Reading 1001 discussion

What an excellent book! It started out a bit slowly with some very sad circumstances and things quickly go from bad to worse, but over the course of letters written to God and then between two sisters, you can see people make tiny changes in their lives and circumstances, change and grow for the better, and learn important lessons about themselves, forgiveness, and just being happy.

3 stars

I expected to love this book -- based on a vague memory of the wonderful movie which I saw in the theaters when it was newly released. I didn't recall a lot of the plot but did remember that the characters were full and rich, and that I loved the movie because of those characters. And, here is the thing about me: I am a reader who likes stories that are character driven. I like characters who are flawed and realistic, and characters who make me feel. So I expected that this book would be a five star read. And, unfortunately, I was disappointed and I cannot pinpoint why. I struggled from the first words. I almost quit listening several times.

My first read of the year and a 5 star read. I have had this book on my TBR list for far too long and I am glad to finally have finished. The beginning with Celie and Nettie as children almost broke my heart, I wasn't sure if I was going to make it through the book. Once Celie moved out and Shug joined the picture, it was easier for me. I really enjoyed the letter writing between Celie and Nettie and my favorite part was the ending, it brought me to tears. Alice Walker is a new author for me and I look forward to reading more of her books.

I read this in 2012; Alice Walker’s The Color Purple is the story of Celie, a black women in Georgia in the 1930s told in epistolary style. Celie writes to God because she is told “tell no one”. Celie is a victim of sexual abuse, bares two children that are taken away and then she is bartered off to another man to care for his children and serve as a sexual outlet when Shug isn’t available. Who is Shug? Shug is a black woman, blues singer. Everyone loves Shug but then some love to hate her. Celie loves Shug and finds a friend in Shug. Shug helps Celie to grow strong and finally Celie is able to rise above male domination and become an independent woman who can love the things of God. The characters are wonderfully developed and enjoyable. Having seen the movie (a long time ago) did not ruin the book. There is a lot in this book, feminism, racism, sexuality and spiritual journey. There also is a subplot of Nettie, Celie’s sister in Africa as a missionary which gives a picture of black women in Africa. It shows the European imperialism that destroys the Olinka and their way of life and mentions King Leopold for those of us who have read that book. Very enjoyable and a quick read.

Not an easy book to read in parts, but I just could not put this book down. I listened to a version narrated by the author and I think hearing her read it brings out a special something in the narrative. I just loved the relationship between the sisters that spanned time and distance, such a heartwarming ending.