Reviews tagging 'Suicidal thoughts'

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

33 reviews

_stephbroom_'s review against another edition

emotional 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Violence, and Misogyny

Moderate: Incest, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Death, and Racial slurs

Minor: Drug use

marissasa's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful sad tense 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

4.75

I went into this book not knowing much other than that it has a queer woman's storyline and that it was turned into a movie and a musical, with a movie of the musical coming next year. I didn't expect the story to hit this hard with the layers of trauma, racism, sexism, domestic violence, and sexual assault that the main character Celie goes through. It took me longer to read this book than others of the same length just because of the dark topics and way Celie candidly recounts the abuse she's faced, but it was a very rewarding read because of the themes of perseverance, never losing hope, and staying true to yourself. It is very touching to see how Celie first writes her letters to God because her faith is placed all on religion to end her suffering or at least hear her story, but once she is separated from her sister Nettie she begins to write to her instead and places all her hopes in seeing her again some day. The language Alice Walker uses really gives a strong identity to the characters and helps to show the differences in the way each person carries themselves, particularly giving strong characterization to the women in both the main and supporting casts. I loved that this story gave so much nuance and complexity to the Black women, in a time period where they were historically undermined, taken for granted, and directly harmed. I loved seeing them have a voice and show resistance to the ways they were treated both to the men and the white people in their lives, and I thought the portrayal of Celie's sexuality and self-discovery was done with so much care and respect. This book is such an important one and I'm glad it has all the massive recognition, awards, and adaptations it does to appreciate its cultural relevancy and literary significance.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Sexism, Sexual assault, Body shaming, Cursing, Misogyny, Adult/minor relationship, Physical abuse, Police brutality, Racism, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, and Sexual content

studiouspoppy's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective fast-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 loved it. It’s definitely hard to read and contains a lot of race-gender based violence, but that’s life. The religious reflections were really interesting, and the discussions on sexuality were truly ahead of its time. The difference in the narrators voices was so well done too, same with their evolution. The sisterhood, the different types of love, the diverse families were everything!
Will be rereading it, and I will definitely recommend it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Alcohol, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Colonisation, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Slavery

Moderate: Religious bigotry, Suicidal thoughts, and War

sarah984's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective slow-paced

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

2.0

I can see why people like this book and I did enjoy the community formed by the various women for survival even when they didn't like one another very much. However I felt that most of the characters weren't very deep and a lot of things seemed to be forgiven way too easily. There is a sort of "plot twist" in the mid point which seemed to have no purpose aside from making another character seem more "valuable" to Celie.

Additionally, while looking up information about the book while reading I discovered very recent and bizarre antisemitic comments that Alice Walker has made and I can't recommend reading a book by a living author who is out there recommending David Icke and Alex Jones.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Child abuse, and Misogyny

Moderate: Chronic illness, Drug use, Infidelity, Rape, Religious bigotry, Toxic relationship, Confinement, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Incest, Pregnancy, Adult/minor relationship, Colonisation, Medical content, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Racism, and Sexual content

Minor: Ableism, Grief, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Vomit, Alcoholism, and Body shaming

jadziaaudrey's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexism, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, Colonisation, Grief, Drug use, Death of parent, Racism, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Infidelity, Violence, Domestic abuse, and Sexual content

Moderate: Medical trauma, Violence, and Suicidal thoughts

Minor: War and Slavery

gitongas23's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective relaxing 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

Wow, I LOVED this book. It's the first time in yeeears that I've felt such a strong connection to the characters. I loved Celie, I loved Shug, I loved Sofia. I loved how realistic Sofia and Harpo's relationship/conflicts felt.

I loved seeing a queer love story as well. And I loooved Mr's growth and the friendship he and Celie developed  by the end.

. It's a really wonderful, touching book.  I don't know how to explain the greatness of this book but part of this might be that I read it without really knowing what it would be about. Everytime I love a book it seems to start that way.
Anyway, it does have some very dark things, so maybe some people could be very put off by it if they don't expect them.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Death of parent, Incest, Racism, and Rape

Moderate: Infidelity and Domestic abuse

Minor: Suicidal thoughts

jesspolly1's review against another edition

emotional reflective slow-paced

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

2.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, and Racism

s_reads_s's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Suicidal thoughts, Incest, Child abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual harassment, Sexual assault, Racism, Racial slurs, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Mental illness, Kidnapping, Infidelity, Infertility, Grief, Forced institutionalization, Domestic abuse, Death, and Colonisation

Moderate: Alcohol, Cursing, Death of parent, and Drug use

starrygal's review against another edition

challenging hopeful reflective sad medium-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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Pedophilia, Rape, Racial slurs, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Abandonment, Incest, Infertility, Pedophilia, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Minor: Slavery and Suicidal thoughts

chloeimogen's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Sexual assault, Adult/minor relationship, Colonisation, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Rape, and Sexism

Minor: Suicidal thoughts