Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

66 reviews

lorenag5's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Slavery, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Genocide, Grief, Hate crime, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Colonisation, Domestic abuse, Incest, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Violence

thoseoldcrows23's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

3.0

Thematically this is a really good book; however, narratively, it's not as strong as I expected it to be. The way Walker has chosen to frame the story creates both a slight emotional distance from the characters and a very narrow window through which the reader can view the events taking place. The timeline is a little hard to follow because the story dips in and out without any acknowledgement from Celie of how much time has passed, and any events which primarily center the side characters are glossed over because she’s not directly involved. I also had some smaller issues with Walker’s style (For example, I find her approach to sex to be really unpleasant to read), and all these issues combined detracted from my enjoyment of the book a bit. That being said, the ideas and emotions at the heart of this are excellent, and that rock solid core carried this book through some of the rougher patches. All in all, it wasn’t quite as good as I wanted it to be, but I do understand why it’s a modern classic and would recommend it to anyone interested. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Grief, Incest, Police brutality, Toxic relationship, Colonisation, Violence, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Classism, Cursing, Bullying, and Death

Minor: Drug use, Alcohol, and Child death

autumnwhite's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Body shaming, Death, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Grief, Incest, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Sexual violence, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Rape, Sexism, Child abuse, Chronic illness, Classism, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Gaslighting, Slavery, Toxic relationship, and Violence

sarah3liza's review against another edition

dark 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? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Colonisation, Chronic illness, Adult/minor relationship, Rape, Racial slurs, Physical abuse, Infidelity, Grief, Racism, Incest, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Slavery, Drug use, and Torture

Minor: Death

ayjwin2000's review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Classism, Domestic abuse, Sexual assault, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Alcohol, Body shaming, Child abuse, Colonisation, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Religious bigotry, and Sexual violence

always_scrolling's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective sad 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

A stunning read on the lived experience of being a Black woman in America. A must read for any and everyone 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death of parent, Emotional abuse, Hate crime, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Rape, Drug use, Sexual assault, Violence, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Confinement, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Incest, Misogyny, Racism, Sexism, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Toxic relationship

kate_has_book_thoughts's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Incest, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Infidelity, Racism, Misogyny, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Death of parent, Genocide, Murder, Slavery, Xenophobia, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Colonisation, Gun violence, Racial slurs, and Hate crime

Minor: Mental illness, Homophobia, Lesbophobia, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Body shaming, and Drug use

bravo_zulu's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Violence, Grief, Sexual assault, Racism, and Rape

ashley_1206's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful reflective 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? It's complicated

4.0

DTB. honestly so upset about that 3rd act [fill in blank]. i don’t know if it’s because of how long it took me to read this book but i was a bit underwhelmed. i don’t know why. it honestly could be my slump and maybe after i analyze the book i’ll appreciate it more. i do like this book and the development but i think i need mind space to understand it DEEPER (if that makes any sense)

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Colonisation, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Slavery, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Cursing, Infidelity, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Blood, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Sexism, Sexual assault, Body shaming, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Racial slurs, Rape, Classism, Incest, and Racism

ryankaybee's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual violence, Grief, Incest, Classism, Child abuse, Pregnancy, and Racism