When I was a teenager, I used to be pretty big into MBTI and came across a list of “the best books for each MBTI type.” Nowadays I test as ENFP, but back then my score always showed as INFP, and the INFP selection was The Color Purple by Alice Walker. Full of emotion and racial tension, the story of one fictional woman’s life resonated with millions when the novel first came out, eventually inspiring a musical of the same name and a movie starring Whoopi Goldberg.

The main character is Celie, a quiet and abused girl who believes she has no worth. Throughout the course of the story, she grows into a confident and independent woman. She writes letters to God because she believes she has no one else who will listen to her.

Celie loves no one more than her sister Nettie, from whom she’s separated while they’re young. Nettie ends up in Africa, far away from home, and is the more hopeful of the two.

Other notable characters include Mister (Albert), the abusive husband who somewhat changes over time, and Shug Avery, a confident performer who helps Celie break out of her old shell and blossom into the person she’s meant to be.

This book covers a lot of important themes, from recovering one’s voice after trauma to sisterhood and relationships. Celie’s faith evolves over time, and several characters experience redemption arcs, showing that even flawed people can change.

Admittedly, it has been a while since I read this one (I’m having a busy week, so I pulled this one from the mental library of books I’ve loved throughout my life). I don’t remember everything about it, but I do remember that it’s a story well worth revisiting because of how its overall message of hope sticks with you.

There are definitely some heavy topics that this read touches on, from themes of abuse to racism, so it does deserve a content warning (particularly for some younger readers). That being said, I think reading this at 18 was an important experience for me. It felt like the perfect age for a book like this.

If you’re looking for a book that will remind you of the things that really matter in life, or one that will inspire you to change yourself for the better, this book is the one for you!