The Color Purple

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By Alice Walker

Publisher Description

The Pulitzer Prize– and National Book Award–winning novel is now a new, boldly reimagined film from producers Oprah Winfrey and Steven Spielberg, starring Taraji P. Henson, Danielle Brooks, and Fantasia Barrino.

A PBS Great American Read Top 100 Pick

Celie has grown up poor in rural Georgia, despised by the society around her and abused by her own family. She strives to protect her sister, Nettie, from a similar fate, and while Nettie escapes to a new life as a missionary in Africa, Celie is left behind without her best friend and confidante, married off to an older suitor, and sentenced to a life alone with a harsh and brutal husband.

In an attempt to transcend a life that often seems too much to bear, Celie begins writing letters directly to God. The letters, spanning 20 years, record a journey of self-discovery and empowerment guided by the light of a few strong women. She meets Shug Avery, her husband’s mistress and a jazz singer with a zest for life, and her stepson’s wife, Sofia, who challenges her to fight for independence. And though the many letters from Celie’s sister are hidden by her husband, Nettie’s unwavering support will prove to be the most breathtaking of all.

The Color Purple has sold more than five million copies, inspired an Academy Award-nominated film starring Oprah Winfrey and directed by Steven Spielberg, and been adapted into a Tony-winning Broadway musical. Lauded as a literary masterpiece, this is the groundbreaking novel that placed Walker “in the company of Faulkner” (The Nation), and remains a wrenching—yet intensely uplifting—experience for new generations of readers.

This ebook features a new introduction written by the author on the 25th anniversary of publication, and an illustrated biography of Alice Walker including rare photos from the author’s personal collection.

The Color Purple is the 1st book in the Color Purple Collection, which also includes The Temple of My Familiar and Possessing the Secret of Joy.

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22411 Reviews

4.0

Emily

Created 21 minutes ago

Akshatha

Created about 8 hours ago

“I don't know how to express my thoughts about this book. Lately, I have been having a hard time with not being able to feel deep emotions with whatever books I read. Like I might shed a tear but that's about it. But these characters touched me. The writing did take a couple pages to get used to. It is written as an epistolary novel (a novel written as a series of letters). It uses a very specific dialect as well. But once I understood it, it was easy to read. The female friendships in this is top tier. 💜 I wished I had more time in my day so that I could read a little bit more of this book each day. It took me 10 days to read even though it's a short book. As soon as I finished this, I feel like I need to re-read this someday.”

Change and grow Original

Chai Ivy

Created about 8 hours ago

Believable Change and grow Diverse representation Minor characters stand out Strong relationships Unforgettable protagonist Clever plotting Satisfying conclusion Slow-paced Steady pacing Well-structured Historical Beautifully-written Abuse Domestic violence Racism Sexual assault Violence

Kaat Boon

Created about 11 hours ago

Change and grow

About Alice Walker

Alice Walker (b. 1944), one of the United States’ preeminent writers, is an award-winning author of novels, stories, essays, and poetry. In 1983, Walker became the first African-American woman to win a Pulitzer Prize for fiction with her novel The Color Purple, which also won the National Book Award. Her other novels include The Third Life of Grange Copeland, Meridian, The Temple of My Familiar, and Possessing the Secret of Joy. In her public life, Walker has worked to address problems of injustice, inequality, and poverty as an activist, teacher, and public intellectual.