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ashliesbooknook 's review for:

The Color Purple by Alice Walker
4.0
challenging dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring sad tense fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

I read this for a book club and went in completely blind, knowing very little about the story. It's a powerful and heartbreaking novel that tackles some incredibly difficult themes. While I liked the letter format, it took some getting used to, especially the dialect. The audiobook narrated by Samara Wiley was a lifesaver, as her performance brought the characters to life and made the reading experience much smoother.

Celie's journey is truly inspiring. She starts off as a young, abused woman and gradually grows into a strong, independent individual. Her transformation is both heartwarming and empowering. Shug Avery was such a character, but her impact on Celie's life is bittersweet. While she helps Celie to discover her own sexuality and strength, she also leaves a trail of broken hearts in her wake.
Nettie's letters, while informative, didn't quite capture my attention as much as Celie's.
However, I was really happy with their reunion at the end.


I was really impressed with how the book managed to capture forty years of a woman's life in less than 300 pages. The Color Purple definitely shows the power of human resilience and the enduring nature of love.