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The Color Purple

Alice Walker

Start date: March 1, 2019

Finish date: March 31, 2019

Discussion: Group Reads

Why we're reading this: March 2019 Completist Selection
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What Members Thought

Apr 05, 2019 Henry rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

A Book to Remember

I had no idea what this book was about, only that it was one of those "classics" that I should read. The beginning was very painful. As a white man, I did not think that I could understand the characters or the writing. In the end, however, I came to appreciate the story as a triumph of a woman's spirit and understand why it is an American classic. ...more

5 likes · Like · see review

Feb 07, 2020 Tom rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

This book is definitely a contemporary American classic. A bunch of reviewers latched onto the fact they were uncomfortable with the prose used in its writing. I say humbug to that. When Mark Twain wrote The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn he used Huck's speech patterns in his writing. This pulled the reader into the book character's realty and thought pattern. Yeah it took a little effort on my part to get used to but when I did I was right there on that raft with Huck. This book uses Celie's sp ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Sep 02, 2018 Audrey rated it really liked it

Shelves: fiction

2 likes · Like

Oct 01, 2018 Katelyn DePew marked it as to-read

Shelves: classics, before-graduating-high-school

Dec 16, 2018 Rosie Mcloughlin rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favourites

Mar 27, 2019 ~☆~Autumn rated it did not like it

Shelves: abandoned

2 likes · Like

Feb 23, 2021 Fadma Echchakery rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Jul 19, 2022 Pooja Jha rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: african-american

2 likes · Like

Jan 18, 2020 Frances added it

Feb 05, 2020 Summer (speaking_bookish) marked it as to-read · review of another edition

May 02, 2020 Romila Jogdand rated it it was amazing

Jul 02, 2020 Rachel rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

1 like · Like

Aug 15, 2020 Suzy Davies rated it it was amazing

Dec 13, 2020 Michelle marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Dec 23, 2020 M.E.G marked it as to-read

May 04, 2024 Joy Liabres rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: 5-stars

Nov 04, 2021 Scarlett Readz and Runz....Through Novel Time & Distance marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Jan 05, 2022 Brooke added it · review of another edition

Shelves: 2018-reads

May 29, 2022 Kristina rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: complex-women, queer, classics

Feb 18, 2022 Marie Chiarizia marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Jul 11, 2022 Mugdha marked it as to-read

Aug 15, 2022 Emma marked it as to-read

Aug 12, 2023 MaryLucille added it

Feb 08, 2024 Karina added it · review of another edition

Shelves: favourite-books

Jul 19, 2025 Summer rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: favourites

🥹

New favourite book. Wow.

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The cover of this book can be seen in two ways. When I initially picked the book up, I thought it was two sisters. Once I read the book, I thought it was two lovers. Reflecting on the novel, it could be either.

It can reflect Celie and Nettie's love and care for one another, two children who only have each other, and their love for each other is the attachment that holds them together throughout the distance life inflicts on them. Despite the absence, not even knowing i 🥹

New favourite book. Wow.

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The cover of this book can be seen in two ways. When I initially picked the book up, I thought it was two sisters. Once I read the book, I thought it was two lovers. Reflecting on the novel, it could be either.

It can reflect Celie and Nettie's love and care for one another, two children who only have each other, and their love for each other is the attachment that holds them together throughout the distance life inflicts on them. Despite the absence, not even knowing if the other is alive, for the vast majority of their adult lives, neither loses hope that they will see the other again; they maintain that connection through letters they don't know if will ever be read or received. But it gets them through, it keeps them close.

Or, it can reflect Shug and Celie. Lovers, in a time and space that you would never expect two female companions to go the distance. We see their love in a backdrop of prejudice, abuse, infidelity, violence, hatred, and love. The way Shug provides the love and care that Celie's husband doesn't, the love he actually has for Shug. When Shug meets Celie, she is a beaten-down and depressed young woman; abused by her husband, where she lives in almost destitution, serving him and getting nothing but a backhand for it. She's given up on any happiness or hope in life and merely just tries to survive.

"I don’t say nothing. I think bout Nettie, dead. She fight, she run away. What good it do? I don’t fight, I stay where I’m told. But I’m alive." - Letter 12

However, once she meets Shug, she realises that joy, passion, love - is all a possibility for her. And that love and passion absolutely transforms Celie, developing from a shell of a woman, to an independent and confident business and home owner, reunited with her lost sister and children.

The character development in this novel is outstanding. And this isn't just restricted to Celie, but reaches out to almost every character we're introduced to. From Squeak, transitioning from a quiet girl just wanting to settle down with Harpo, into Mary Agnes, a respected and well-travelled singer in her own right, with no desire for a man to accompany her; to Harpo learning he doesn't want to beat women like his father; to Mr.----- who makes a full 180 turn from woman-beating scumbag, to actual an feminst, undergoing a full spiritual transformation, thanks to Celie.

Interestingly, I had a nightmare shortly after this book, and I think I was seeing through Celie's eyes; I at least felt that absolute crushing weight of being controlled and dominated in an isolated and trapped domestic situation with little hope of escape. I then saw Celie in my dream, and I really felt and cared for her, understanding slightly more the pain and trouble that she went through for years. Both from her abuse, but also fear and separation from her sister and children.

The fact that this book starts out on the most dark and disturbing premise possible, portraying such heartlessness, can be so captivating, hopeful, and enjoyable is such a testament to Alice Walker's writing. She's absolutely phenomenal, and I loved the format of the letters, and getting to see both sisters' perspectives as they go through life in the Deep South of America, and Western Africa undergoing colonisation. Such essential reading.

Also, shoutout to the spiritualism in this novel, beautiful. ...more

1 like · Like · see review

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