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53 pages 1 hour read

Alice Walker

The Color Purple

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1982

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

The Color Purple by Alice Walker follows Celie, a poor, Black woman in the early 20th century South, as she writes letters to God detailing her journey from abuse and oppression to self-discovery and empowerment through faith, relationships, and creativity. Sensitive topics include sexual and physical violence.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Alice Walker's The Color Purple is lauded for its deep emotional resonance and powerful themes of resilience and sisterhood. Critics praise its authentic voice and compelling character development. However, some find the epistolary format challenging and the graphic content difficult to read. Overall, it's celebrated as a poignant and transformative narrative.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Color Purple?

Readers who appreciate The Color Purple by Alice Walker often enjoy emotionally profound narratives about resilience, race, and female empowerment. They may also be drawn to books like Beloved by Toni Morrison and Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston which explore similar themes.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Lexile Level

HL670L