In Meridian, Alice Walker wrote the classic novel of the civil rights movement. Her new novel goes back to the period between the World Wars. It tells the story of two sisters: one a missionary in Africa and the other a child-wife living in the South, who sustain their loyalty and trust in each other across time, distance, and silence, in one of the most unusual and moving exchanges in fiction.
The principal voice is that of Celie, who has been raped by the man she believes to be her father, robbed of her two children, and married off to a man she hates. Her sister, Nettie,e escapes the same fate and is befriended by missionaries, man and wife, who have unwittingly adopted Celie's children. Separated for thirty years, the sisters live in ignorance of each other's circumstances. Nettie's letters do not reach Celie; and so great is Celie's sense of shame that she can write only to God. But life for Celie begins to change color when her husband's lover, a remarkable woman named Shug Avery, comes to live with them.
Honest, poignant, laughing, defiant, The Color Purple is a story about heroic lives, love, and the nature of God, and it breaks new ground in fiction with its portrayal of the bonding of women.
(front flap)
This was such an emotional read. It's clear from page one that Celie is about to endure a heart wrenching journey, and there isn't much more that I can say that hasn't been said before. Some parts were painful to read, but I truly loved getting to know Celie. This book is filled with complex and troubled characters and Celie's pure and honest discussion with God as she endures and at times, learns to care about these characters and their ups and downs, is inspiring. I can very clearly see why this has received the acclaim it has. I wish I had read this ages ago.
Reading updates
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Started reading
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29 April, 2017:
Finished reading
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29 April, 2017:
Reviewed