We rated this book 3.75 out of 5.
Expectations were very high for this Oprah's Book Club selection, the story of a marriage interrupted by the unjust incarceration of the husband.
The plot unfolds through the voices of the three main characters, Celestial, Roy, and Andre, over a period of years from college, marriage, incarceration, and exoneration.
We wished the story had a bit more meat on its bones.
B: I originally gave this a 3, but sometimes you have to let a story percolate. It was so helpful discussing this with the group. I changed my score to a 4.
B: The use of symbolism is a very strong component of the plot. Old Hickey, the tree in front of the childhood homes of Celestial and Andre, binds them together in memory and friendship. Celestial, in speaking of her marriage, says, "Marriage is like grafting a limb onto a tree trunk." And, "Our marriage was like a sapling graft that didn't have time to take." The safety of the tree is the one promise Celestial extracts from Roy when they marry. Roy hires a tree surgeon to ensure it's health when it becomes diseased, then later tries to destroy it.
B: The poupees, or baby dolls, that propel Celestial's career as an artist seem to look a lot like Roy. Olive, Roy's mother asks for a particular poupee but Celestial, after giving it to Olive, takes it back saying it is unfinished. She only returns it to Olive when Olive is dying, and Celestial is ready to move on and out of her marriage to Roy, as though she is giving Roy back to his mother.
B: The pear was a powerful symbol for me. The shape of the pear suggests the uterus and is a symbol of feminine sexuality. That it is a red pear emphasizes this reference. Roy's desire for that red pear makes him do something that even Walter disapproves of. In his shame and desire, he eats the pear in the stench of the fetid prison toilet, hoping to vomit.
M: I vacillated between a 3 and a 4 on this book, but when I tried to think how Jones could have fleshed out all the story, it became more of a tome and thus probably unmanageable to the masses. She did a wonderful job of keeping the book to her subject of marriage and all of the problems that this all-too-familiar situation involving incarceration.
M: I loved the symbolism of the tree. When Roy attacked Old Hickey the "wedges of fresh wood [flew] from the wounded trunk" Celestial likened the scene to Roy: "All around Roy were the shards of a broken life, not merely a broken heart.
M: When Celestial visits Olive for that gift of the poupee, she allows Olive to settle into her passing with ease, but we don't hear that part until later when she explains to Roy how it really all went down between the two women in his life.
L: I found An American Marriage a moving and emotionally painful read, especially, in today’s racially charged climate where police are called by angry, frightened white people to deal with black people going about their daily business of living. If police are called because a young, black girl is selling water or because a black man is wearing socks at a pool, is it a much bigger step to being falsely charged with rape as is Roy in the novel? The story makes clear this is a false accusation as Celestial was with her husband during the time of the rape. But this story is not focused on the crime or how easily Roy is convicted and sent to prison for 12 years. In fact, some readers may find the few paragraphs recounting the trial unsatisfying, but again, that’s not the novel’s focus. Its focus is clear from the title.
L: This story is about a marriage that can only be found in America. Because it is in America where young black men are so routinely incarcerated. And Roy’s situation demonstrates that even significant educational and financial success cannot protect him from the realities of being a black man in America.
L: What does “Until death do us part” mean if you are forcefully separated from your spouse for 12 years? Does Roy have the right to expect Celestial to wait for and support him? Does Celestial have the right to expect Roy to understand how circumstances, albeit unfair, have changed her commitment to him? Does Roy’s college friend, Andre, who has grown up with Celestial since childhood, have any obligation to Roy’s marriage? These questions all arise in the novel but are not answered by it because there is no easy answer. In the end, readers are left to debate how much they agree with the characters’ decisions.
L: I gave this book a 4/5 rating. If I had any misgivings, they involved a couple of incidences of coincidence that I found too pat and improbable. I thought the depiction of a marriage in turmoil rang true, however.
Enjoy fast, FREE delivery, exclusive deals and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime
and start saving today with Fast, FREE Delivery
An American Marriage: A N... has been added to your Cart
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. Learn more
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Flip to back Flip to front
Follow the Author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
| Price | New from | Used from |
|
Audible Audiobook, Unabridged
"Please retry" |
$0.00
| Free with your Audible trial | |
|
Library Binding, Large Print
"Please retry" | $32.99 | $2.20 |
|
Mass Market Paperback
"Please retry" | $18.49 | $1.30 |
|
Audio CD, MP3 Audio, Unabridged
"Please retry" | $27.29 | $10.85 |
Inspired by a terrifying true story from the author’s hometown, a heart-pounding novel of suspense about a small Minnesota community where nothing is as quiet―or as safe―as it seems. | Learn more
Frequently bought together
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
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 | |
| 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 |
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
An American Marriage is an exploration of systemic racism, friendship, trust, and heartbreak.
Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2020
This one really had me in my feelings, especially in the end! Jones’s writing is so unique and poetic. She finds exquisite ways to say the simplest things without any cliches. It wasn't a super quick read for me, and I found there were a few slow parts, but the beauty in her writing truly makes the story satisfying to read. Jones had me witness to each character’s most intimate moments especially from reading their beautiful, painful love letters. It almost felt like a violation of their privacy! Even up until the very end, the reactions of the all characters were all so honest, solid, and deeply genuine. It’s about human connection. We crave affection and physical contact from those we love. When we don't have that, we grow apart. That divide creates heartache, anger, sadness, hope... but “You can never un-love someone.” It’s raw, unapologetic, and unforgettable.
Reviewed in the United States on August 19, 2020
Images in this review
Top reviews from the United States
There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 22, 2018
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 5, 2023
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 13, 2019
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 27, 2023
Top reviews from other countries
Much Ado
Characters beyond the page
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on April 25, 2019
