With the Black Lives Matter movement, Tayari Jones’ exploration of the marriage of a wrongly imprisoned Black man has never been more relevant. This is both An American Marriage review and me rambling about how good I think this book is.
Title: An American Marriage
Author: Tayari Jones
First published: 2018
Finished reading: 23 June 2020
First line: There are two kinds of people in the world, those who leave home, and those who don’t.
A few weeks ago, I was itching to read some great, new books. I decided, why not read books from Bill Gates’ recommendations? For years, Gates have been writing book reviews and sharing current favorites on his website. I probably won’t read his entire list, but it’s a good start.
I have to be honest, I didn’t realize what this book was really about when I picked it up. Just as the world starts to pay attention to the appalling injustice that Blacks have been subjected to for so long, especially in the States, An American Marriage comes headfirst into my reading list.
Through Roy and Celestial’s relationship, I learned about the way incarceration affects more than only the man behind bars. How does one expect a marriage, no matter how good it started, to survive an unjust justice system that takes an innocent husband from his wife? They were married a year when Roy was falsely accused of rape and sentenced to 12 years in prison.
“I believed that our marriage was a fine-spun tapestry, fragile but fixable. We tore it often and mended it, always with a silken thread, lovely but sure to give way.”
The point of view alternates between our main characters: Celestial, Roy and Andre. I think Jones did a great job diving into each of these character’s mind. She captured the problems that could arise when your husband is locked up and you’re torn between being a loving wife and continuing to live as your own woman. Jones believes that it doesn’t matter how strong you claim your love is. Twelve year is still a long time to be waiting.
The middle part of the book consists of back-and-forth letters between Celestial and Roy over the years. Surprisingly, this format worked really well. We follow them from when they write regularly and profusely missing each other, to implicit arguing, dealing difficult family matters and other emotional conflicts. These letters span throughout Roy’s period of incarceration.
“Dear Celestial,
I am innocent.”“Dear Roy,
I am innocent too.”
I love how there’s no clear line of right or wrong when it comes to picking a side. As I progressed through the novel, I kept disagreeing with the characters’ actions. One moment I thought Celestial was selfish, the next it was Roy being unreasonable. One chapter Andre is the good guy, next one he’s the villain. And yet, Jones opens up each of these character’s perspective and helps us understand the frustration of the situation.
It’s not Roy’s fault he’s in jail. It’s none of their faults, but these people had to live with it. What’s sad is that for hundreds of thousands of people, such is their reality.
“What did Roy do to deserve any of this? He didn’t do anything but be a black man in the wrong place at the wrong time. This is basic.”
This is by no means an easy read as the subject matter is an important one that Jones has so aptly represented, yet her writing really sucks you in. Suddenly, you’re in a whirlwind of injustice, broken marriage, tested love and torn families.
I enclose this An American Marriage review with a powerful quote from Roy. He represents all the wrongfully convicted men who are paying for someone else’s crime.
“Night followed day, as it always does, and each night promised a day soon to come.”
Not feeling like reading full-length novels? Try some of these free short stories you can read online.