“I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don’t notice it. People think pleasing God is all God cares about. But any fool living in the world can see it always trying to please us back.”

-Alice Walker

Should I see the new movie? Should I see the old movie? Are either as close to as good as the book?

Some classics are a product of the time, the circumstances, or the author. Some classics are true classics. The Color Purple is in the latter group. My heart cried, it soared, it fell in love with Walker’s prose–everything a great book should do to a person.

The strength and love that Celie can show to her sisters, to God, and to the world is amazing. The book is a raw, terrible, unflinching look at abuse, and a glimpse of the soul of someone working to overcome it. The beautiful, enigmatic Shug is another wonderful character, one who also sticks with you for long after the book is over.

The Color Purple is hard to read and worth every word.