Push review

http://www.nytimes.com/1996/06/14/books/books-of-the-times-a-cruel-world-endless-until-a-teacher-steps-in.html

This review was published in 1996 the same time the novel was published and so is helpful in finding out what the reaction of the novel was to the society of that time. The reviewer picks up on the fact that 'Push is not the story of a helpless or self-loathing victim. It's meant to be a story of female empowerment and triumph.' this refers to the title of the novel and its symbolism i.e. the repetition of 'Push' throughout the novel as it indicates that Precious has to keep fighting until she gets what she deserves. This is friendship and a decent education.  The writer also makes references to the influences that inspired the writer, Sapphire, by the similarities of Precious's story to Celie's story in 'The Color Purple' and how that novel influenced Precious and  inspires female empowerment and reflects how coloured women are treated. However, the writer suggests that 'In trying to open out her heroine's story and turn it into a more general comment on society, Sapphire has made the tale of Precious decidedly less moving than it might have been.' I believe this is false as writing a story which deals with abuse in such detail, making it more difficult to read is moving, and you can sympathise with her struggles and the story line definitely stays with the reader.