A review by sahla
The Color Purple by Alice Walker

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.
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