Reviews - Il colore viola | The StoryGraph

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“Oh, Celie, unbelief is a terrible thing. And so is the hurt we cause others unknowingly.”

Writing this review fairly quickly because I admittedly am about to watch the movie (in its entirety) for the first time. Yeah, I haven't seen the movie or the play or anything specifically because I wanted to read the book first. Normally, for such a popular movie like The Color Purple, I'd skip the movie for fear of losing my black card LOL. But I'm so glad I waited to read the book. I've heard fantastic things about the movie but this book was pretty great.

Celie is such a remarkable character. I love her rawness and her depth. I'm not just saying that because of the vernacular because that alone doesn't portray someone's emotional depth. It's her spirit that originally I didn't really admire but later, as the story went on I really appreciated. In a way, I think this book is a play on the whole "happy go lucky Negro" stereotype. At first, Celie seems to be your average, no good, won't be nothing black woman character from post-slavery 20th century South. But she turns out to be, as all black women of such caricature are, a dynamic and beautiful character with a story. And I won't use the word grit because it's demeaning but Celie gracefully owns the horrible parts of herself while also loving all that life has to offer with love, family and hope.

I really enjoyed this one, more than I originally thought I would. Again, at first I wasn't really feeling the voice. I wasn't a super super big fan of the first quarter of the book just because (ironically) it started off rather slow. It may be because the so called turning point of the book with her father isn't something that surprised me/I knew about it already and therefore, it didn't leave a super huge impression on me. But as the story went on and characters like Shug entered the picture, all of this really helped Celie transform into a beautiful character. I applaud Alice Walker even though so many have done so already.

bibliophile_bliss's review against another edition

3.0

"Who you think you is? he say. You can’t curse nobody. Look at you. You black, you pore, you ugly, you a woman. Goddam, he say, you nothing at all."

That was one of the most powerfula and moving books ever.
Witnessing Celie's heartbreaking yet comforting story of abuse, loss, oppression and loneliness, through her letters to god and then to her sister Nettie. And her emotional journey to self-discovery and finding her voice in a world where women are mistreated, abused and looked down on. Also the evolution of her relationships, especially with Shug Avery and Sofia and the comfort they found in each other.
Portraying at the same time love as a way of healing in its many forms: romantic, familial, and self-love.

Showcasing the brutal realities of life, but also offering hope.. Celie’s journey from oppression to independence was beautifully written and painful to read, and so very inspiring.