Reviews tagging 'Violence'

The Colour Purple by Alice Walker

119 reviews

jaduhluhdabooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Mental illness, Incest, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, Drug use, Abandonment, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic friendship, Sexism, Racism, Rape, War, Violence, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Body shaming, Grief, and Emotional abuse

breakablecatepillar's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Racism, Colonisation, Slavery, Sexual content, Incest, and Violence

lola1212's review against another edition

it was very raw & i wasn’t expecting it that early in

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Bullying, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Rape, Violence, Abortion, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Classism, Miscarriage, Pedophilia, Emotional abuse, Grief, Racism, Self harm, Physical abuse, and Pregnancy

dredadonx's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

This seminal work by Alice Walker has been a great inspiration for many black women and marginalized genders to embrace the art of storytelling and gather its themes on love, family, grief, and interpersonal relationships. 

Walker has made this emblem that has inspired two adaptations, the one in the 90s that featured Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, and Laurence Fishburn, and the newest one that was released on Christmas of 2023, which featured Fantasia, Halle Bailey, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks. and more. 

 The book is set in 1900s, reconstruction America in the Jim Crow Era, so the historical narrative in regards to race, class, and gender are an important context into the book. 
 
One of the things that really made me cry was reading through the trauma that Celie, who is our main protagonist and is a darkskinned black woman in the story, faces so many trials and tribulations due to the colorism she faces from her family and her subsequent forced marriage to Mister, who really wanted her lightskinned sister. Celie undergoes many abuses under Mister due to the patriarchy and male dominant society that pressures women into marriage and motherhood as if that is ALL they are good for. Patriarchy teaches men to see women as inferior, to dominate and subdue through SA, physical abuse, and neglect. 

This book was very good and I am actually upset that it took me this long to read it smh. My goal is to try to read as much of the African American/African continental literary classics for 2024 because I am definitely, long overdue.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse and Violence

emilinaballerina's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Re-read so good I emailed my HS English teacher. I don’t really have anything to say about this book that hasn’t already been said by people who are much more eloquent than I am, but it honestly can't be praised enough. This book is truly a work of art. It is a real triumph of literature and storytelling. The only book ever. If there is one book everyone should read in their life, it’s this one. I feel like I will be thanking Alice Walker for the rest of my life. Miss Celie, you will always be famous <3

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Adult/minor relationship, Colonisation, Incest, Racism, Rape, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Sexism, and Sexual assault

susannah_knox's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I'm so so glad I decided to re-read this book.  I remembered the atmosphere but not the plot, so the way the story and the voices of the characters evolved surprised and delighted me.  Just a beautiful and timeless book.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Rape, and Adult/minor relationship

Moderate: Racism, Violence, Colonisation, and Racial slurs

annieogg's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

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

risemini's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring mysterious sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Death of parent, Death, Violence, Toxic relationship, War, Incest, Racism, and Sexual content

anastasia_okodure's review against another edition

dark sad fast-paced

• 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? No

3.5

I enjoyed Celie's narrative and personal development, as well as the parallels between the story’s protagonists, but I admittedly did not resonate with many of the characters in the story: I found all the relationships and their changes quite confusing and frustrating, which I think made it difficult to feel a connection. The story ebbed and flowed, with its saving grace being the constant love and affection expressed between the two sisters and the ending to their story. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Colonisation, Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Rape, Drug use, Slavery, Pregnancy, Incest, Death, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Violence, and Sexual assault

courn's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective slow-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

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