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An American Marriage: A Novel (Oprah's Book Club 2018 Selection) Hardcover – February 6, 2018

by Tayari Jones (Author)

4.3 62,627 ratings

Editors' pick Best Literature & Fiction

See all formats and editions

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A NEW YORK TIMES AND WASHINGTON POST NOTABLE BOOK

A 2018 BEST OF THE YEAR SELECTION OF NPR * TIME * BUSTLE * O, THE OPRAH MAGAZINE * THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS * AMAZON.COM

OPRAH’S BOOK CLUB 2018 SELECTION

WINNER OF THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR FICTION

WINNER OF THE 2019 ASPEN WORDS LITERARY PRIZE

WINNER OF THE 2019 NAACP IMAGE AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING LITERARY WORK—FICTION

LONGLISTED FOR THE 2018 NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR FICTION

“A moving portrayal of the effects of a wrongful conviction on a young African-American couple.” —Barack Obama

“Haunting . . . Beautifully written.” —The New York Times Book Review

“Brilliant and heartbreaking . . . Unforgettable.” —USA Today

“A tense and timely love story . . . Packed with brave questions about race and class.” —People

“Compelling.” —The Washington Post

“Deeply moving . . . thought-provoking." —Bill Gates

“Epic . . . Transcendent . . . Triumphant.” —Elle

Newlyweds Celestial and Roy are the embodiment of both the American Dream and the New South. He is a young executive, and she is an artist on the brink of an exciting career. But as they settle into the routine of their life together, they are ripped apart by circumstances neither could have imagined. Roy is arrested and sentenced to twelve years for a crime Celestial knows he didn’t commit. Though fiercely independent, Celestial finds herself bereft and unmoored, taking comfort in Andre, her childhood friend, and best man at their wedding. As Roy’s time in prison passes, she is unable to hold on to the love that has been her center. After five years, Roy’s conviction is suddenly overturned, and he returns to Atlanta ready to resume their life together.

This stirring love story is a profoundly insightful look into the hearts and minds of three people who are at once bound and separated by forces beyond their control. An American Marriage is a masterpiece of storytelling, an intimate look deep into the souls of people who must reckon with the past while moving forward—with hope and pain—into the future.

From the Publisher

More Praise for An American Marriage

	SILVER SPARROW by Tayari Jones	THE LEAVERS by Lisa Ko	PURPLE HIBISCUS by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Customer Reviews	8,972	8,178	12,742
Price	$9.39	$10.59	$10.99
More Essential Reading from Algonquin	Bestselling Author Of An American Marriage “Impossible to put down.” —Los Angeles Times	National Book Award Finalist “Courageous, sensitive, and perfectly of this moment.” —Barbara Kingsolver	Bestselling Author Of Americanah “Prose as lush as the Nigerian landscape that it powerfully evokes.” —The Boston Globe

WARNING: California’s Proposition 65

Editorial Reviews

Review

Winner of the Women's Prize for Fiction
Winner of the 2019 Aspen Words Literary Prize
Shortlisted for the 2020 International DUBLIN Literary Award

“One of my favorite parts of summer is deciding what to read when things slow down just a bit, whether it’s on a vacation with family or just a quiet afternoon . . . An American Marriage by Tayari Jones is a moving portrayal of the effects of a wrongful conviction on a young African-American couple.” —Barack Obama

“Tayari Jones’s wise and compassionate new novel, An American Marriage . . . is a clear vision of the quiet devastation of a family. It is beautifully written, with many allusions to black music and culture — including the everyday poetry of the African-American community that begs to be heard.”
—The New York Times Book Review

“Powerful . . . The story . . . is both sweeping and intimate—at once an unsparing exploration of what it means to be black in America and a remarkably lifelike portrait of a marriage.”
—The New Yorker

“Compelling . . . spun with tender patience by Jones, who cradles each of these characters in a story that pulls our sympathies in different directions. She never ignores their flaws, their perfectly human tendency toward self-justification, but she also captures their longing to be kind, to be just, to somehow behave well despite the contradictory desires of the heart.”
—Ron Charles, Washington Post

“Tayari Jones is a bard of the modern South, a writer whose skill at weaving stories is matched only by her compassion for her characters. While An American Marriage confronts thorny issues around race and the criminal justice system it is, at heart, a love story. It’s also a meditation on the creation of art, the meaning of family and the conflict between duty and desire. Jones has crafted a complex, layered story that’s both intimate and broad, a literary page-turner that’s impossible to put down.”
—The Los Angeles Times

“This moment, right here in February 2018, feels like exactly the right time for Tayari Jones to be writing — and for us to be reading Tayari Jones. In the years since her debut, she has been getting better, and . . . added heft and substance to the rich and necessary stories she weaves.”
—BuzzFeed

“Brilliant, timely . . . heartbreaking . . . With spare and shimmering prose that can strike with the shock of a shiv, Jones captures the life-altering losses Roy and Celestial endure in this unforgettable American marriage.”
—USA Today

“A tense and timely love story. Told in letters and from alternating perspectives, packed with brave questions about race and class, An American Marriage is the perfect book-club book—one the whole group will finish and discuss with conviction.”
—People (Book of the Week)

“A stunning polyphonic novel . . . An American Marriage explores the effects of outside forces beyond its characters’ control – racism and mass incarceration – alongside the more personal questions like whether or not to have children, how to interact with in-laws, how to reconcile differences in background and upbringing, and finally, how to negotiate a marriage when love, on its own, is no longer enough.”
—Bust

“An American Marriage is that rare treasure, a novel that pulls you under like a fever dream, a novel whose pages you start to ration midway through, a novel you miss like a lover the minute you kiss its final page goodbye. An American Marriage is a gripping, masterfully crafted message in a bottle, at once a dispatch from the past and a foreshadowing of the future, bringing exquisite reading pleasure and painful, crucial news.”
—San Francisco Chronicle

“A fascinating, beautifully written story about love, the U.S. prison system, and family.”
—Houston Chronicle

"Novelist Jones writes brilliantly about expectations and loss and racial injustice, and how love must evolve when our best laid plans go awry."
—Esquire.com

"Tayari Jones provides an essential contemporary portrait of a marriage in this searing novel. An American Marriage gorgeously evokes the New South as it explores mass incarceration on a personal level."
—Entertainment Weekly

“Jones, who gains in skill with each book, has made Atlanta her fictional turf, and conjuring a skein of complex relationships her trademark. She writes in folksy, assured sentences; the reading is almost effortless . . . An American Marriage swings the reader’s sympathies widely, centrifugally, as if on a merry-go-round. The men are believable. The women are recognizable, familiar as a favorite sweater. The details are pleasurable, down to the Huey Newton chairs on Roy’s parents’ front porch.”
—Newsday

“Quietly powerful . . . [Jones’s] writing illuminates the bits and pieces of a marriage: those almost imperceptible moments that make it, break it, and forcefully tear it apart.”
—The Atlantic

"Powerful . . . Astonishing . . . Through the accumulation of small details, Jones paints a portrait of a nation still deeply divided along lines of race and class."
—J. Courtney Sullivan, The Boston Globe

“This beautiful, sad novel is about so many big things — love, friendship, loyalty, betrayal, heartbreak, healing, family, racism, endurance and transcendence. But all of that is secondary to the story at its core . . . This is a complex novel that goes well beyond the plot elements of infidelity and racism to explore the intricacies of family and romantic relationships in modern America.”
—Minneapolis Star-Tribune

“This utterly gripping novel from Tayari Jones explores marriage in an intimate and realistic way, making it an engaging read for both married and single audiences alike.This stirring love story is a profoundly insightful look into the hearts and minds of three people who are at once bound and separated by forces beyond their control.”
—Paste Magazine

“Tayari Jones has emerged as one of the most important voices of her generation.”
—Essence

“In this unforgettable novel, Tayari Jones tackles hard questions about pride, betrayal, and our capacity to forgive.”
—Real Simple

“This is a novel that unabashedly plays with your senses of right and not-quite-right. It also plays with your emotions, if you’ve ever been in love — so have a handful of tissues nearby. An American Marriage could bring you to your knees.”
—The Philadelphia Tribune

“Tayari Jones’ An American Marriage is at its beating heart a love triangle between three 30-something black professionals in contemporary Atlanta. Calling it a triangle, however, diminishes its complexity and nuance; this is a book whose characters will whisper in your head long after you’ve put it down.”
—The Seattle Times

“This novel is peopled by vividly realized, individual characters and driven by interpersonal drama, but it is also very much about being black in contemporary America. This is, at its heart, a love story, but a love story warped by racial injustice. And, in it, Jones suggests that racial injustice haunts the African-American story. Subtle, well-crafted, and powerful.”
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Layered like Pearl Cleage’s What Looks Like Crazy on an Ordinary Day, this title will appeal to all readers of contemporary fiction.”
—Library Journal (starred review)

"An American Marriage is a masterpiece of storytelling, an intimate look deep into the souls of people who must reckon with the past while moving forward—with hope and pain—into the future."
—The Rumpus

“The great Tayari Jones published her masterly opus An American Marriage, and it is everything you want to read in a novel right now.”
—TheRoot.com

“Suspenseful and compelling. An American Marriage delivers on all fronts, raising questions both intimate and epic about the intersections of race and class, the burdens and joys of shared history, and what it means to commit to a future together.”
—Salon.com

“ Nuanced and evocative . . . An American Marriage is a compelling exploration of the thorny conflicts that drive us apart and bind us, the distorting weight of racism, and how commitment looks across time – and generations.”
—BBC.com

" Breathtaking . . . Jones is a master with words and An American Marriage is the wordsmith at the top of her game."
—Bitch Media

" Heart-wrenching . . . An American Marriage poses profound questions about what we owe each other, and what injustices we allow to persist."
—Huffington Post

"One of America's finest writers, Tayari Jones has offered up another masterpiece with her latest novel, a tremendously powerful story about love, injustice, inequality, and strength. An American Marriage reveals how quickly dreams can be derailed due to systemic malignant forces all around us. It's a novel of vision and grace, and it will bury itself in your consciousness."
—Nylon.com

“Tayari Jones is a wonderful storyteller. Anyone who has read Jones’s earlier works (Leaving Atlanta, The Untelling, Silver Sparrow) is familiar with her strong authorial voice and her careful construction of each sentence, paragraph, and chapter. Her attention to craft is paramount. An American Marriage is an engrossing novel about many things, but at its heart, it’s a love story, a uniquely American love story.”
—Ploughshares

"It’s always an event when there’s new writing from Tayari Jones . . . "
—Electric LIterature

“Jones crafts an affecting tale that explores marriage, family, regret, and other feelings made all the more resonant by her well-drawn characters and their intricate conflicts of heart and mind.”
—Booklist

“Jones (Silver Sparrow) lays bare the devastating effects of wrongful imprisonment in this piercing tale of an unspooling marriage . . . Masterfully executed . . . Jones uses her love triangle to explore simmering class tensions and reverberating racial injustice in the contemporary South, while also delivering a satisfying romantic drama.”
–Publishers Weekly

“Tayari Jones displays tremendous writing prowess with An American Marriage, an enchanting novel that succeeds at every level. From the very start, An American Marriage pulls the reader in with gorgeous prose. Even beyond its plot, the story soars. It doesn’t just focus on one instance of a marriage; it explores philosophical and political quandaries, including generational expectations of men and women, the place of marriage in modern society, systemic racism, toxic masculinity, and more. It does so in a gentle, subtle way, avoiding didacticism as it nudges the reader to question their own conventions and ideals. There are rarely novels as timely or fitting as An American Marriage. It brings abstract ideas about race and love down to the material level. The story is gripping, and the characters are unforgettable.”
—Foreword Reviews (starred review)

“I love An American Marriage and I’m so excited for this book to be in the world. Tayari’s novel is timely, thoughtful, and beautifully written. Reading it, I found myself angry as hell, laughing out loud, choking up and cheering. A gem of a book.”
—Jacqueline Woodson, author of Another Brooklyn and Brown Girl Dreaming

“Tayari Jones is blessed with vision to see through to the surprising and devastating truths at the heart of ordinary lives, strength to wrest those truths free, and a gift of language to lay it all out, compelling and clear. That has been true from her very first book, but with An American Marriage that vision, that strength, and that truth-telling voice have found a new level of artistry and power.”
—Michael Chabon, author of Moonglow

“Tayari Jones is a great storyteller. An American Marriage holds the reader from first page to last, with her compassionate observation, her clear-eyed insight and her beautifully written and complex characters. Jones understands love and loss and writes with passion and precision about the forces that move us all from one to another.”
—Amy Bloom, author of Lucky Us

“An American Marriage asks hard questions about injustice and betrayal, and answers them with a heartbreaking and genuinely suspenseful love story in which nobody's wrong and everybody's wounded. Tayari Jones has written a complex and important novel about people trapped in a tragic situation, struggling to reconcile their responsibilities and desires.”
—Tom Perrotta, author of Mrs. Fletcher

“Tayari Jones’ An American Marriage is a stunning epic love story filled with breathtaking twists and turns, while bursting with realized and unrealized dreams. Skillfully crafted and beautifully written, An American Marriage is an exquisite, timely, and powerful novel that feels both urgent and indispensable.”
—Edwidge Danticat, author of Breath, Eyes, Memory

“Tayari Jones weaves a moving love story in her new novel, An American Marriage.”
–Southern Living

“[A] very insightful, touching story about contemporary relationships.”
–Liberty Hardy, Book Riot

“Tayari Jones…beautifully weaves the repugnant racism of the judicial system into a love story. In writing as lyrical and efficient as prose, Jones presents what happens to two men and a woman when justice is denied.”
—Newark Star-Ledger

“Jones’s prose is masterful. An American Marriage is a must-read, not just for fans of narratives about love but for anyone who has known what is to struggle with the choice between pushing forward and letting go.”
—Tulsa Book Review

About the Author

Tayari Jones is the author of four novels, including Silver Sparrow, The Untelling, and Leaving Atlanta. Jones holds degrees from Spelman College, Arizona State University, and the University of Iowa. A winner of numerous literary awards, she is a professor of creative writing at Emory University. Visit her website at www.tayarijones.com.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1616208775
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Algonquin Books; Oprah's Book Club edition (February 6, 2018)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781616208776
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1616208776
Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ HL770L
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.14 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.3 x 1 x 9.35 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #188,613 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #3,728 in Family Life Fiction (Books)
- #4,414 in Women's Domestic Life Fiction
- #11,384 in Literary Fiction (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.3 62,627 ratings

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Tayari Jones

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Tayari Jones is the author of the novels Leaving Atlanta, The Untelling, Silver Sparrow, and An American Marriage (Algonquin Books, February 2018). Her writing has appeared in Tin House, The Believer, The New York Times, and Callaloo. A member of the Fellowship of Southern Writers, she has also been a recipient of the Hurston/Wright Legacy Award, Lifetime Achievement Award in Fine Arts from the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, United States Artist Fellowship, NEA Fellowship and Radcliffe Institute Bunting Fellowship. Silver Sparrow was named a #1 Indie Next Pick by booksellers in 2011, and the NEA added it to its Big Read Library of classics in 2016. Jones is a graduate of Spelman College, University of Iowa, and Arizona State University. An Associate Professor in the MFA program at Rutgers-Newark University, she is spending the 2017-18 academic year as the Shearing Fellow for Distinguished Writers at the Beverly Rogers, Carol C. Harter Black Mountain Institute at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

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Customers say

Customers find the story engaging and heartbreaking. They praise the author's writing style as articulate and clear. Readers appreciate the relatable characters and their depth. The book raises thought-provoking questions and provides insightful social commentary. It captivates and holds readers' attention from beginning to end.

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Story quality Heartbreaking story Writing quality Character development Thought provoking Interest Writing style Pacing

1,728 customers mention "Story quality"1,658 positive70 negative

Customers enjoy the engaging story. They praise the author's literary presentation and southern cultural details. The book is described as a wonderful love story that makes readers feel. Readers appreciate the flow of the prose and beautifully crafted pages with richly drawn characters.

"...There is so much to love about this incredible story. We get history and heartbreaking moment to moment...." Read more

"...Fast-forward to August 2019, I read and thoroughly enjoyed it (for the most part....I'll explain later)...." Read more

"...THIS IS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I'VE READ IN AGES!!! I couldn't put this book down...." Read more

"...This book is a perfect book club read for the kind of discussions you can have around it, and I really appreciate that, too!..." Read more

1,203 customers mention "Heartbreaking story"972 positive231 negative

Customers find the story poignant and emotional. They describe the characters as relatable, well-drawn, and hard to put down. The book offers an intimate look into the souls of people who must face struggles. Readers appreciate the love, humanity, and truth that keep the story moving.

"...I loved the ending but I think it will be different for each reader. I am very intrigued by the author now and will read more by her...." Read more

"...You tell me. Overall, Tayari Jones brings a realistic telling of how injustices can either tear a family apart or bring them closer..." Read more

"...This is a love triangle, and the story is told from the perspective of the three people involved, Celestial, the woman, Roy, her husband, and Andre,..." Read more

"...writing was fabulous with some really strong lines and an overall heart-wrenching story that was, ironically, very easy to read...." Read more

853 customers mention "Writing quality"767 positive86 negative

Customers appreciate the book's writing quality. They find it articulate and clear, with a wonderful way with language. Readers enjoy reading the letters Celestial and Roy exchanged as it adds a realistic touch. The characters are nuanced and complex, and the author manages her POV well.

"...I am in a book club but this was a new way to read a book and it added to the enjoyment of reading The American Marriage...." Read more

"...The author has such a wonderful way with language; one of my favorite lines in the book is when Roy wryly notes: "If you have a woman, you..." Read more

"...So how do you rate this book, these stories? The writing was fabulous with some really strong lines and an overall heart-wrenching story that was,..." Read more

"...I like Ms. Jones’ voice and her writing style, but I felt lost a few times in some of Roy’s sections, often having to read a sentence a few times to..." Read more

614 customers mention "Character development"530 positive84 negative

Customers enjoy the relatable characters and their inner dialogue. They find the book gripping with its rich storytelling style and sense of place. The parents are praised as their favorite characters, who try to keep things in perspective. Readers appreciate the author's honest portrayal of human nature without creating heroes or villains.

"...He is by far my favorite character in this book. He had to grow in so many areas to be completely free...." Read more

"...Great character development with realistic flawed characters...." Read more

"...This book was seriously so moving. Tayari created real people, people I feel like I know or went to church or school with and it's always a treat..." Read more

"...how the story was told through the letters and the perspective of three main characters...." Read more

440 customers mention "Thought provoking"402 positive38 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking and enlightening. They say it provides remarkable social commentary while raising real questions about marriage, daily injustices, and conflicts. The book is beautifully written with poetic metaphors. Readers appreciate the relevant themes and how it grows with understanding.

"...The older men in the book are the true MVP's, old school wisdom. I laughed and cried, the story is very touching...." Read more

"...This strengthened our relationship because communication occurred with calmness, respectfulness, and love...." Read more

"...This book raises some really important questions: what does it really mean to hang in there, for better or worse?..." Read more

"This book is written so beautifully and at times it felt so raw and deep. I loved it cover to cover." Read more

198 customers mention "Interest"172 positive26 negative

Customers enjoy the book. They find it engaging and hooked from beginning to end. The book is satisfying, well-written, and refreshing. Readers mention it reminds them of the importance of relationships.

"...How the incarceration affects all involved is an intense, emotional, love affair you will not forget...." Read more

"Jones bites into your soul’s curiosity. Her in depth characters’ inner dialogue twined through you. A real, riveting read that will not be put down." Read more

"...It is beautifully written. It kept my attention and I read it in just a little over one day. I could not put it down...." Read more

"This is a great read, well written, moves along, keeps you reading to find out what will happen...." Read more

104 customers mention "Writing style"97 positive7 negative

Customers enjoy the author's writing style. They find the prose lovely and lyrical, with masterful insights. The literary voice is entertaining, and they enjoy the use of letters. Readers describe the book as witty, emotional, raw, and thought-provoking.

"...There are no easy answers to this question, but it was poetic to watch the characters try to address them, each in their own way...." Read more

"This book is written so beautifully and at times it felt so raw and deep. I loved it cover to cover." Read more

"...Ms. Jones has a "knack" for lyrical writing and this book is no exception...." Read more

"...The book’s prose is beautiful with not a single phrase overdone. Concise yet such energy. I highlyrecommend this book." Read more

304 customers mention "Pacing"194 positive110 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book. Some find it moving and gripping, with unexpected twists and turns. Others feel it's rushed or left open for a sequel, progressing slowly, and lacking excitement.

"...of systemic issues on personal relationships, making this novel a deeply moving and thought-provoking read." Read more

"...Spoiler: the wife is a truly unlikeable, spoiled brat and the best man is a cowardly, back stabbing weasel." Read more

"...L: I found An American Marriage a moving and emotionally painful read, especially, in today’s racially charged climate where police are called by..." Read more

"There are no spoilers in this review. This book was seriously so moving...." Read more

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Marce
From my blog I am glad I went into this story without any knowledge
Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2018
Verified Purchase

From my blog

I am glad I went into this story without any knowledge. A friend tagged me on Oprah's post where she recommended friends to read together. A day later another friend reaches out and starts a Whatsapp group to discuss the book. I am in a book club but this was a new way to read a book and it added to the enjoyment of reading The American Marriage. There are no spoilers.

The story is told in 3 Chapters through the main characters Roy, Celestial and Andre. How you think about marriage will come into question, make you sit back and say what is right or wrong, traditional or not and if generations look at marriage differently.

"Sometimes when you like where you end up, you don't care how you got there." Kindle 11%

We get to see how young marriage unfolds, deciding on becoming parents, in-laws, career building and what no one should have to deal with, being locked up for a crime you didn't commit. How the incarceration affects all involved is an intense, emotional, love affair you will not forget.

Tarai Jones has wrote a winner, I am positive this book will be in my Top Ten for the year. The older men in the book are the true MVP's, old school wisdom. I laughed and cried, the story is very touching. As a black Bermudian it is hard for me to understand the African American life and Tarai Jones does an amazing job on showing us how unfair life can be for an African American man without the feel of racism being uncomfortable.

"I have one thing to say to you, as a black man: Roy is a hostage of the state. He is a victim of America. The least you could do........ Kindle 40%

I did not enjoy the character of Celestial, I just couldn't relate to her thoughts, her decisions, she wasn't a strong or weak female, spoiled yes, but that is still no excuse, I really am stumped by how much I disliked her in the story. She has strong opinions on not belonging to anyone, this is a continuous topic. It came to a point every time we came to her chapters, I had to take a breath to tolerate her.

My favourite characters are the fathers in the story and Roy, a true romantic. There is so much to love about this incredible story. We get history and heartbreaking moment to moment. A huge part of the story are told through letters which gave it a beautiful, genuine feel. You can also feel the journey of love change over the years.

Is it love or is it convenience? Kindle 69%

The situation was a lot of things - tragic, absurd, unlikely, and maybe even unethical - but it was not convenient. Kindle 69%

I also enjoyed how as the reader you are unsure who to root for, how the story will end and who really is the underdog. I loved the ending but I think it will be different for each reader.

I am very intrigued by the author now and will read more by her. There is so much to this story, I have had to be as general as possible in order for you to enjoy the story as it unfolds. I highly recommend.

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Tracey Robinson
Married, read this book!
Reviewed in the United States on September 13, 2019
Verified Purchase
I added this book to my book club's reading list after it was mentioned on President Barack Obama's reading list in 2018. I read the synopsis and said, yup I think I'll like this book. Fast-forward to August 2019, I read and thoroughly enjoyed it (for the most part....I'll explain later).

Brief Synopsis: Tayari Jones relates how one day drastically changed the dynamics of Roy and Celestial's young marriage. As a sorta newly wed (3 years in), I was deeply attached to this story. Marriage isn't easy. It takes excellent communication, compromise, and growth while keeping your own individuality. Like I said, it's not easy but wonderful when both put forth reasonable effort.

Early on you start to sense something life-altering was going to happen to shatter the foundation of Roy and Celestial's marriage. Jones takes time to develop each character, to help you see their flaws along with their strengths. Then she throws in the other, that one friend who could be the death of your marriage if you're not careful. That friend is Andre in this story.

You are left trying to figure out if Roy and Celestial's marriage is strong enough to survive his incarceration and what outside factors will help or hurt that cause. In the end, most probably are satisfied with the ending. Me, not so much. I almost was, but one thing just didn't fit for me.

Since Jones tells this story from the pov's of Roy, Celestial, and Andre, I'll relate what spoke to my soul from each one's perspective. I'm pausing as I'm typing this because I don't want reveal too much and I don't know who I want to start with.....

I'll start with Celestial. Her character stresses the importance of remaining true to yourself. As her character develops, I think she begins to live more for herself. Yes, she's a wife but she's also Celestial. My husband tells me frequently not to lose just being me. We put our various roles ahead of self as men, women, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, and children. Don't forget to be you and make yourself happy, only YOU can do that. This is only possible when you know what happiness means to you, individually. In the end, I don't know if Celestial fully realizes this.

Moving on to Roy, growth was his means to freedom. Ego, wants versus needs, and honest self-evaluation all come to mind with Roy. He is by far my favorite character in this book. He had to grow in so many areas to be completely free. Sometimes we fight and hold on to the "idea" of something that is far from reality. It's ok to let go and it's ok to have faith in the unknown.

Finally, I'll speak on Andre. This is where my for the most part comes into play. Compromise is one thing, but NEVER EVER SETTLE. I believe this is what he did. He settled for the next best thing after being presented with evidence suggesting he should do something different. Am I alone on this thought? I don't know. You tell me.

Overall, Tayari Jones brings a realistic telling of how injustices can either tear a family apart or bring them closer together. My favorite aspect of this book were the letters written between Celestial and Roy. It gave me time to truly reflect on each's pov at a slower than normal pace. Reminds me of how early on in our dating/courtship, my husband and I used an app to write our thoughts versus a rapid fire text message. Sometimes there was an immediate reply. Other times it may take a few hours or even days. This strengthened our relationship because communication occurred with calmness, respectfulness, and love. Find what works for you and yours.

As Always,
#HappyReading

Tracey Robinson
Words For The Soul Book Club

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Luly
Llegó bien
Reviewed in Mexico on March 19, 2024
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Llegó el día que dijeron que llegaba,

Excelente historia, me encantó el libro, termina bien, con una historia realista.

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Christie Dakin
Excellent book!
Reviewed in Canada on April 6, 2023
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This book surprised me. I bought it because I am part of a book club but I didn't know much about it. The book is written in a unique manner and I am totally enjoying it. I highly recommend it!

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Sudhakar kadiyala
A different kind of love story.
Reviewed in India on August 6, 2023
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Imagine an innocent man being forced into a series of hopeless situations, and will there be something left of himself, or will there be nothing?"An Ameican marriage" is one such story of black man's suffering. Roy jr. (Roy Othaniel Hamilton) & Celestial(Celestial Gloriana Davenport) were a happily married couple until oneday while they were in a hotel Roy jr. was booked for rape of a women who happens to be six years older than his mother (Olive)and was wrongly incarcerated & condemned for 12y of imprisonment.Luckily he is released after being in jail for 5years through the continous efforts of his lawyer Banks but unfortunately for him his badluck never ends there. His caring mother died due to cancer while he was in jail, and his beloved wife Celestial decided to marry Andre, who happened to be her childhood friend & neighbor. A book where you find strong human emotions beyond love.The character in the novel Roy sr. , who, though not a biological father of Roy jr. ,stands tall for the love of his son and which goes a long way with the reader.

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Sudhakar kadiyala

A different kind of love story.

Reviewed in India on August 6, 2023
Imagine an innocent man being forced into a series of hopeless situations, and will there be something left of himself, or will there be nothing?"An Ameican marriage" is one such story of black man's suffering. Roy jr. (Roy Othaniel Hamilton) & Celestial(Celestial Gloriana Davenport) were a happily married couple until oneday while they were in a hotel Roy jr. was booked for rape of a women who happens to be six years older than his mother (Olive)and was wrongly incarcerated & condemned for 12y of imprisonment.Luckily he is released after being in jail for 5years through the continous efforts of his lawyer Banks but unfortunately for him his badluck never ends there. His caring mother died due to cancer while he was in jail, and his beloved wife Celestial decided to marry Andre, who happened to be her childhood friend & neighbor. A book where you find strong human emotions beyond love.The character in the novel Roy sr. , who, though not a biological father of Roy jr. ,stands tall for the love of his son and which goes a long way with the reader.

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Glows2
Very compelling, emotional and well written
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 30, 2022
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I read this book and it ticked so many boxes for me. Compelling characterisation, flawed and plausible protagonists, a well paced plot and cultural references and implied social commentary that enlighten those of us not brought up in America. The characters are a major strength, of course some you like more than others, but you just can't stop thinking about them and willing them to get the best outcome for themselves. The fact that one character's happiness could be another character's despair makes the book so riveting. The pathos at the heart of this book is breathtaking and I found it hard to stop reading.

Just as in life a mistake in memory, identity or being in the wrong place at the wrong time can change the course of your life, this is what happened here and Roy Junior and Celestial suffered the consequences. I loved the story of their flawed love and the way it was tried and tested. The technique of using letters to convey their commitment, chaos and confusion was powerful. The trial gave just the amount of detail needed to make the story about the failings in the judicial system in America and how it can be flawed and stacked against African Americans but this a backdrop, don't expect a crime thriller. 'An American Marriage' is the story of family connections and the quest for love and connection. This is what made this book one of the best I have read. If a writer succeeds in making me care about the characters, think about society, learn about unfamiliar lives and culture, then it's a roaring success in my view. To achieve this without an overly sentimental or didactic tone takes skill and verve as a writer. I found it an emotional and absorbing book. An outstanding and memorable book, my first from this writer and I'm about to order another Tayari Jones novel. A complete triumph , I highly recommend it.

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Nancy Gallou
All good
Reviewed in the United Arab Emirates on April 29, 2021
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Very fast delivery, good conditions. Overall all good

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5.0 out of 5 stars From my blog I am glad I went into this story without any knowledge

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5.0 out of 5 stars Llegó bien

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book!

5.0 out of 5 stars A different kind of love story.

A different kind of love story.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Very compelling, emotional and well written

5.0 out of 5 stars All good

From my blog I am glad I went into this story without any knowledge

Married, read this book!

Llegó bien

Excellent book!

A different kind of love story.

Very compelling, emotional and well written

All good