The Color Purple. Finished 9-19-17, 5/5 stars, classic, 295 pages, pub. 1982
The Color Purple is a 1982 epistolary novel by American author Alice Walker which won the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and the National Book Award for Fiction. It was later adapted into a film and musical of the same name.
Taking place mostly in rural Georgia, the story focuses on the life of women of color in the southern United States in the 1930s, addressing numerous issues including their exceedingly low position in American social culture. The novel has been the frequent target of censors and appears on the American Library Association list of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2000-2009 at number seventeen because of the sometimes explicit content, particularly in terms of violence.
from Goodreads
Celie did not have an easy life. Abused by her father and then her husband, she relied on the love of her sister to get her through. When Nellie goes away and Celie doesn’t hear from her she begins writing letters to God. When her husband brings home his mistress, Shug, to live with them, Celie finally starts to see herself in a new light.
This is not an easy read. It’s emotional, sexually explicit and might wake you up in ways that you don’t like. Walker has created such a powerful group of women that you can’t help but feel empowered, even when they aren’t. Celie’s perseverance gives a voice to all the women who experience abuse, verbal and physical, and still manage to stay on their feet.
Honestly, it was one of those classics that I thought would not live up to the hype. Only it did. It exceeded expectations and now I’m anxious to get my hands on the movie. I want to spend more time with Celie and Sofia and Shug and Nettie. I kind of want to read it again right now. In 1930’s Georgia what kind of life did black women lead? Still relevant and still addictingly readable.
Stacy's Books 
It’s been years since I read this book and remember feeling punched in the gut and blown away at the same time after I read it. The movie is good too.
Punched in the gut is the perfect way to describe it! I’m looking forward to the movie.
I watched to movie along time ago and remember thinking I could never handle the book. But I’m older and wiser now and have been meaning to read it. Alice Walker has a way with words and making you feel. I just finished up one of her essay compendiums and was impressed. Great work on your classics challenge!
You could for sure handle the book now, but like Kathy said, it’ll punch you in the gut. I need to read more Walker.
It’s so fun to read a book (or movie) that lives up to its hype.