Reviews

Walker's characters are vivid and feel like real people with their flaws and virtues. You see the complexity of their lives and despite all the bad things that may happen, no one is an out-and-out victim. This is an achievement on Walker's part because it would have been very easy to write a character such as Celie as a completely downtrodden wreck rather than as someone with their own thoughts, feelings, desires and hopes.

I enjoyed the switch between Celie's perspective and Nettie's perspective. For both characters you at once see inside their head but you also know that, when they are writing to each other, they may well be holding something back. An epistolary novel done well.

jen_reads23's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense slow-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? Yes

5.0

jantze's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional sad tense fast-paced

4.25

kyrarm's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional 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? Yes

5.0

dnandrews797's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

This is one of most loving and spiritual books I have ever read. The format of the book, as letters, I was first skeptical of since that is my least favourite narrative style, but over time it began to feel like looking over correspondence from an old friend. Celie’s character arc throughout this is a masterpiece and the interpretation of god as the world around us and in us was deeply stirring. I think I’ll start recommending this book to everyone I come across. It is a deeply human story, at the root of which is that which makes us the most human: love.

lisa_brg's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad tense 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

4.0

dreaming_ace's review against another edition

Go to review page

5.0

I know I read this once before in high school but I did not remember much of it and found a lot of depth of meaning I am sure I missed when I was younger.

More...