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betag1013's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Rape, Sexual content, Violence, Child abuse, Cursing, Sexual assault, Sexual harassment, Bullying, Colonisation, Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Blood, Death of parent, Dysphoria, Eating disorder, Infidelity, Racism, Sexual violence, Death, Emotional abuse, Murder, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Grief, Toxic relationship, War, Abandonment, Body shaming, Classism, Infertility, Misogyny, Sexism, Xenophobia, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, and Toxic friendship
annieogg's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Violence, Emotional abuse, Incest, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence
Moderate: Colonisation, Death of parent, Eating disorder, and Sexual content
Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, and Suicidal thoughts
kaffzillah's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Graphic: Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, Alcohol, Infidelity, Addiction, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Alcoholism, Adult/minor relationship, Cultural appropriation, Sexism, Slavery, Mental illness, Misogyny, Abandonment, Child abuse, Death, Sexual assault, Rape, Drug abuse, Sexual violence, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Incest, Sexual content, Cursing, Racial slurs, Racism, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, Medical trauma, Miscarriage, and Murder
courn's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Sexual content, Misogyny, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Incest, Physical abuse, Violence, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, and Infidelity
Minor: Abandonment, Body shaming, and Death of parent
ozziebug524_'s review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Graphic: Physical abuse, Infidelity, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Racial slurs, Incest, Rape, Sexual violence, Sexism, Racism, Sexual harassment, Drug use, Adult/minor relationship, and Child abuse
Minor: Cultural appropriation, Mental illness, and Pregnancy
hailstorm3812's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Sexual violence, Sexism, Toxic friendship, Racism, Toxic relationship, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual harassment, Sexual content, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Pregnancy
queen_of_vice's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Moderate: Sexual harassment, Racial slurs, Domestic abuse, Racism, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Rape, Sexism, and Sexual violence
Minor: Alcoholism
angelgo616's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Grief, Rape, Emotional abuse, Sexual harassment, Cursing, Death, Gaslighting, and Physical abuse
amandabethrose's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Writing this review during Banned Books week, I was curious as to the reasons given for banning this novel from libraries throughout the US. Reasons cited included: "religious objections, homosexuality, violence, African history, rape, incest, drug abuse, explicit language, and sexual scenes."
Yes, there is an abundance of violence. Yes, Celie does develop a romantic attraction to another woman. Yes, she does question and at points disagree with the existence of God. Yes - Alice Walker's novel shows dark, harsh realities that exist in the world and they are made even more impactful through a first person narrative. I don't disagree that it may be too overwhelming or too much, too soon for some readers but the beauty of having the freedom to read means a reader has the freedom to put down a book they aren't prepared to engage with and parents have the freedom to have these discussions with their high school aged children who may still be learning what is appropriate for their stage of development. By having the freedom to read, by not restricting access to works like "The Color Purple", readers are able to challenge themselves with what is often a dark, tragic story. They can pick their way through the chapters and in doing so, they can find the good of humanity that shines through the dark clouds in Celie's life. Not every moment of her existence is heartbreak and pain. There is strength, there is resilience, there is hope. There is courage.
Books that challenge our worldview and make us uncomfortable should not be seen as something to be afraid of. It may be that in that challenging, that discomfort, we may grow in empathy, we may become more convicted of our own beliefs, we may find comfort in realizing that with all the hardship in the world that we are not alone.
Graphic: Sexual assault, Rape, Physical abuse, Sexual harassment, Incest, Racism, and Domestic abuse
alicelucygranger's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Rape
Moderate: Child abuse, Classism, Colonisation, Death, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Domestic abuse, Miscarriage, Sexual harassment, Slavery, Alcoholism, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, and Sexism