AN AMERICAN MARRIAGE BY TAYARI JONES
PLOT SUMMARY:
Newlyweds, Celestial and Roy, are the embodiment of both the American Dream and the New South. He is a young executive and she is artist on the brink of an exciting career. They are settling into the routine of their life together, when 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 centre. After five years, Roy’s conviction is suddenly overturned, and he returns to Atlanta ready to resume their life together.
MY REVIEW:
I didn't really know what to expect from this book but it really opened my eyes; to marriage, to love, to what we think love is and to prejudices that exist against people of different race.
An American Marriage is a heart wrenching story of a couple who were at the wrong place, at the wrong time and this altered their life forever. Jones brings us on a journey of raw emotion and invites to think about marriage and love; what do they truly mean?
This is another book that is told from different perspectives of the characters and I really enjoy this style of narrative.
The one thing I will say is that I found the end a little underwhelming, the story builds up for about 60% of it and then gradually seems to lose its momentum a bit. And I found Celestial quite hard to connect with, her character frustrated me at times.
However, it is an interesting read and it has received many rave reviews, so if it is a book you think you'd enjoy then you should go ahead and read it.
IN 3 WORDS/PHRASES:
Heart breaking
Eye opening
Thought provoking
FAVOURITE QUOTE:
“You can never really unlove somebody. Maybe it changes shape, but it’s there.”
FAVOURITE CHARACTER:
Andre, my heart really went out to him. He was stuck in a difficult position and you could really feel his turmoil throughout.
MY OVERALL RATING:
7/10