Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

192 reviews

dredadonx's review

dark emotional inspiring sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

This seminal work by Alice Walker has been a great inspiration for many black women and marginalized genders to embrace the art of storytelling and gather its themes on love, family, grief, and interpersonal relationships. 

Walker has made this emblem that has inspired two adaptations, the one in the 90s that featured Whoopi Goldberg, Danny Glover, and Laurence Fishburn, and the newest one that was released on Christmas of 2023, which featured Fantasia, Halle Bailey, Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks. and more. 

 The book is set in 1900s, reconstruction America in the Jim Crow Era, so the historical narrative in regards to race, class, and gender are an important context into the book. 
 
One of the things that really made me cry was reading through the trauma that Celie, who is our main protagonist and is a darkskinned black woman in the story, faces so many trials and tribulations due to the colorism she faces from her family and her subsequent forced marriage to Mister, who really wanted her lightskinned sister. Celie undergoes many abuses under Mister due to the patriarchy and male dominant society that pressures women into marriage and motherhood as if that is ALL they are good for. Patriarchy teaches men to see women as inferior, to dominate and subdue through SA, physical abuse, and neglect. 

This book was very good and I am actually upset that it took me this long to read it smh. My goal is to try to read as much of the African American/African continental literary classics for 2024 because I am definitely, long overdue.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse and Violence

starrylight's review

challenging dark emotional sad slow-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? Yes

2.75

I see how this is a classic but it was a hard book to read, not in the language or the heavy themes just it was hard

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Racism, Emotional abuse, Incest, Adult/minor relationship, Hate crime, Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Homophobia, Racial slurs, Sexual assault, Classism, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Rape

curtinbrit's review against another edition

Too much rape, sexual descriptions, and bad language.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, and Rape

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship and Child abuse

maiahhtratchh's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective tense 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? It's complicated

4.5

A beautiful story about human connection, forgiveness, and how love transcends through time and hardship. I loved the exploration of sexuality both through Celie and Shug Avery. My favourite part of the book was the question of who or what is god and Shugs argument that god is in everything and everyone, truly is the most beautiful explanation of spirituality. I was not expecting a redemption arc for Albert and I was expecting even less that I would be into a redemption arc but that is what I love about this book is the complexity of humanity and the lengths of forgiveness given to allow for the characters to make mistakes and make some attempt at reparations. Alice Walker truly is an amazing and complex writer. The relationship between Nettie and Celie was beautiful and reminded me of the unbreakable relationship between me and my sister. I only wish we had gotten a glimpse into how Nettie reacted to Celie and Shug Avery’s relationship- I love how open and unapologetic she was through letters and, eventually, with those around her and how they accepted her as is. I wish I had read this when I took English so I could write essays about it.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual violence, and Racism

Minor: Incest

lana_taylor23's review

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective 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

3.0

The only reason I rated this 3 starts is because it’s very different from what I normally enjoy reading but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth it. Not everything you read has to be light; if that statement resonates with you then don’t be afraid to pick up this highly acclaimed book.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Sexism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, and Racism

li_gao's review against another edition

challenging 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? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Physical abuse, Incest, Death of parent, Infidelity, Racism, Child abuse, Hate crime, Domestic abuse, and Rape

drraytay's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Misogyny

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Rape, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Infidelity, Sexual content, Racism, Adult/minor relationship, Toxic relationship, Pedophilia, Colonisation, and Classism

Minor: Drug use, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Death of parent, and Infertility

montyroz's review

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Racism, Sexism, Racial slurs, Toxic relationship, Slavery, Sexual assault, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Drug use, Cursing, Rape, Misogyny, and Sexual violence

serendipitous_mess's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, and Sexism

_lilireads's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Sexism, Racism, Child abuse, and Toxic relationship