled by a man who is both physically and emotionally abusive. Nettie comes to live with Albert and Celie after their father tries to have sex with her but when Nettie refuses Albert’s advances he throws her out of the house. Though they are never able to connect Nettie and Celie’s bond continue in Celie’s thoughts and writings. The book is written in the form of conversational letters that Celie writes to God and then later to her sister Nettie. The letters in Celie’s dialect reflect her location, education and slang, making the characters and setting come alive. In her letters she writes in heartbreaking detail about her thoughts and experiences weaving together in an intricate plot with many characters, twists and turns. Though the story is bleak and the subjects heavy, Walker’s thoughtful writing handles the subjects with respect and understanding of what she is putting the reader through. I would highly recommend this book to all women.
Appeals
Tone: Intricately plotted and plot driven
Pace: Leisurely paced
Tone: Atmospheric, heartwrentching, moving, and bleak
Writing Style: Conversational, thoughtful
