Plot: Celie has always done as she is told, raised as a poor, abused African-American. However, meeting her husband's strong, independent lover turns her view of the world inside out. With the help of her new friend, Celie slowly learns to live, laugh and love.
Comments: The Color Purple is devastatingly heartrending, unflinchingly realistic and an amazing story. Reading about all the violence Celie bore and accepted is challenging to do without gaining respect and pity for her, in addition to contempt for her attackers. I don't want to believe that this kind of abuse happened at that time and is still ongoing now. I loved watching Celie discover her own strength and the power to rebel against acceptance of abuse.
Another challenging aspect was the way in which the book was written. Everything is in the form of a letter or diary entry, most commonly from Celie, who writes the way everyone speaks - that is, in a vernacular English somewhat difficult to understand initially. Also, Celie doesn't use quotation marks which makes dialogue mix confusingly with blocking and narration.
This is a story about a young woman who eventually finds her sense of self after decades of searching. The Color Purple teaches lessons about self-respect, family, different perspectives of God, and believing in yourself, among other concepts. The story also portrays the lives of African-Americans in the early 1900's and the struggles of women to be considered equal.
Rating: I rate this book a nine out of ten.
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