Kim
Rating:
Review
Oprah is such a huge fan of this book that she buys copies of it and gives them to complete strangers who haven't read this fantastic story. Set in the South after slavery was abolished, this story is actually composed as letters, mostly from the main character, Celie, to God, but others are to and from her sister, Nettie, as well. To everyone else, including her husband, Albert, and his cruel children, Celie is meek and mild, but a select few know that looks can be deceiving. When Albert's old flame, Shug Avery, meets Celie, one would think there might be some fireworks, but what takes place is far better for both women, especially over the years. One of their discussions about women wearing pants is hilarious, and there are other light moments, but mostly this story is filled with what life is made of when, as Celie puts it, "I'm pore, I'm black, I may be ugly and can't cook, a voice say to everything listening. But I'm here."
Best Line:
"You a lowdown dog is what's wrong, I say. It's time to leave you and enter into the Creation. And your dead body just the welcome mat I need.".
Jennifer
Rating:
Review
In this eloquent book, the main character Celie communicates to us through her letters to God and to her sister Nettie, starting at the age of 14. The letters and diary are amazingly easy to read, considering they are written by an uneducated, character. Celie is abused, raped, and tormented her whole life, but shows she has an inner strength and spark that refuses to die. The Color Purple is a look at the lives of black people through the 1920's to the 1940's in the American South before the civil rights movement. Through Celie's letters and diary, we see plenty of injustice that was prevalent and accepted during the setting of the book. It's hard to imagine that anyone lived with such abuse, even though it was commonplace. Celie's spirit shines through, though, as a beacon of hope to us all.
Best Line:
"Matter of fact, I think this the youngest us ever felt." This is the last line of the book, and shows just how far Celie managed to change her world around for the better with her strength.
