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fitzzula's review against another edition
5.0
This book.... Heart wrenching and uplifting all at once. The characters are beautifully drawn and their story is gripping. This felt like one of the most vivid portrayals of women I've ever read and is one I think will stay with me for a long time. There are some brutal events in this and the exploration of black lives in post-Civil War South as well as postcolonial Africa is hard-hitting and poignant. I was nervous going into this book that it was going to be unrelentingly bleak but despite the harsh realities it faces head on, I found the love, resilience and redemption woven throughout made it impossible to put down and I wolfed it down in two sittings. I feel like it's punched me in the chest and left me breathless in the best possible way. I don't think a review can do it justice but I can't encourage you enough to read it.
autumnstories's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
hannahbanana98's review against another edition
5.0
It was amazing. I really loved the writing style which was in letters. In the beginning I needed some time to get used to it, especially because of the strong southern accent and bad writing skills of the protagonist (I’m not an English native speaker) but after a but after a bit of adjustment it really gave the book it character. The first few pages were also hard to read because of the traumatic experience of the protagonist. I was about to stop reading but I’m super glad I didn’t. The queer love story came as a positive surprise for me. I got the feeling that the protagonist is queer early in the book but I did not expect them to be this explicit about it (since the book is older). However, I was glad. The characters were complex and some of them had a great development. I was so invested in the story that I read quicker than usual. The female characters were strong and supported each other. The book also portrayed the conflicting identity of black people in the USA but also the interaction as a missionary with black people living in Africa. All of this was very interesting to me.
melhara's review against another edition
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
1.0
Unpopular Opinion - this is one of those instances where I'm sure the movie (and the musical too) is way better than the book.
Perhaps it's because I listened to the audiobook (at x1.4 speed - the narration was a bit on the slow side) but the narration was detached and I was never able to connect with the characters. The story was boring and the epistolary format didn't help either because it only provided surface level details and lacked emotional depth.
The only positive thing that stood out to me were the interesting descriptions and comparisons between communities in Africa and Black communities in America.
Perhaps it's because I listened to the audiobook (at x1.4 speed - the narration was a bit on the slow side) but the narration was detached and I was never able to connect with the characters. The story was boring and the epistolary format didn't help either because it only provided surface level details and lacked emotional depth.
The only positive thing that stood out to me were the interesting descriptions and comparisons between communities in Africa and Black communities in America.
theshitoftheseus's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
heyitsmevt's review against another edition
5.0
emotional. raw. surprising. this was painful in best way possible.
ammarahw's review against another edition
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
tense
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
lena_squyres's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape and Drug use
jolovesbookstbh's review against another edition
5.0
This absolutely should be required reading. Or at the very least on the list of anyone who thinks themselves to be an anti-racist intersectional feminist.
Alice Walker covers an almost impossible array of issues from the many facets of early 20th century racism in America, child sexual abuse, missionary work in Africa, female genital mutilation and queer love. Celie and Nettie. Shug Avery. Sofia. Tashi. Mary Agnes. They all give a face to women who have been left voiceless, dismissed and ridiculed. Alice Walker is a gorgeous writer and weaves philosophical and religious questions into a story full of pain and suffering. I particularly found the discussion of God and what they/he/she or as Shug Avery concludes “It” truly is. Finding ones way to God and therefore finding ones own meaning away from the constructs of a white patriarchal society.
Just overall a heartwrenchingly beautiful read.
Alice Walker covers an almost impossible array of issues from the many facets of early 20th century racism in America, child sexual abuse, missionary work in Africa, female genital mutilation and queer love. Celie and Nettie. Shug Avery. Sofia. Tashi. Mary Agnes. They all give a face to women who have been left voiceless, dismissed and ridiculed. Alice Walker is a gorgeous writer and weaves philosophical and religious questions into a story full of pain and suffering. I particularly found the discussion of God and what they/he/she or as Shug Avery concludes “It” truly is. Finding ones way to God and therefore finding ones own meaning away from the constructs of a white patriarchal society.
Just overall a heartwrenchingly beautiful read.