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The Color Purple - A Triumph of the Spirit

"The Color Purple" tells the heartbreaking story of Celie, a young black girl growing up in the reconstruction era of the American South. Through a series of poignant letters to both God and to her sister, Nettie, Celie tells us the turbulent story of her life and the events that shaped it...events ranging from childhood abuse to success and wealth as an adult.

I realize that this book is often assigned to high school students, but that does not mean it is easy reading...not by a long shot. The themes presented in "The Color Purple" are very adult and very advanced. Additionally, the pictures Walker paints of Celie's abuse (both emotional and physical) are extraordinarily vivid and may upset some more sensitive readers, no matter what their age. They will certainly leave a lasting imprint on any reader who is not completely and totally hard-hearted.

Celie is a woman who, despite the extreme hardships of her life, possesses intelligence, good humor, sensitivity and kindness in abundance. It is very easy to become attached to the generous and strong Celie and feel both extreme sympathy for her and empathy with her. Although much of this complex book is dark and oppressive, the last third is quite uplifting and well worth the wait.

This is a well-written book but I did think the sad scenes were a touch too melodramatic and the happy scenes slightly over-romanticized. The book is so good, however, that I'm willing to overlook what I felt was a small fault. The characters are so good, so lifelike, so fully-drawn, that any over-dramatization is easily forgiven.

It might be difficult for some readers to become accustomed to the rather strange style of Celie's letters. Celie is an uneducated girl and her language shows it. My advice would be to persevere, keep reading and in just a little while anyone will become so caught up in Celie's story, that the letters will flow and the pages will simply fly by.

Some readers might find this book simply too depressing to read. If they do, then they are missing its central message and theme. Yes, much of the book does consist of tragic happenings and depressing scenes, but ultimately, "The Color Purple" is a triumph, one of the most uplifting and even joyous books I have yet to read.

"The Color Purple" is a book in which men are the "bad guys" and women the "good guys."...

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