Title: The Color Purple
Author: Alice Walker
Published: June, 1985
Published By: Pocket Books
Format Read: Paperback
Genre: Classic Literature, Historical Fiction
Date Read: May 20, 2016
Rating: 4/5
Alice Walker’s The Color Purple is a Pulitzer Prize winning
novel that has become an American classic. The story follows the often
turbulent life of an African American woman named Celie in the form of letters
to God and her sister Nettie. Married off to a man who doesn’t love her, she
raises another woman’s children and learns life lessons from her husband’s
mistress and family.
I admit that The Colour Purple was one of the most intimidating
books on my to-be read shelf and it sat there for quite some time until I
convinced myself to pick it up. I knew very little about the plot, but knowing
that this is an important and award winning piece of literature I was curious
to learn what makes it so special.
My enjoyment of this novel was a slow build-up, but once I
adjusted to Celie’s way of speech and the story moved along, I couldn’t put it
down.
Beginning in Celie’s early teens and chronicling her married
years, Alice Walker depicts the life of a woman in a culture where she is meant
to obey and serve her husband otherwise face the wrath of his abuse. This is
just one example of the feminist lessons The Color Purple approaches.
Through the experiences of Nettie’s missionary work, the author compares life in an African tribe to that of life for African Americans
in North America, which is quite ironic.
After completing this book I can definitely see and agree with
the importance of this novel in literature, especially when examining American
culture and feminism. I would recommend this book to those who have an interest
in books of those themes.
Great review. I’m embarrassed to say that I’ve never read this one. It’s been on my TBR list for years, but I keep putting it off. I’ll get to it someday. :)
ReplyDeleteAj @ Read All The Things!
Thank you AJ! I kept putting this book off as well, but I'm glad I finally gave it a chance. I hope you decide to pick it up one day too. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is by far one of my favorite books. I read it as a teenager, then read it as an adult and they were both good, but very different reading experiences.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I would have been able to appreciate it as much had I read it when I was younger. Glad to hear you enjoyed it both times around, Toady.
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