• The Color Purple

  • By: Alice Walker
  • Narrated by: Samira Wiley
  • Length: 8 hrs and 7 mins
  • 4.9 out of 5 stars (1,600 ratings)

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The Color Purple  By  cover art

The Color Purple

By: Alice Walker
Narrated by: Samira Wiley
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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, Sofia, 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 Oprah Winfrey and directed by Steven Spielberg, and been adapted into a Tony-nominated Broadway musical. Lauded as a literary masterpiece, this is the ground-breaking 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)2020 Audible, Inc.

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What listeners say about The Color Purple

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Wow!

This book and the performance of it was a gift... a treasure of immeasurable value. My mind, body and soul are better and more complete from having had the pleasure of experiencing it.

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25 people found this helpful

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Samira, Samira, Samira!!!!

Though I have watched Color Purple at least 50 times, I never read the book. Loved hearing the differences between the movie and book. I feel like I could listen to this over and over again. Awesome narrator.

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18 people found this helpful

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The best audiobook I've ever listened to

Outstanding story, outstanding writing, outstanding narration. If this book ends up being the best book I read this year, I'll be more than happy. It is undoubtedly the best narration of a book I've ever listened to. For the story and the insight it gives into black slavery and white supremacy in the US and all over in the past century it is a must read. And for the amazing narration of this particular audiobook, it is a must listen. Overall, one of the best reading experiences of my life. Absolutely stunning.

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12 people found this helpful

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Such a great listen

I’ve always enjoyed the movie, but the book is so much more. The narrator, Samira Riley did an amazing job. I was able to tell the difference between each character, and she made me feel like we were back in that period.

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10 people found this helpful

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Samira Samira Samira

Amazing! Stunning! Beautiful! Girl! Done with so much heart! Thank You! You are my Celine!

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6 people found this helpful

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Think

Makes you think of things you never thought before. As usual the surpasses the movie, and the movie was exceptional.

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6 people found this helpful

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What a performance

I've read the quite a while this audible book isn't just being read, it's being ACTED! One of the best audiobooks I've ever heard. Often it's kind of hard for to get into an audiobook but this had me involved from the first paragraph of the actress's voice.

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Amazingly Beautiful

This reading was everything. The best listen of my Audible life. Thank you for gracing us Ms. Wiley.

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5 stars except for the opening chapter

In my late 30s, and hadn't seen the movie. Always heard it was a good story so thought I'd give it a listen (and love Samira Wiley). I WAS NOT PREPARED for the Hard R scene in th beginning. The rest of the book is great, but I almost dropped it like a hot potato. I had to give the story the benefit of the doubt...since there was a movie with Oprah in it, there's no way it would have continued like that.

Ms Wiley did a fantastic narration, kudos. I really enjoyed the book, thankful I read it.

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5 people found this helpful

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Best Audible ever

I love this book!!! It is my all time favorite. I’m usually a big fan of the horror collection but this is an absolute great change!!

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5 people found this helpful