Alice Walker's "The Color Purple" was insightful, emotionally raw and like nothing I had read before. It became a phenomenon that was made into a movie and then a musical. Of course it will always be tied to Oprah Winfrey because of her role in the movie and her passion for the story. One of the best review statements which I have read was from jlind555 who said, " 'The Color Purple"' is one of the strongest statements of how love transforms and cruelty disfigures the human spirit that this reviewer has ever read!" The story is about Celie is a poor black woman whose letters tell the story of 20 years of her life, beginning at age 14 when she is being abused and raped by her father and attempting to protect her sister from the same fate, and continuing over the course of her marriage to "Mister," a brutal man who terrorizes her. Celie eventually learns that her abusive husband has been keeping her sister's letters from her and the rage she feels, combined with an example of love and independence provided by her close friend Shug, pushes her finally toward an awakening of her creative and loving self.
Sometimes I remember snippets or passages from books, but most times I remember the feeling I got when I read the book. The "Color Purple" left me feeling so fortunate to be born into a loving and healthy family, but also sad, encouraged, embarrassed, hopeful, guilty, overwhelmed and heartbroken. It's a good book that can still elicit those feelings 30 years after having read it!
1 comment:
This is my husband Alan's favorite book and film. We often quote lines to each other. I am most impressed by the power of the human spirit to endure. This is something that awful circumstances and other people cannot take away from us. This is what inspires me in this story.
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