Reviews with content warning for Toxic relationship - اللون أرجواني

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

debthebookworm's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional funny hopeful 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? No

5.0

Like many Black millennials, I grew up watching The Color Purple repeatedly in VHS. I loved it so much I wanted to be Shug if they ever made a musical...THEN, the musical happened! The film adaptation of the musical came out, and they said it was closer to the book than the original movie...While it is closer in parts, between the three, having finally taken the time to read the book, I prefer the book! There is so much left out of both movies, e.g., Celie's complicated relationship with Mr.____ and seeing Nettie grow up in Africa in more than little snippets, that I would have appreciated being explored more deeply in the films. I also love Alice Walker's explanation of the evolution of Celie's views on God and the origins of religion. The Olinkan theory was very interesting,and I wonder if Alice Walker made it up or heard it from someone.

Anyway, amazing book, and I'm glad to have read it!

Content Warnings

lana_taylor23's review against another edition

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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.

Content Warnings

drraytay's review against another edition

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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

Content Warnings

montyroz's review against another edition

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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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