The Color Purple

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Summary: Read if you love good books, stay away if you're homophobic
Review: I enjoyed the book very much and highly reccomend it to anyone interested in Alice Walker's writings and literature that deals with an improtant section of American life that is often ignored. However, if you have problems with homosexuality, don't read the book. Most of the criticism on this page deals with the homosexual themes in the novel. Usually, I find that when people are homophobic, they are so unflinchingly and will detest anything that even hints of homosexuality. The sexual preference of the book's heroine is a natural and logical course for her to run, especially considering her childhood, and if people can't get past that fact they will miss the more improtant themes of the novel. If you like well-written, thoughtful, and emotionally moving literature, I highly reccomend this book. I also reccomend reading Alice Walker's book Posessing the Secret of Joy.

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Summary: WoW!
Review: This book is unbelieveable. I couldn't put it down i read through so many of my classes. this book doesn't deserve 5 stars it deserves six!!!!!

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Summary: Interesting and worth reading, but not a good literary work
Review: This book is interesting. You learn a great many things from it and feel more knowledgable when you are done. It also succeeds in taking you to a different time and place and giving you pictures of what is going on. For these good traits, it is worth reading. Where it falls down, though is in two areas. Nettie's naivete gets obnoxious and frankly boring at times. I know she is a vehicle for the exploration of Africa, but she could have been developed into someone interesting. The books major fault, though, lies in its melodramatic, almost forced approach. At times, after reading her letters, especially in the beginning of the book, I felt as if I could identify the point being made and it was overdone. Even more so, though when Celie goes from being a beaten housewife to a loud, holier-than-thou, feminist, it's a little much to bear and believe. You find yourself reading and feeling a sort of embarrasment at the book's gaudiness. After this period, though, the book went back to being enjoyable, except for a very strange episode with Sofia and her boss' child which was blown out of proportion. I am being critical, but the book is well deserving. It also deserves to be praised, though, not only as a good work, but for its place in history- it opened up the world and allowed many other books like it to come after. Read it; you won't be sorry. The good outweighs the bad.

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Summary: This book is the best book I've ever read!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: The book had a positive impact on my life. It made me realize to appreciate all things in life not just the good. I really enjoyed reading this book and watching the movie.It is really good.

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Summary: Alice Walker is a true expert on the life of poor Celie
Review: It is a total tragedy that poor Celie is treated like that by both her dad and her husband. It is sad that she is forced to leave school when she doesn't want to. It is sad that she is forced to give up her children to her father when she doesn't really understand what is going on. It is sad that she and her sister end up being seperated. Abd it is sad that her husband and his children treat her the way he does. The only bit that isn't totally sad is when she meets Shug, and she is happy. This is one of the best books I've ever read.

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Summary: A Colorful A-Level!
Review: I have been reading 'the color purple' for my A-Level in English Litriture and I found it fantasic. It is a revalation in womens rights and it is just fantasic. Well done Ms Walker for waking up the world!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Summary: Absolutely Amazing!!!!
Review: I have chosen to do a term paper on Alice Walker and naturally read The Color Purple first. I could not put it down. It explored so many facets of human relationships, sexuality, beliefs, and emotions. I was stunned. Everyone must read it...NOW!!

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Summary: The Colour Purple
Review: Although this book is deeply moving and ultimately uplifting a lot of it relies on coincidence to make the plot work. It also has understandable mistakes with timing and characters that arise from this situation of setting a novel over 40yrs. Celie is an emotional girl who I believe sees lesbianism as liberation and feels that she has only been able to relate to women. We can see why as the details of her horrific life come to fruit. Yes Shug Avery may today be described as a slut but she is a liberated woman and who among us would rather be in power or a victim of power? The Color Purple is a strange book which hits you on all sides. There is somethig for everyone and something that even the most devoted readers will dislike if it is simply because of the harsh realism of Walker's writing - read it. It's worth-while.

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Summary: A well-written book about a woman coming of age.
Review: A wonderfully written book about a woman coming of age. Throughout the book Celie journeyed from a young woman to a woman able to accept herself and her circumstances the way they were. Her journey carried her from mere existence to actual living and enjoying life. It was a journey of an uneducated woman that learned to take control of her life without bitterness or regret. I found the book both intriguing and hard to put down. I highly recommend it to anyone on a journey for self-discovery.

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Summary: It was puzzling and compelling
Review: The Color Purple, by Alice Walker, takes place in the south, in the early twentieth century, and spans thirty years in the life of Celie, a poor southern black woman. When her stepfather warns her that, "You better not never tell nobody but God," Celie pregnant again, begins letters addressed to God, written in black folk speech, that record details of her difficult times growing up. The book moves forward by means of Celie's letters to God and to her sister, Nettie, who Celie thinks is dead. The letters exchanged by the sisters are never delivered or are "found" too late for a response. As the novel develops, Celie learns to love and her observations even include a description of the color purple. The storytelling style of The Color Purple makes the book hard to put down. The tragic tale of incest, misguided love, lesbianism and violence is not for the young at heart but for those mature enough to see what matters in The Color Purple is that everybody has possibilities on the on the inside. Celie has a right to participate in the celebration of life and to honor the pleasure of living.