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A review by gemmascott
The Color Purple by Alice Walker
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
5.0
*Spoilers Ahead*
I absolutely loved this book. A masterpiece of 20th century fiction.
When I first read this book as a teenager, I hated it, but now I realise that I just wasn’t ready for it.
The Color Purple tells the story of Celie, a poor black woman living in America’s Deep South during the interwar period. The story begins when Celie is a teenager, who having been sexually abused by her stepfather, is married to a much older man for the purpose of looking after his neglected home and family.
From Celie’s asexual awakening, through heartbreak, love, acceptance, forgiveness and the book’s eventual happy ending, the Color Purple explores Celie’s relationship with God, as well as the themes of race, gender and sexuality. The ending of the book feels almost utopian, compared to its beginnings and even the realities of black Americans in the present day, but it does give us a glimpse into the world could and should be.
I would recommend this book to anyone.
I absolutely loved this book. A masterpiece of 20th century fiction.
When I first read this book as a teenager, I hated it, but now I realise that I just wasn’t ready for it.
The Color Purple tells the story of Celie, a poor black woman living in America’s Deep South during the interwar period. The story begins when Celie is a teenager, who having been sexually abused by her stepfather, is married to a much older man for the purpose of looking after his neglected home and family.
From Celie’s asexual awakening, through heartbreak, love, acceptance, forgiveness and the book’s eventual happy ending, the Color Purple explores Celie’s relationship with God, as well as the themes of race, gender and sexuality. The ending of the book feels almost utopian, compared to its beginnings and even the realities of black Americans in the present day, but it does give us a glimpse into the world could and should be.
I would recommend this book to anyone.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Torture, Sexual violence, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Sexism, Racism, Racial slurs, Police brutality, Physical abuse, Pedophilia, Misogyny, Incest, Death, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse