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The Color Purple

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The Color Purple

Written by: Alice Walker
Narrated by: Alice Walker
Free with 30-day trial

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Buy Now for ₹668.00

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About this listen

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.
African American Genre Fiction Historical Literary Fiction
Most relevant  
brilliant,nuanced narration, did justice to a great novel. redefining family, religion, vivid relationships taking epistolary novel to a new level.

the best audible experience I've had so far.

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This to me was not just an audiobook. It was like sitting next to an elderly person of the family and listening to their tales, real life experiences. The story is engaging, entertaining and at the same time my stomach ties in knots time to time listening to the way events unfold. I came across many short and simple one liners that almost chocked me. Such a simple but powerful way to express deepest feeling... Loved the book and the narration equally.

Its like a soft breeze of wind

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Celie writes letters to God, because she doesn't know who else to tell to. Her father abuses and rapes her. She has been forced out of school. Her two children have been taken taken away from her by her father. She has been married to a man who never wanted her and treats her like dirt. The only person who loves her and cares about her is her little sister Nettie. But Nettie ran away. Celie believes Nettie is dead because she promised that she will write letters to Celie but she never did. She has resolved to be a nobody and nothing.
But things change for her when her husband's lover, Shug Avery, a sassy and fierce woman enters her life. With Shug's help, Celie begins to redeem, rediscover and redefine herself.

This is the first time that I have read a novel in the form of collected letters. As the letters are written to God, the emotions expressed feel honest and sincere. I loved how the author has used bad grammar in dialogues to show that the characters are not well-educated.

Absolutely loved the book.

A hearth-touching story of self-discovery

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To be honest, I didn't like it much. The plot didn't intrigue me and the narration is really difficult to understand , specially if you're not a native English speaker. The story is not much engrossing either..

Not too good

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this book is more about the struggles of women in the 19th century. very informative!!!

not related to the title of the book!

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