Reviews with content warning for Murder - The Color Purple

Amazing read capturing life of minorities and the oppressed in different places in the early twentieth century

I think it was a great insight historically to all the things affecting someone like Celie, the more notable to me;

her sexuality, her connection to her faith, and her relationships and how factors like her race and sex come into this - most importantly the unwavering hope shared between the sisters.

I also really loved the format of the book in the form of letters and the literacy of the two sisters' reflected in this - it made the book even more emotional for me.

100% recommend for anyone to read (with discretion to the content warnings)

Content Warnings

norilein's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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? It's complicated

5.0

Das Buch ist in viele einzelnen Briefen verfasst. Celie, die Hauptperson, schreibt zunächst an Gott. Sie begegnet vielen Herausforderungen und Schicksalsschlägen.

Im Verlaufe des Buchs findet sie queere und platonische Liebe, Glück und am Ende auch ihre Schwester Nettie wieder. Die Figuren müssen sich mit Sexismus und Rassismus zurecht finden. Es entsteht ein unbeschreiblicher Zusammenhalt, nachdem Celie entscheidet ihr Leben nach ihren Wünschen zu gestalten.

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sahla's review against another edition

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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