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 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 . . . … 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
“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.
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The story in this book is told in first person through the voice of three major characters. As a result, we get a deeply personal version of the events as they experience them. If you are looking for a fast moving story, this is not for you. If you are looking for depth and understanding of the three people of color in the story, and how they each experience the world based on their background and experiences, you will love this book.
There are at least two major themes that run through the story. The first is love, and discovering what it means. Each of the three major characters are successful middle class people who have done all the right things -they are college educated, have good jobs, live in a nice neighborhood. Yet each struggles with prior experiences from their lives that create a complex relationship between them. They are put into a position to question and make life changing decisions on what love means to each of them as individuals.
The second major theme is racism. As you read this book, the author sets you up to see how the lives of even successful, middle class, people of color can be knocked down in a instant as a result of racism. How none are safe from its impact, and what an enormous undertaking it is to recover, or fail to recover, from the results.
Read this book to step into the characters bodies and minds, and experience their world.
3.5 stars really, But I still recommend—I just wanted the Celestial to have more of a voice and use it/speak more of what she was thinking…
My favorite book of 2019
A book for our times with the life challenges of African Americans as well as decisions in relationships we all have to consider.
This book makes you think about racism in America.
This book speaks to many minority men who have been falsely accused and inprisoned, and the toll that it takes on their loved ones. This book is an easy and interesting read. There are parts of this story that will bring tears to your eyes, and anger and sadness to your heart, for it speaks so loudly of the injustices that still go on today. It’s truly worth reading.
This was a surprising and refreshing read, different from anything I’ve read before. I was immediately immersed in this marriage – good but not perfect – only to have a horrible thing happen that was beyond their control. Every marriage encounters huge challenges. How will we address those? Everyone faces them differently. And reading about this one was illuminating.
My favourite read of 2019
Liked it but didn’t love it. Didn’t love main character.
Written in the 20th century style. It’s a glimpse into history.
It was borin; I dont understand what all the interest was about. There was nothing memorable.
Disappointing. I heard great things about the book so I was anticipating a great story. It was just okay, nothing exciting and I did not like the ending.
What a thought provoking and original format to write a novel through letters back and forth between characters. It captures all the torment African Americans must go through in everyday life to survive, as well as the impact on family and friends. African American men must exist in a country knowing they may be picked up, if not killed, on the whim of some “forbidden fruit.” Unfortunately, these accusations have existed for as long as recorded history of men of color having had been brought these shores.
I liked how this was written from different points of view of the characters, set in the modern South…
It is sad that we live in this kind of world.
It was beautifully written with a tragic and engaging story. But, literally, unenjoyable.
Excellent read!
Excellent! Beautifully written prose explores the territory of the ramifications of mass incarceration and false imprisonment of African Americans, the impact on a young upwardly-mobile couple when the man is sentenced to 12 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. Written in multiple points of view, often in the form of letters the couple exchange during his years inside, this is an intimate portrayal of the struggle within their relationship, with plenty of suspense and no easy answers for the reader who has to struggle with “whose side are you on?” Highly recommended
Fast paced story about what happens when a husband is falsely accused of a crime. Strong, supportive wife until…..
Interesting read and thought provoking. A look into someone who is wrongly accused and incarcerated. This impacts his family and friends.