Reviews tagging 'Grief'

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

66 reviews

athenlyrain's review against another edition

challenging dark inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

This epistolary book is a hard read and deals with some dark stuff, but

it's worth it for the ending.

Much of the book is written in slang, which might make it harder for some readers, but it's not so heavily written in slang that it takes away from the character development or plot. This is an important story that is good for the soul and I would recommend it to almost anyone who is older than 18.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pedophilia, Sexual content, Grief, Rape, Racism, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Violence, Adult/minor relationship, and Physical abuse

Minor: Death, Death of parent, Slavery, and Infertility

sami_f_c's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

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Content Warnings

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

ash35967's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Grief, Bullying, Racial slurs, Hate crime, Sexual violence, Slavery, Police brutality, Forced institutionalization, Cursing, Racism, Sexual assault, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Pregnancy, Incest, Infidelity, Child abuse, Rape, Toxic relationship, and Violence

laurajordensharris's review against another edition

dark emotional funny 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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, and Abandonment

Moderate: Body shaming, Child abuse, Colonisation, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Grief, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Racism, Violence, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Classism, Cursing, Death, Incest, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, and Slavery

amandalorianxo's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad slow-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

4.0

I loved the cover art for the reprint of this classic novel. I was trying to find something I didn't have the chance to read in high school for banned books week and even though I missed the exact dates the week was publicized, I still found myself eager to read this one. Walker wrote this in the form of letters. Celie writes to God about her life, revealing the abuse she received at the hands of the men in her life. First her father, then her husband and his children. It hurt a lot to read how much Celie went through. Her luck seems to turn just a little when her sister Nettie visits. However, Celie's husband seems to be interested in Nettie and Nettie is forced to leave. It's not until Shug Avery, a singer and former lover of Celie's husband that Celie finds solace in someone. This is a story that revolves around some upsetting circumstances our main character finds herself in but she also is in the circle of strong women such as Shug and Sofia, Celie's stepson's wife. There is a glimmer of hope that the reader can feel despite the suffering Celie faces. A must read for high schoolers and those looking to branch out their reading material. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Sexual assault

Moderate: Grief

Minor: Sexual content and Pregnancy

lynxpardinus's review

emotional hopeful reflective sad

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Colonisation, Child abuse, Confinement, Pregnancy, Racial slurs, Death, Domestic abuse, Grief, Incest, Mental illness, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racism, Rape, Sexism, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Murder, Police brutality, War, Abandonment, Blood, Death of parent, Hate crime, Infidelity, Medical content, Vomit, Bullying, Fatphobia, Genocide, Infertility, Terminal illness, and Violence

There are several relationships with notable age gaps.

queersubtext's review against another edition

challenging dark reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Slavery, Violence, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racism, Rape, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Death, Drug abuse, Grief, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Hate crime

jessthanthree's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racial slurs, Pedophilia, Domestic abuse, Racism, Child abuse, Classism, Incest, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Grief, Homophobia, Abandonment, Alcoholism, Infidelity, Infertility, Death, and Medical content

kawooreads's review against another edition

emotional inspiring reflective 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

It has taken over 37 years for me to finally read this book. I have known the story of Celie most of my life and have seen the movie, but as expected, the book is so much better. It does hurt your heart. It does burn your soul. I enjoy books written in a diary/journal format, because stories are told through thoughts and feelings. Celie is a woman struggling to find her self-worth, love, and reason for living. As a reader, you struggle with her as you learn all the harms that have befallen her, all the ways in which her peace is stolen from her. But you also get to see her find her voice, her joy, and her belonging. I can assume this book has been challenged for its conversations on masterbation and female desire, while people fighting to see it banned don't see the important social commentary on colonialism, racism, sexism, domestic violence, and rape, among other things. There is a lot to digest from this book and not all of it is pleasing to the palette. When I say I like classic literature, this is the kind I'm referring to. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Colonisation, Adult/minor relationship, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Grief

Moderate: Incest and Infidelity

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