Celie has grown up poor in rural Georgia, despised by the society around her and abused by her own family. She strives to protect her sister, Nettie, from a similar fate, and while Nettie escapes to a new life as a missionary in Africa, Celie is left behind without her best friend and confidante, married off to an older suitor, and sentenced to a life alone with a harsh and brutal husband. In an attempt to transcend a life that often seems too much to bear, Celie begins writing letters directly to God. The letters, spanning 20 years, record a journey of self-discovery and empowerment guided by the light of a few strong women. She meets Shug Avery, her husband<U+2019>s mistress and a jazz singer with a zest for life, and her stepson<U+2019>s wife, Sophia, who challenges her to fight for independence. And though the many letters from Celie<U+2019>s sister are hidden by her husband, Nettie<U+2019>s unwavering support will prove to be the most breathtaking of all.