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  • The Color Purple

  • Written by: Alice Walker
  • Narrated by: Alice Walker
  • Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins
  • 4.8 out of 5 stars (189 ratings)

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The Color Purple cover art

The Color Purple

Written by: Alice Walker
Narrated by: Alice Walker
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Publisher's Summary

Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award, this novel about a resilient and courageous woman has become a Broadway show and a cultural phenomenon.

A PBS Great American Read Top 100 Pick

Celie has grown up poor in rural Georgia, despised by the society around her and abused by her own family. She strives to protect her sister, Nettie, from a similar fate, and while Nettie escapes to a new life as a missionary in Africa, Celie is left behind without her best friend and confidante, married off to an older suitor, and sentenced to a life alone with a harsh and brutal husband.

In an attempt to transcend a life that often seems too much to bear, Celie begins writing letters directly to God. The letters, spanning 20 years, record a journey of self-discovery and empowerment guided by the light of a few strong women. She meets Shug Avery, her husband’s mistress and a jazz singer with a zest for life, and her stepson’s wife, Sophia, who challenges her to fight for independence. And though the many letters from Celie’s sister are hidden by her husband, Nettie’s unwavering support will prove to be the most breathtaking of all

The Color Purple has sold more than five million copies, inspired an Academy Award-nominated film starring Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey and directed by Steven Spielberg, and been adapted into a Tony-nominated Broadway musical. Lauded as a literary masterpiece, this is the groundbreaking novel that placed Walker “in the company of Faulkner” (The Nation) and remains a wrenching - yet intensely uplifting - experience for new generations of listeners.

©1982 Alice Walker (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

Editorial Review

Alice Walker’s groundbreaking Pulitzer Prize-winning novel The Color Purple is a quintessential listen. Narrated by Alice Walker herself, The Color Purple is a story of female empowerment, resilience, and the strength of African-American women in the South.

Celie is a poor fourteen-year-old girl who has grown up in rural Georgia, despised by the society around her and abused by her own family. Her father Alphonso abuses and sexually assaults Celie resulting in the birth of two children: Olivia and Adam, who Celie believes to be murdered by her father. She fights to protect her younger sister, Nettie, from a similar fate when she gets propositioned by an older man named Mister. Mister wants to marry twelve-year-old Nettie, but Celie refuses and takes her place while Nettie escapes to a new life as a missionary in Africa.

Thus begins a new stage in Celie’s life. Mister’s son, Harpo, falls in love with a woman named Sofia, and the two start a relationship that leads to the birth of five children. In an attempt to transcend a life that seems too much to handle, Celie begins writing letters to God. The letters span twenty years and record a journey of self-discovery and empowerment guided by the light of strong Black women. Celie meets Shug Avery, her husband’s mistress, who challenges her ideas of love and sexuality and opens a new world for her.

The Color Purple has sold millions of copies worldwide and inspired an Academy Award-nominated film adaptation directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Whoopi Goldberg as Celie, Oprah Winfrey as Shug Avery, and Danny Glover as Mister. Receiving 11 Academy Awards nominations and a bonafide box office smash hit, The Color Purple would eventually be adapted for the stage as a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical. The remake of the Oscar-nominated film is directed by Blitz Bazawule and stars Fantasia Barrino.

Walker’s novel is one of the most important literary releases of all time. It can now be enjoyed as a beautiful and heartwarming audiobook that will inspire and move all who take the time to discover this classic story.

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What listeners say about The Color Purple

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it's a very complex novel that addresses themes

I loved it. it addresses a lot of social women's issues but it does addresses the level of women empowerment when we look after each other in a very oppressive society.

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  • NP
  • 2019-03-06

Classic

Wonderfully written and narrated. It took me a long time to get around to experiencing this book. And I’m so happy I finally did.
Amazing. The rollercoaster of feelings I felt for the characters and subject matter were astounding. There were moments of rage and deep sorrow and relief.
Thank you Alice Walker. Thank you.

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A classic novel

I never tire of connecting with this story, whether it is through the film, the book, and now the narration (by Alice Walker herself...perfect!)

I love the characterization and the storylines: Walker is an amazing writer.

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    5 out of 5 stars

Outstanding in every way!

There are books that make me feel, and there are books that can make me cry. this one makes me cry....I love it.

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hearing this in the author's voice was fantastic!

the Author reading the story sold me. She sent the love through to the listener. There are moments that are hard to hear, but keep listening and know that it ends on a happy note. Alice Walker, if you ever read this, thank you.

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a masterpiece

I have read many books in my life and this will always be on my top 5 list. I could read it over and over and over again. It is intelligent, deeply emotional, and powerful. The characters are incredibly well developed and continue to grow and develop throughout the book in a way that makes them seem like real, living people.

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A beautiful classic novel of a woman who overcomes adversity

The Color Purple is a book that has been on my “to read” list for years. I’m so glad I listened to the book which was narrated by the author. The characters really came to life in her performance. It started off with a heavy and shocking scene at the beginning. It was just the beginning of the obstacles and adversity the main character had to overcome in her life. The character development was rich and the themes were probably controversial in their day back in 1982. There was same-sex love, racism and profound discrimination, domestic violence sexual assault and subjugation of women - women of colour in particular.

One thing I do want to tell you, Dear Reader, is to avoid the movie if you decide to read the book. The movie completely missed the tone and the impact of the book, instead making the characters into cartoon’ish versions of themselves. But, I digress.

I absolutely recommend this book and the audiobook version was a joy to listen to. Highly recommended.

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A solid piece of literary history

I expected The color purple to be something that would stimulate my mind,and at the same time provide some perspective that I had not considered before. Ultimately it becomes a narrative through the eyes of multiple characters that slowly but surely intertwine. it's a real slow burn of a book I think but it is something you get invested in. I think it really helps to have the author herself narrate this book. I felt as if while she was reading the book, each of the scenes played out how she intended the reader to feel them. The color purple does not feel like a spectacular adventure, but it does feel like something you're glad you sat down to read.

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Breathtaking

Alice Walker is simply a genius. The characters are brilliantly drawn, the relationships are compelling, and the sense of place she creates is tangible. I remember seeing the movie and being changed by it, but reading this book at a more mature point in my life has impacted me in a deeper, perhaps more meaningful way. If educators were brave, this would be required reading for high school students. IMHO this is as much a classic as To Kill A Mockingbird or any Shakespeare play.

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Loved!

I love Oprah, and she has been raving about this book for years!! I finally got around to listening to this book a couple of months ago. I loved the story and the narration. I loved to learn about a culture I knew only a little about and the spiritual side of this book made me love it even more. I recommend! Can't wait to watch the movie now that I have read the book!

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