Our February book club selection is Possessing the Secret of Joy by Alice Walker. This is the final book in The Color Purple Trilogy after The Color Purple and The Temple of My Familiar. According to several sources online, you do not need to read the other two books before you read Possessing the Secret of Joy. They help to fill out the atmosphere, but they all work as stand-alone novels.

Today we explore The Color Purple with a full synopsis, title analysis, critical acclaim and even selections from Alice Walker's reading of her novel. Spoiler alert and content warning: graphic violence including sexual violence.

We'll be back next Sunday to explore The Temple of My Familiar, the second novel in the trilogy. RSVP to join our book club meeting at www.songsoftoriamos.com/bookclub