‘The Color Purple’ Soars Into Theaters: Here’s Where to Read the Book and Listen to the Audiobook Behind the New Film for Free

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The new reimagining of The Color Purple is in theaters now, and the critical acclaim for the Oprah Winfrey, Taraji P. Henson and Fantasia Barrino-led film has spurred renewed interest in the book that started it all.

Amazon has the original Alice Walker novel available for just $11 right now — 34% off its list price. Released in 1982, “The Color Purple” was a groundbreaking novel, hailed for its depiction of the African-American experience in post-slavery America. At once derided and praised for its unflinching portrayal of race, religion, sexuality and domestic violence, “The Color Purple” would go on to win the 1983 Pulitzer Prize for fiction, and the National Book Award for fiction.

As the Amazon description reads, “‘The Color Purple’ breaks the silence around domestic and sexual abuse, and carries readers on an epic and spirit-affirming journey toward transformation, redemption, and love,” while drawing readers into a “rich and memorable portrayal of Black women—their pain and struggle, companionship and growth, resilience and bravery.”

Now, fans of The Color Purple can read (or re-read) the book the inspired the motion picture, with Amazon offering Walker’s novel on hardcover, paperback or Kindle. You can read “The Color Purple” online free with a free trial to Kindle Unlimited here.

You can also listen to “The Color Purple” on audiobook, with the text read by Walker herself. The “Color Purple” audiobook is available to stream online for free on Audible right now, as part of the site’s 30-day free trial offer.

The free trial includes one credit that you can use to download the “Color Purple” audiobook to keep, even after your trial is over. Choose to continue on with Audible from just $5.95/month or cancel after your free trial to avoid being charged. The audiobook has a listening time of seven hours and 58 minutes.

Of course, while Walker’s novel is the basis for the new Steven Spielberg-produced film, the movie is actually a film adaptation of The Color Purple Broadway musical, which ran from 2005 to 2008.

Amazon has the original Broadway cast recording available on CD or as a digital download here. You can also pre-order the official Color Purple movie soundtrack on Amazon for $19.98 here. The new soundtrack comes out in March.

In addition to Oprah, Henson and Barrino, the 2023 adaptation of The Color Purple stars Danielle Brooks, Colman Domingo, Corey Hawkins, H.E.R., Halle Bailey, Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor and Jon Batiste.