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The Color Purple
- Narrated by: Samira Wiley
- Length: 8 hrs and 7 mins
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Samira Wiley Answers the Audible Questionnaire
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Go Behind the Scenes of
The Color Purple
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.
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What listeners say about The Color Purple
Average Customer RatingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- elizabeth h correa
- 05-19-20
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.
24 people found this helpful
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- L. Hart
- 05-29-20
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.
17 people found this helpful
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- Cliente Amazon
- 06-17-20
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.
10 people found this helpful
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- rdubette
- 06-05-20
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.
10 people found this helpful
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- Аmazon Customer
- 06-13-20
Think
Makes you think of things you never thought before. As usual the surpasses the movie, and the movie was exceptional.
6 people found this helpful
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- Dwayne
- 06-17-20
Samira Samira Samira
Amazing! Stunning! Beautiful! Girl! Done with so much heart! Thank You! You are my Celine!
5 people found this helpful
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- Mia Who Sings
- 05-27-20
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.
5 people found this helpful
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- Mrs.M
- 05-23-20
Amazingly Beautiful
This reading was everything. The best listen of my Audible life. Thank you for gracing us Ms. Wiley.
5 people found this helpful
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- Kathy Joe
- 06-10-20
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!!
4 people found this helpful
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- MissAngel26
- 05-25-20
Hypnotized
10 stars! I was thoroughly engrossed the entire time... I've only ever seen the movie, and now that Samira has narrated the book, I just wanna say that what they say is true - the book is SOOO MUCH BETTER!!
4 people found this helpful
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- Bev
- 05-25-20
wonderful and inspirational.
What a beautiful story and the performance by the narrator was brilliant. So thought provoking!
8 people found this helpful
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- N R Boyles
- 07-16-20
Outstanding
I’ve seen the film. Which quite rightly is superb. The acting first class and staging perfect.
But the book is so much more. The depth of storytelling cannot be surpassed. The evolution of the characters is sympathetic and the depth of emotion sometimes unbearable. It seems hard to imagine that such a great story, with themes so relevant to our time, that was portrayed so beautifully in film and acted by people of the highest calibre could ever be improved upon. But Samira Wiley has done just that with her reading of this novel. Outstanding.
7 people found this helpful
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- Jetsuny
- 02-23-21
ouch
outstanding, too beautiful of an experience for me to find words for, other than please treat yourself to this phenomenal piece of work.
6 people found this helpful
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- Hamze Allaham
- 10-31-21
Incredibly emotional
Gripping and emotional story filled with hardships and heart breaks. Despite the overwhelming dark moments in the story you are still met with tenderness throughout. The narrator is wonderful at displaying those emotions but i found it hard at times to follow along with the story both because of the way the story is told but also because the narrator was hard to understand at times.
5 people found this helpful
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- Gualsa
- 10-30-21
I couldn’t understand the narrator
I’m sure it’s a great story and it’s won lots of prices but I couldn’t understand the narrator as they chose someone with such a native broad accent. I gave up after an hour. Such a shame
3 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 02-02-21
Fantastic narration and story
Wonderful story and the narration once you get used to the accent is brilliant. Highly recommended
3 people found this helpful
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- Michael Humphrey
- 06-05-20
There are just not enough stars
Expertly read, the characters were brought to life, amazing book, beautifully written loved it throughout.
3 people found this helpful
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- Liz S.
- 12-08-20
Fantastic narration of a moving story.
I loved this book, I saw the film many years ago but don't remember much of the detail so I can't say how they compare, having listened to this I will have to search out the movie again. The story is so moving, the characters stayed with me even when I wasn't listening and the narration was just perfect.
2 people found this helpful
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- Zarin Rafiuddin
- 12-04-20
A Timeless Classic by a Timeless Actor
Samara Wiley has brought the magic and reality out of this seminal text. Highly recommended.
2 people found this helpful
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- Elena Boos
- 09-20-20
Beautifully Written and Performed!
What a gripping, emotional and thought-provoking story. Samira Wiley's performance is outstanding! Very well done!
2 people found this helpful
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- Anonymous User
- 06-01-20
Truly Amazing!!!
Samira Wiley’s narration of this great American classic was truly a gem to listen to. Her ability to capture and embody each and every character, through her resonating performance brought Walker’s novel to life.
1 person found this helpful