It was disconcerting, how growing up he had felt both smothered and overlooked in the same household.

Plus she’d never liked the idea of a dowry, as was custom in traditional ceremonies—even a symbolic one. Taking his surname had already felt traitorous enough.

It was funny, Ola thought briefly, how feminism had swung to now meet patriarchy in the middle, seemingly agreeing that what women wanted was everything to be pink and focused on making them look good.

How could he explain that his phone gave him anxiety, that every time it vibrated, panic rippled through his body?

“He doesn’t make me as sad as I’d be without him,” she said, truthfully.

The men were repulsed by what they perceived as female traits but abhorred women who “acted like men.” They bemoaned gold-diggers, but simultaneously argued that a man’s role was as breadwinner. It made no sense.

Music so often said what Celie herself couldn’t.

men only have issues with abusive men outside of their immediate circle. The closer to home, the blinder their eye becomes.

The success of their marriage wasn’t determined by its happiness, but by the fact it was still going.