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  • The Color Purple

  • By: Alice Walker
  • Narrated by: Alice Walker
  • Length: 7 hrs and 58 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (1,967 ratings)

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The Color Purple

By: Alice Walker
Narrated by: Alice Walker
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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.
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The Pride List of Queer Storytelling

To mark Pride 2023 Audible teamed up with non-profit organisation, Out on the Page, supporter and champion of LGBTQIA+ writers and writing, to release an extensive Pride List of Queer Storytelling. Featuring contributions from some of the UK’s most important and exciting voices from the LGBTQIA+ community, this audiobook is one of the many featured on the list that is available to listen to on Audible.

What listeners say about The Color Purple

Average customer ratings
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  • Overall
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    5 out of 5 stars

Even better as an audiobook

Utterly beautiful and poignant - two weeks after finishing this it is still haunting me. One of the few books which is made even better by being listened to - Alice Walker's narration gave a perspective I simply would not have had without the character voices and accents.

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15 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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good solid listen

well read, well written and interesting to listen to. could relate to the chatacters and found them to be very believable, as well as the situations presented. hard not to believe this wasn't based on true life

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3 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Great choice!

Great story and details, narrated properly. I would highly recommended it! Once started I couldn't leave it!

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

great book

finished in two days. interesting, well written and greatly performed. well portrayed the time and life showing lots of history and people their lifes and thoughts.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

heart warming

thought provoking, emotional and heartwarming, thoroughly enjoyed the story, would recommend this book although I don't think it's a 'man's read

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

a must read

not just a very well written and read book. it's nuanced and presents a story without antagonists, just life, people living, learning, changing. a lot of great thoughts in there.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent!!

From start to finish pure quality!!....The author made me feel every emotion possible. Brilliant.....I just wish stories like this never existed, however they did. But this story gave such a unique perspective!!

Thank you so much for sharing!!..x

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A life-changing read.

I haven't enjoyed a book this much sine I read Harper Lee's To kill a mockingbird. Outstanding!
Beautifully narrated.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    4 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

An all time favourite.

I have loved this story since I was about 14. Its been a favourite for 30 years.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Great to hear the story in the author's own voice

This story was nothing like I thought it would be even thought I watched the film decades ago. I wasn't expecting it to be told in the form of letters. It recounts very violent incidents in a matter of fact way. But it is well written and well read. I would say it would be easier to listen to than to read.

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