REVIEW: The Color Purple (Alice Walker)

Book: The Color Purple

Author: Alice Walker

My rating: 5/5.

Premise: Set in the deep American South between the wars, The Color Purple is the tale of Celie, a young black girl born into poverty and segregation. Raped repeatedly by the man she calls 'father', she has two children taken away from her, is separated from her beloved sister Nettie and is trapped into an ugly marriage. But then she meets the glamorous Shug Avery - a woman who has taken charge of her own destiny. Gradually Celie discovers the power and joy of her own spirit, freeing her from her past and reuniting her with those she loves.

[⚠️CW: rape, domestic abuse, racism]

This book is a gorgeous celebration of women, in particular women of colour. From the blurb, I was expecting a heavy book. But most of the heavy bits happen in the first 20 pages or so. After that, the book was really easy to read, with heavier topics treated sensitively but lightly. The story follows Celie as she grows from a woman who's learned to keep quiet and take her beatings, to a confident woman who's comfortable with herself. I love how each female character is different. There's Shug who does what she wants. There's Sofia who is constantly fighting the path she's expected to follow. There's Nettie who chooses to pursue her education and sense of vocation. I love the sense of community and the solidarity between the characters. Throughout the book, the female characters help each other to grow, to reclaim their bodies and their lives. They stand up to men and white people. We see Celie embrace her body and explore her sexuality. All these female characters being empowered! I also have to mention the writing style. The book is written as a mixture of diary entries and letters. There are some beautiful lines in this book - the final sentence in particular had me smiling! Just a gorgeous book.