Dreda Say Mitchell: The Color Purple by Alice Walker

This month’s book is chosen by novelist and broadcaster Dreda Say Mitchell. She has selected The Color Purple by Alice Walker.

When it came out in 1982, The Color Purple won the Pulitzer Prize and was also adapted into a successful film. This is what Dreda told us about her choice:

‘Emotional. Amazing. A literary rollercoaster that took me from tears to utter joy.  I first read this in my twenties and Celie’s journey helped me, as a young, black woman, figure out what path I should take in life. That’s what great books do they touch and transform people’s lives. I could go on for hours about this book…’

Dreda Say Mitchell is a supporter of getting Quick Reads into prisons, and has written about it here. Her own Quick Read, One False Move, is out now.