Reviews tagging 'Slavery'

The Color Purple by Alice Walker

110 reviews

obell98's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny tense fast-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? Yes

3.75

---

Content Warnings

Moderate: Alcoholism, Body shaming, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Pregnancy, Sexual harassment, and Colonisation

sahla's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

4.75

at the start, it was so hard to read because the abuse Celie was going through from just about everyone around her felt intolerable. it broke my heart. but once i got past it and read on, i couldn't put it down. so raw, unapologetic, and just, for lack of a better word, beautiful. Celie is such a resilient and strong-willed woman, and what a compassionate character she has. she is so kind, so forgiving, and has so much love to give despite the world she was born into, or maybe because of it. 

because we are told the story from letters Celie writes, first to God, and then to Nettie, by the end, there is no character we, as readers, can truly hate. she only saw the best in them, and so, all we see is that each of them was a product of their environment. and once they try to fight through it, they become so much more than that. but she's not a perfect character by any means. when she finds out about her sister's letters, she feels insurmountable levels of rage, but with the love that Shug gave her, she fights through it. 

i am so glad that by the end, they all get the happiness they deserve, that Nettie and Celie do reunite. i don't know if it is unrealistic, but truly, to me, this is more impactful.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual violence, Violence, Xenophobia, and Pregnancy

Moderate: Infidelity, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Religious bigotry, and Death of parent

Minor: Murder

bethanwx's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad fast-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

5.0

The most incredible story of love between two sisters.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, and Murder

Moderate: Death, Incest, Infidelity, Rape, Slavery, Death of parent, Colonisation, War, and Classism

Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Biphobia, Drug use, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

betag1013's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional funny informative mysterious reflective sad 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? It's complicated

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Eating disorder, Emotional abuse, Incest, Infertility, Infidelity, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicidal thoughts, Toxic relationship, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Vomit, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Colonisation, Dysphoria, War, and Classism

irenegafotas's review against another edition

adventurous emotional inspiring 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Cultural appropriation, Abandonment, and Colonisation

jaduhluhdabooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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 me many years to finally sit down and sit in the words from Alice Walker. Following Celie and Nettie's story was heart breaking and healing. A rich and vulnerably articulated artistry woven through tendrils of friendship, first loves, heart breaks, and restorations.

There's so much in this text. So much to unpack. To sit with. Being raised in the church in unpacking so much of my own journey of discovering the ways in which white supremacy manipulated my views of God and the church and the idolatry of man over woman. 

Listening to Nettie journey through this deconstruction felt healing to know that it was an art being indulged in long before me and that Black women then and now continue to sit at the pinnacle of change radicalizing the religious world in a signicant and necessary way. There's also the deep rooted connected I feel to Celie. 

A dark skinned, big boned woman, with attraction to women, but an obligation to men. It's such a beautiful tribute to finding ways to love yourself as you are and not me ashamed of the blemishes and the scarring that so many of those deemed beautiful continuously point out or find a way to highlight outside of your other 

enchanting qualities. There is so much beauty is Celie's character that I can't put it into words, but I feel them. And I appreciate them. And my heart both breaks and soars for her. Her journey. 

Her life. Her survival. Her care and her love. For people, for 

community, and later for herself. 

So grateful for this read.

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Child abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Incest, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Slavery, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Pregnancy, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, and War

breakablecatepillar's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful inspiring 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

4.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Racism, Rape, Sexual content, Slavery, Violence, and Colonisation

meech1e's review against another edition

It was hard to read and quite graphic. Although I didn’t read much it was very emotional and I just couldn’t continue

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Body shaming, Child abuse, Death, Pedophilia, Slavery, Trafficking, and Death of parent

montyroz's review against another edition

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

---

Content Warnings

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

agirledcheese's review against another edition

challenging emotional 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

5.0

---

Content Warnings

Graphic: Incest, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, and Slavery

Moderate: Miscarriage and Pregnancy