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One of the most famous of Walker's literary works is a book published in 1982, simply titled, The Color Purple. This Pulitzer Prize winning novel has won acclaim around the world. It is a story of the struggles and triumphs of two sisters; one in Africa and one living in the Deep South during the Jim Crow era. The child -bride in this story is a woman with whom millions of readers can identify and the tale is woven through a series of letters that the sisters write. Even though the main character in the book is a southern black woman the story resonates with readers of all ages, races and in all geographic locations.
Why War Is never a good Idea is a book for children written by Alice Walker. This is a moving and thought provoking poem that describes the act of war in terms for both children and adults. It can even be useful as a tool to help combat 'bullying' in public schools. This is a poetic tale that holds nothing back when describing the emotional and physical pain of total loss and desolation resulting from wars and other violent acts.
There Is a Flower at the Tip of my Nose Smelling Me is the delightful title for an equally delightful children's book written by Ms. Walker. The words and phrasings are imaginative and the story encourages readers to explore life and the world around them. Although it was written for younger readers any adult will also enjoy this poetic invitation to celebrate life and the Earth on which we live.
The Temple of My Familiar is a richly colorful landscape of stories that involve complex characters and universal challenges that are both beautiful and frightening. Social stigmas, polarizing beliefs and shared life struggles abound in the pages of this literary triumph by Alice Walker.
Possessing the Secret of Joy is a book first published in the early 1990s. The main focus of the story concentrates on the issues surrounding a cultural phenomenon known as female circumcision that is still quite common in some African cultures. The book is a tearful acknowledgement of the injustice practiced against young girls while at the same time it dares people to rise up and rebel against allowing this type of physical horror to exist.
Meridian is another book written by Alice Walker that has touched the lives of millions of readers. This is a story that deals with the lives of people who were involved in the early struggle for civil rights in the United States. Walker uses this tale as a way to show that choosing the right side in this battle was not always an easy and straight forward decision for some people to make.
A Poem Traveled down my Arm is a collection of poetry and drawings compiled by Alice Walker. In this book she has transformed her normal autograph into inspiring and heartfelt, bits of literary wonder. This book was published in 1993 and it was the result of a spontaneous reflection Walker had when considering the challenge of providing a handwritten autograph for many of her books. She was inspired to change her usual autograph into something more meaningful and personal, and thus this book was born.
Alice Walker is also the author of the acclaimed book with the title, Now Is the Time to Open your Heart. This is the tale of Kate and her spiritual life adventure as she searches for her self identity. The adventure leads to a new awareness of love and the real meaning of life.
The Third Life of Grange Copeland was also published in 1993 as a paperback. This is the story of a black farmer living in Georgia. Grange Copeland leaves his tenant farming existence behind and seeks work in the Northern states. When he returns home he then finds that his son is in prison, charged with murder and now it is up to Grange to seek freedom and justice for yet a third time.
Walker's 2006 book, We Are the Ones We Have Been Waiting For: Inner Light in a Time of Darkness combines thoughts about spirituality, friendship and compassion. Walker seeks to stress the importance of 'choosing the right paths' and 'doing the right thing' in a number of different situations. This is a book that helps readers learn to identify their own moral compass settings and find ways to light the darkness for themselves and others.
With Walker's books it is easy to discover new ways to look at life and its many problems. The words this author uses are woven together to create powerful and emotionally charged stories that challenge the reader to really think about the world, and encourage them to take action in positive ways.
