Reviews with content warning for Racism - The Color Purple

I knew absolutely nothing about this one going in - just that it is a classic. I did not know classics could be so gay and so progressive. I'm going to be picking up more Alice Walker in the future.

Unorganized thoughts about this book:

Loved watching the characters change throughout their lives and how relationships between them changed over time. My book club was at odds about Celie's decision to
be friendly with Mister
by the end of the book - personally I thought this was a more realistic choice and liked it, though it did make me super uncomfortable.
I'm not religious. But I found this book's discussion of God very in line with my own views of the world and on beauty and spirituality - surprising to me because I usually am not big on religion or spirituality discussions. I'm glad that the version of the book I read had a Forward (or intro?) by Alice Walker that pointed to this being a book about God, as it allowed me to pay more attention to this passage.
I can't stop thinking about how
Celie
made a pair of pants for
Sophia
where one leg is red and one leg is purple - I especially can't stop thinking about it with the context that pants that are split w/ two different colors had a moment in 2021. This is the worst decision in the book I hate the idea that these pants exist as an idea.
Other discussion from book club - apparently the adaptations of this book (even the new one?) minimize the sapphic love. I have no take on this other than, I don't understand how it's not glaringly, obviously sapphic, and am now worried about the state of reading comprehension.
I started w/ the digital book and switched to audio around 50% through. The narrator was fantastic!
Top 3 book club book!

Content Warnings

katesant's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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? Yes

3.0

Content Warnings

_lilireads's review against another edition

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emotional 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? It's complicated

4.5

Content Warnings

naomiauld's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad slow-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

Content Warnings

farrington's review against another edition

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emotional 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? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

annieogg's review against another edition

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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

Content Warnings

graecus_'s review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective fast-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

i picked this up semi randomly during a trip to the library during creative writing and absolutely devoured it. i finished it in less than 36 hours. the characters are incredibly dynamic, and walker’s writing is incredibly immersive. i could not put this down

Content Warnings

misssleepy's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective slow-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

5.0

I really did go into this book blind. I have never seen the movies and I really just knew that the movie and book are considered classics. I knew that this is an important book for Black women especially. After reading the book, I am really looking forward to the movies, though I know there is no way they will be as good as the book.

I was blown away by this book. I mean just the first page alone warns you that the journey ahead is dark. The half of the book felt very bleak and sad. About halfway through, once Celie has Nettie’s letters, the book changes in pace and tone.

The spiritual themes of this book were honestly healing. Shug and Celie’s conversation on god and how one has to stop thinking of god as a man (a white man especially) tore me down.

I was so scared that I wouldn’t like the ending of this book, but it ended with so much hope and with a profound sense of peace. It’s interesting that so many people consider this a sad book (and there are so many sad things that happen) but I really walked away from this book feeling more hope than sadness.

While I loved all the women in this book, I really ended up having a soft spot for Sophie. I admired the way she carried herself, was comfortable in her skin, and didn’t back down from anybody. Her arc was so sad to me, but I really appreciated how her story turned around in the end. She really just deserved so much more… though that could be said for all women in the book.

I would absolutely encourage anybody to read this book. It’s a story about friendship, love, what it means to be family, and finding your spirituality. Truly beautifully written. I think that Celie’s distinct dialect enhances some of the most beautiful thoughts and passages in the book. 5 stars from me all the way!!

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