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The Color Purple
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The Color Purple
Author: Alice Walker

Book Information
Publisher: Harvest Books
Book Type: Paperback
Rating:

ISBN-13: 9780156028356 - ISBN-10: 0156028352
Publication Date: 5/28/2003
Pages: 300


Other Versions of this Book: Hardcover, Paperback, Hardcover

Book Description:
Celie is a poor black woman whose letters tell the story of 20 years of her life, beginning at age 14 when she is being abused and raped by her father and attempting to protect her sister from the same fate, and continuing over the course of her marriage to "Mister," a brutal man who terrorizes her. Celie eventually learns that her abusive husband has been keeping her sister's letters from her and the rage she feels, combined with an example of love and independence provided by her close friend Shug, pushes her finally toward an awakening of her creative and loving self.

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Their Eyes Were Watching GodThe Catcher in the RyeThe Bluest EyeThe Joy Luck ClubCliff Notes: The Color Purple (Cliffs Notes)


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Top Member Book Reviews

Patty P. Patouie - Santa Rosa wrote on 7/1/2007...

2 member(s) found this review helpful.

This book is one of the greats, with characters delineated so clearly that they will live on in your heart. Don't pick it up if you are looking for a light read. Walker deals with some painful issues: abandonment, abuse, self-loathing. But she deals just as honestly with courage and redemption.

Isabelle E. (isaswede) wrote on 12/10/2008...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

A look into a world unknown to me, and written in amazing language. The story is so incredbly sad, while yet uplifting.

Megan V. (princessmav) wrote on 4/17/2007...

1 member(s) found this review helpful.

Nothing I could say would ever give justice to this book. I read the book twice in 2 days. I couldn't put it down! It has such a powerful effect on you and you really begin to care for Celie. She lives a life of pain and suffering starting when she is only 14 and is raped by her step dad repeatedly. She is then married off in exchange for a cow when she is 15 and becomes a mother to more than 7 children. She is repeatedly beaten and abused emotionally throughout her life, but she finally breaks through and starts a new life with her sister and her children.


Please Rate these Book Reviews

Julia B. wrote on 10/6/2009...


Incredibly touching journey; a sincerely written account of lives not often heard about. This book made me laugh, cry, and broaden my perspectives.

Alicia a. D. wrote on 9/27/2009...


Interesting, but more graphic than I expected

Franchesca M. (short-angry14) - NM wrote on 4/6/2009...


This is one of my all time favorites! The movie will never do the book justice. Just READ IT! Enuff said.

Kristina P. (Luckistarr4) wrote on 8/7/2008...


I thought this would be better. Maybe I'm not a reader of classics or maybe I just didn't see what all the hype was about. It was a good story but it wasn't on top of my list.

Julie V. (julesv251) wrote on 5/3/2008...


Very easy read! I love this book, it was very touching.

Glauber R. (glauber) wrote on 5/9/2007...


Oh wow, oh wow! Oh wow! One of the best books ever. It deserves 7 stars.

Jessie M. (Modified) wrote on 5/7/2007...


A wonderful classic!

Jesse O. (Jesse) wrote on 6/22/2006...


Didn't like it, but I know a lot of people do.

Amelia S. wrote on 10/16/2005...


I avoided reading this book until now because I thought it would be difficult and depressing. It was depressing at times, but it wasn't nearly as difficult as I had expected. (I still haven't figured out if "her sister doctor" means "her sister's doctor" or "her sister the doctor," but the former makes more sense in context.) The only aspect of the book I'm still trying to puzzle out is the characters' changing relationships. Like musical chairs players, every character kept running off with every other character's spouse, and I wasn't expecting that.

Suzanne H. (DameEdna) - Monroe Twp, NJ wrote on 9/4/2005...


Truly an excellent book, I would recommend this to anyone.


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