Alice Walker’s The Color Purple. Where does anyone even begin in discussion about this book?
It has been banned because of how controversial and heavy the themes are. And I am not surprised. Walker does not skate around any issue here. She covers sexual abuse, she covers domestic violence. She covers slavery and civil rights. She even covers homosexuality.
Really, nothing momentous happens to the people in this story. Celie and Nettie are just ordinary folks living ordinary lives and writing letters to each other while trying to get by. That is what it looks like to an outsider, right? But when you read those letters, and in between the lines, what those women go through is absolutely incredible. Celie had to battle her whole life, and was horrendously scarred against men. Nettie led a beautiful life as a missionary in Africa, but getting there was chance and a push from Celie to go to the “only woman with money.”
The feeling I’m left with is similar to what I felt after reading Grapes of Wrath–a whole lot of gratitude.
Purple is definitely not a light read, though it didn’t take me long to finish. However, It is a very important read. If you haven’t been through it yet, I highly encourage you to put it on your list at some point. Take the time to know these women.
As I Lay Reading 