Reviews tagging 'Pregnancy'

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

125 reviews

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

toffishay's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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? No

4.75

I almost don't even know what to say. I couldn't put this book down once I started and I doubt that it'll leave me for a while. The story of pain and struggle and love and family. Celie is such a powerful voice and she has so much life and love in her, even when she thinks it's all been beaten out of her. Even when it's tough to read, you have to know more about Celie. You are compelled to hear more from her.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, Violence, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and Colonisation

Minor: Chronic illness, Cursing, Death, Drug use, Hate crime, Incest, Infidelity, Mental illness, Racial slurs, Racism, Slavery, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy

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

melodyseestrees's review against another edition

emotional 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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Incest

lynxpardinus's review

emotional hopeful reflective sad

4.0

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Content Warnings

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

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

There are several relationships with notable age gaps.

rlgreen91's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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? It's complicated

5.0

An aptly named novel, full of writing as striking and gorgeous as the color purple itself.  Although I've long been familiar with the material via the movie, this is my first time reading the novel, and I'm certain it won't be the last.  There's so much about what it means to love someone, and be loved, and the harms we do to ourselves and one another in search of love or in response to a lack of love. One thing I find interesting is how at first glance, Nettie's narration of what happens to the Olinka people might seem like standard fare for "this is why colonialism and imperialism is bad."  But the key is that the narration exemplifies that as part of the larger theme of how we harm others when we stop loving them as fellow people, worthy of the same dignity and respect that we want for ourselves.

I really enjoyed this book, and I'm planning to pick up Temple of the Familiar sometime later this year.  And who knows, maybe on one of these cool(er) winter nights, I'll pull up the movie for a much richer rewatch.  5 stars.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, Rape, Violence, and Death of parent

Minor: Drug use and Pregnancy

_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, Misogyny, Violence, and Pregnancy

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

Minor: Drug use

alexsadventuresintheatreland's review against another edition

challenging emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• 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: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Pregnancy

Minor: Death and Death of parent

tenten's review against another edition

dark hopeful 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Domestic abuse, Incest, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Forced institutionalization, and Colonisation

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Hate crime, Infidelity, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Slavery, Police brutality, Death of parent, Murder, and Pregnancy

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