A review by rlgreen91
The Color Purple by Alice Walker

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

An aptly named novel, full of writing as striking and gorgeous as the color purple itself.  Although I've long been familiar with the material via the movie, this is my first time reading the novel, and I'm certain it won't be the last.  There's so much about what it means to love someone, and be loved, and the harms we do to ourselves and one another in search of love or in response to a lack of love. One thing I find interesting is how at first glance, Nettie's narration of what happens to the Olinka people might seem like standard fare for "this is why colonialism and imperialism is bad."  But the key is that the narration exemplifies that as part of the larger theme of how we harm others when we stop loving them as fellow people, worthy of the same dignity and respect that we want for ourselves.

I really enjoyed this book, and I'm planning to pick up Temple of the Familiar sometime later this year.  And who knows, maybe on one of these cool(er) winter nights, I'll pull up the movie for a much richer rewatch.  5 stars.
Expand filter menu Content Warnings