The Color Purple: A Novel

I had only ever seen the movie before I read this, but I absolutely love the movie. I watch it several times a year, and even sometimes just while I'm working on homework or even for no reason at all. Still, I was wary about reading the book because I was afraid it would destroy my perception of the movie. I have to say I was pleasantly surprised, and now I am in love with both the movie and the book. I would like to say that if anyone is reading this and expecting it to be word for word like the movie, or visa versa, you will be a little disappointed. Both are wonderful works, and they should be appreciated as such. Neither one should be compared to the other while reading/watching them because they were not approached the same way. I'd say the movie is toned down more language wise, but the book is more forthcoming. There is a lot that was left out, and after reading the book a lot more of what happened in the movie makes sense. ***Spoilers ahead*** - Shug and Celie's relationship is explored in depth. You get a sense of it in the movie, but the book definitely clarifies that Celie and Shug are lovers. - Albert isn't quite as cruel to Celie as he is in the movie. There's abuse, but eventually he becomes remorseful and the two of them end up becoming close friends. - All of the characters lives are discussed while the book just kind of left you wondering what happened to Squeak, Celie's other siblings, Celie's real father, Harpo and Sofia's kids, etc. - The mayor's wife is far more sinister in the book than she is in the movie, which makes much more sense. - A lot of the conversations are taken out of context in the movie, and after reading the books they made more sense. For instance, the "This life be over soon, heaven last always" conversation between Celie and Sofia. Celie explains she told Harpo to beat Sofia because she was jealous at how strong she was. Another is the conversation between Celie and Shug about sleeping with Albert. In the movie Shug just asks if Celie minded that she slept with him (assumingly in the past) but in the book it's made clear that Shug wanted to sleep with Albert during the present time. She also slept with Celie, as mentioned before, and Celie explained how jealous her sleeping with Albert made her. All in all it's a great read, and I recommend anyone who is a fan of the movie to read the book. Yes, there are some "language choices" that make the book seem more sexual, but in all fairness that makes the story more realistic. If that sort of thing bothers you then just stick to the movie. However, if you're looking for answers like I was, and you don't mind the honesty, this is something you need to read.

The movie adaptation of The Color Purple came out when I was young; at the time only certain themes made an impression on me. As I've grown older, I have watched it many more times and continue to like it more for different reasons. This was my first time reading the book. For me; it's one of those books you take a step back and say wow over. Alice Walker has expertly crafted a book : whose storyline deals with God, racial prejudices, gender prejudices, domestic abuse, rape, incest, and property. Topics not easily talked about openly. Therefore a challenge to write about in away that draws readers in. The Color Purple does this beautifully and evokes many emotions. Ceile is a young girl when we first meet her trying to make sense of the abuse she is experiencing by her father, while trying to protect her sister Nettie from suffering the same abuse. Her answer to coping is to talk to God through a series of letters. My overall opinion of the book is that I'm very glad that I chose to read it. In fact I wish that it had been one of the books they had us read in school. Ceile life is a lesson in the indomitable human spirit. So many things in her life could have crushed and defeated her. Yet she kept fighting and persevered. Until she triumphed over it all. While it's not a easy book to read it is a powerful one. That can resonate with readers of all races, religions, genders and sexual orientation. I would give this book my highest recommendation.

The Color Purple by Alice Walker captures the journey of Celie, a poor black girl, from age fourteen well into adulthood. Rather than chapters, the novel is broken up and written as multiple letters to God. Celie, the main character, writes about her life this way because after her Pa sexually abused her, he said, “You better not tell nobody but God. It’d kill your mammy,” (1). After two pregnancies at the hand of her father, Celie is married off to a man who degrades and beats her. The novel transitions from letters to God to letters to Celie’s sister Nettie, who joined a family on a missionary in Africa. This shift also reveals a shift in Celie’s mindset, who throughout the novel discovers herself and her religious beliefs. Celie’s life improves as she finds examples in other black women, such as learning to stand up for herself and seeing her own self worth. When I first started reading, I found it difficult, both stylistically and morally. Since the first letters are written when Celie is very young, the sentence fragments are hard to piece together, as seen on page 2 when Celie says, “She ast me bout the first one Whose is it?” However as the novel progresses and Celie ages, the letters are easier to understand and become deeper content wise. Within the first page, there is blunt description of sexual abuse, which reoccurred many times throughout the book. The casual discussion of abuse was hard to get used to, however it succeeded in getting the point across that life for black women in the early 1900s was anything but easy. I liked being able to read a story from a perspective that I have never encountered before. Celie’s progression from hardships to independence and strength was inspiring. I felt that the ending was satisfying, and that I could be happy knowing that Celie found peace in her later life. Alice Walker achieved her goal in inspiring others to carve their own path in life. For example, the novel has two strong female characters who helped teach Celie to be independent. A character named Sophia hit back whenever her husband Harpo hit her. She refused to take a beating from a man, and inspired Celie to stand up for herself. Another character named Shug protected Celie from her abusive husband, which gave Celie the courage to speak up in front of him. At one point Celie describes these women by saying, “You know Shug will fight...She live her life and be herself no matter what,” (253). At the end of the novel, Celie is last seen happy and not being abused by any men. This shows that she took her life into her own hands and made the changes necessary to live a happy life. Although she was born into a poor home and was married off to an abusive man without consent, Celie in the end carved her own path and found strength in others. The novel also shows Celie’s intellectual progression by the syntax becoming more complex towards the end. The reader find Celie contemplating deeper topics rather than just stating the events of her day through fragmented sentences.

I don't know where to begin with my feelings about this book. I think it would be fair to say that this is one of the few works of literature that will forever change my point of view of the world. I have never thought of myself as being anywhere close to being a feminist. Growing up in a Southern California beach community, what care did I have about all the women who came before me fighting for the right to be counted as a whole human being with thoughts, feelings, and ideas that are just as valid as any mans. As I delved deeper into this book, spanning across several continents, the reality of being "just" a woman and nothing more than whatever the men around us want or demand of us to be, is all we are. I knew before starting The Color Purple, a major theme would be inequality, but other than having sorrow, pity, and disgust toward events that happened well before I was born, how close to home could this book possibly hit? Turns out as close as my own body. I never thought of myself in terms of being a member of society that is oppressed, but as a women, you are born into a group that through out history around the globe has been traded, sold, used, beaten, raped, mutilated, held down, and murdered for no other good reason than what it between your legs. Major religions count women as nothing unless they are married and producing babes. In these same religions, claimed to be given from a loving and all knowing god, we are expendable once the men who think they know god's will can deem us as no longer valuable, clean, or worthy. Whole societies feel that women are good for nothing other than menial and tedious labor. In America things are better than in other parts of the world, but all you have to do is watch the news and see the seething rage that is invoked over women's reproductive rights to see that there is still a long way to go. I would dare any women to read this novel and not be changed. Then there is the other "part" of this book that really spoke to me. At first I wasn't a fan of how shallow and matter of fact the people and events seemed to unfold. But as the chapters progress you being to see the characters aren't shallow and the events did impact them deeper than you saw on the surface. I believe that Alice Walker was trying to show that people are a very deep well that takes time to really draw from. We look at people and something reprehensible or noble that they have done, then we come to conclusions and usually hold that judgement to sum up he or she's whole existence. But the truth is good men can do bad things, bad men can do good things, and everyone if they are willing can learn, change, and grow. I would hope that one day instead of trying to ban this book, high schools would embrace this as work of fiction that can actually improve society...

“...have you ever found God in church? I never did. I just found a bunch of folks hoping for him to show. Any God I ever felt in church I brought in with me. And I think all the other folks did too. They come to church to share God, not find God.” This was our February pick for the #classicsbuddyread so I was happy to finally read this one. I saw the play a couple years ago and loved it, and this book has been on my list ever since. This is not an easy read, but it sure is an important one. It breaks your heart right from the beginning, but Walker does work in some snark and a bit of wit to help lighten it just a little throughout. There are so many strong female characters in here, the resilience of these women is phenomenal. Celie is the focal character and she has been through so much, but keeps on going with the hope of seeing her sister Nettie again one day. Shug Avery is another character that has been through it, but she plays a critical role in helping Celie with so many things that I cannot list them all here. She had one of my favorite quotes in the book however, as she was helping Celie with her doubts about her faith. Sofia, I have a special place for her in my heart, as she was one of the best characters I have read. Another one that was resilient, but she brought the wit and sarcasm that I just connected with and loved. Nettie had her own storyline, and it was equally as heartbreaking, but I was glad with how it was all resolved in the end for both she and Celie. This is done in an epistolary format, and it worked so well given the tough subjects covered in this novel. This has moved to my all time favorites list, and I hope that you add it to your list if you have not read it yet.

Celie comes from a very poor family & her mother is very during her last two pregnancies. Being the oldest of the girls, she has to do most all the work around the house, cooking, cleaning, laundry & helping with her younger sisters & brothers. Her Pa doesn’t like her either & the only one she’s close to is her younger sister. As Celie’s mother gets sicker & sicker, her Pa begins visiting her room when she’s 14 y.o.to fill the needs her mother is no longer able to provide. Her mother passes away. Celie has 2 children by him, a daughter & a son before he tires of her & forces her into marriage to a man who beats & abuses her. Her father marries another young girl & Celia gets her younger sister, Nettie, to come live with her & continue her schooling. The man Celie marries is in love with another woman, Shug Avery, & is out late most nights & sometimes several days but he expects Celie to wait on him & his kids from a previous marriage & they don’t respect Celie ant more than her husband does. Celie is still trying to figure out how she feels about God & she writes a lot of letters to God expressing her emotions & doubts. This story covers the hardships & abuse of Celie & many of the people of color she knows. It doesn’t sugar coat the racism involved in their lives & the disadvantages as a result of this predjudice that carries over even in today’s world. Of course, black women were even less appreciated, treated as property & had a much more difficult time than even men of color. It’s a very moving story overall & very well written.

Great book and movie. The book is much more detailed. Written as letters to God

Everyone has a story to share- this is the purpose of the story The Color Purple by Alice Walker. One aspect that makes this novel interesting is the aspects shared by characters in the book and people in Alice Walker’s life. These similarities are seen by Celie’s sister Nettie, Pa and the main character Celie. The purpose of this novel is seen in the backstories of the characters in the The Color Purple. The story begins with the backstory of Celie. It tells about her physical abuse by her Pa, leading to a future dislike for men, and her unfailing love for her sister Nettie. The book then proceeds to tell the stories of Celie and her sister Nettie and show the effect their past has had on their presents. An example would be the abuse to Pa and her husband Albert leading to her hate for men and “passion” for women. Throughout the story God is show as Celie’s salvation and a safe haven for her. We learn that Celie sees God as a white man with a beard and since Celie is having some trouble with men she starts to have some problems with God as well. This is until Shug tells Celie that “God is whatever you see it as.” God is neither man nor woman, white nor black. God is everything and everything is God. The idea of God being a salvation is also shown in the life of Nettie, Celie’s sister, as she becomes a missionary in Africa. After leaving home, Nettie’s life takes a completely different turn than Celie’s. While Celie is stuck is an loop of never ending abuse, her sister Nettie lives a fruitful life while in Africa. Although Celie and Nettie grew up in the same household, their personalities differed which could have been what led to their differing lifestyles later in life. Another way the author shows how different people’s lives can be is the shift in point of view throughout the novel. The story switches between the point of views of Celie and Nettie in the form of letters. The entrance of the novel is a letter Celie writes to God. However, Celie loses her faith from all the terrible things that happen to her and she stops writing the letters. Later on, Nettie writes to Celie in order to tell Celie of the wonderful adventures she is experiencing while in Africa. The letters are first kept from Celie by her abusive husband Albert, but after Celie discovers the letters exist, she begins to read them and write responses to Nettie. In these letters, Celie tells Nettie all about her life and the people she meets. In these letters they are essentially telling each other their life’s stories. The author wrote this novel to elaborate on the fact that everyone has a different life story and that everyone’s stories are different. This is important because life stories shape who we are and how we act. Everyone is has a different story which leads to the diversity of people and their behaviors. Overall, the author did a good job in achieving her purpose and it made this novel a good read.