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The Color Purple
By Alice Walker


    The Color Purple, by Alice Walker, is an excellent book for anyone needing inspiration or a lesson in life. It is a saga of hard work, compassion, and independence. The Color Purple can be either heart breaking or heartwarming.
   The novel is about Celie and her family living as uneducated blacks in the rural south. As hardships stack up on top each other in their lives, they dare to discover their true selves. Celie and her family are stuck in a way of life that doesn’t fulfill them. They are involved in marriages without devotion, cruel beatings, unfairness to their race, and many conflicts which seem unsolvable. 
   Every character has a lesson to learn and a lesson to teach, especially Celie who has a lot to discover about herself. Even though she works hard without reward or even appreciation, she is always obedient and selfless. She had never wanted what she didn’t have until she learns that there is more out there. Celie will begin to discover her true self and a little glimpse of happiness and wholeness. Anyone will be heartbroken by Celie and her family.
   The Color Purple is written to appear as if it was taken
straight from the main character, Celie’s, letters to God. Most of
the words are simple or spelled incorrectly. It can occasionally be
difficult to comprehend because the dialect is so different from what is commonly used today. 
   The Color Purple is sometimes distressing and sometimes it is filled with hope. Some parts are bitter, like when Celie’s husband murders her baby. Some parts are joyful, like when Nettie and Celie are united. But most of the novel is a mixture of all emotions, both good and bad. 
   Alice Walker wrote an excellent novel about the struggles in life. The novel has been honored by the Pulitzer Prize and a movie based on the book. It is the type of book that I would recommend it to anyone with a soft heart. 
More about The Color Purple:
  • Excerpt from Color Purple by Alice Walker This has an excerpt from the book and some reviews.
  • Anniina's Alice Walker HomepageThis is a good site with lots of links and a brief summary of Alice Walker's life and accomplishments.
  • The Color Purple: Table of Contents  This is a study guide written by students for students, lots of good information on The Color Purple.

    • Reviewed by Kelly Beaton
    Sophomore English
    February 3, 2000
    The Color Purple is available at FHS library (call# WAL)
    For more information contact Nancy Smith (nsmith@fayar.net) teacher
    Copyright 2000