An American Marriage (Oprah’s Book Club): A Novel by Tayari Jones
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Summary
An American Marriage (Oprah’s Book Club): A Novel by Tayari Jones is an intimate look into the lives of people who must reckon with the past for moving forward into the future. The story is about a young black couple Roy and Celestia who are insanely in love with each other. Andre, their longtime friend, and neighbor is also a central character in the novel. The young couple are married for little over a year and are living their dream. Celestia is an artist and Roy is an executive and the future is full of hope and promise for them. The couple decides to travel from their hometown of Atlanta to visit Roy’s parents in Louisiana. They decide to stay in a hotel upon reaching Louisiana instead of staying with Roy’s parents in their home which later turns out to be their biggest mistake.
Roy is accused of rape by a white woman who has him mixed up with someone else. Roy is arrested and sentenced to 12 years of prison for a crime which he did not do. The couple are heartbroken over this. Roy and Celestia exchange letters while he is in prison. The truth dawns and Roy is exonerated after spending 5 years in prison. After coming out of the prison, his world turns upside down when he realizes that Celestia and Andre have become a couple now.
Review
An American Marriage (Oprah’s Book Club): A Novel by Tayari Jones is a fine romantic novel. The author shifts from first-person narration through the letters Roy and Celestia exchange when he is imprisoned to narrating from the point of view of a third party- Andre. This provides the readers the insights into each characters thought process and personalities. The author expertly deals with the complications of marriage and relationships in the novel. The characters have been developed adequately and will strike a bond with the readers and will remain with them after the novel is finished also. The plot goes far beyond infidelity and racism to explore the dynamics and intricacies of romance and marriage in the American society. This is a wonderfully written novel and a must-read.
I was all set to give this book a solid 5 stars, but the ending left me feeling a bit let down. I suppose I was hoping for, or perhaps even expecting, something more, though I can't quite put my finger on it. Nonetheless, it was a captivating read overall, although I must admit I couldn't quite warm up to Celeste, the female character. Throughout the entire book, she just got on my nerves. Despite that, I would still be inclined to recommend this book.
The plot of this novel was all too familiar and lacked any excitement. We're used to Oprah's recommendations hitting the mark, but unfortunately, this one missed the target.
An American Marriage was just alright. In a nutshell, a newlywed couple (with the husband openly admitting his mistakes) have the unfortunate luck of being in a hotel room next to a rape victim. Somehow, the husband gets wrongly charged and imprisoned for the rape, and it seems like he was unfairly targeted solely because of his race.
Throughout a couple of years, the couple continues to communicate through letters. However, the wife eventually reaches her breaking point and falls in love with her childhood friend. Suddenly, the husband is released from jail on appeal and tries to salvage their marriage.
The narration was incredibly monotonous. I kept wondering why there wasn't more emotion coming through. Both the male and female narrators lacked any voice inflection, making the story feel less intense, less captivating, and less believable.
I must give credit to Oprah for introducing me to numerous books that I've loved since 1995. Unfortunately, this book just wasn't one of them.
An American Marriage (Oprah's Book Club): A Novel is a top-notch audiobook. It revolves around the themes of love and loss, delving into the complexities of marriage and the prison system.
The narrators play a crucial role in elevating the story, and in this case, they surpass expectations. Sean Crisden, in particular, shines as a narrator, overshadowing Eisa Davis, which is fitting considering his more significant role in the novel. There have been whispers that this book might be in the running for a Pulitzer Prize, and it's easy to see why. Even though I didn't have high expectations going in, I was pleasantly surprised by the exceptional quality of this audiobook.
Overall, I would give it a rating of 4.57 stars.
The plot of 'An American Marriage (Oprah's Book Club): A Novel' was engaging and enjoyable. It explored various themes, although some outcomes were easy to foresee. This book has great potential for a captivating film adaptation.
I gotta tell ya, this book is a total downer. It's all about fights, being locked up, and feeling miserable. And let me tell you, the narration with that Southern accent? Not my cup of tea. I tried sticking with it, but every second felt like a punch in the gut. Seriously, don't make the same mistake I did by jumping on the bandwagon just because some big shot recommended it.
I couldn't bear to listen to it, gave up after about an hour - the narrator is absolutely awful for this book! His voice is so deep and sexy, which would work in something where he doesn't have to imitate a woman... but honestly, a deep male voice trying to sound like a woman is just not pleasant - had to quit.
At first, I wasn't a fan of this book because it seemed like another empowerment story for women. I had to take a break and go back to it, but as I continued reading, I encountered some intriguing characters along the way. It wasn't until chapter 3 that I realized this book had a promising direction. I even exclaimed out loud when it seemed like the couple was breaking up after that letter was written! I couldn't bear to read any further at that point. However, after reading Oprah Winfrey's review, I decided to give it another chance. From that moment on, I couldn't put the book down. I finished it at 10:15 this morning and it actually restored my faith in marriage. This book was excellent because it takes you through the ups and downs, allows you to experience the darker side, and introduces you to the struggles of the characters. You even get to know them individually by name - Roy, Celestial, and Andre - who are familiar faces, especially if you live in Atlanta. It takes you on a journey through various streets, like Old National, Godby Road, and Bankhead Highway, and eventually leads you to the promised land. This book deserves praise not just because I say so, but because I read it, struggled with it, and shed a tear for these characters who feel like real people we know and the secrets they keep. The ending is absolutely magnificent, and I highly recommend everyone to reach that point. I won't spoil it, but it definitely takes you on a surprising and shocking journey. The author is truly fantastic, brilliant, and superb! I'm so exhausted now, I think I'll treat myself to some refreshing lemonade tea.
I didn't quite grasp the meaning behind the Black lives matter movement when it first emerged. However, this novel beautifully educated me and truly opened my eyes to the immense challenges that black men face in the United States today. The narration was captivating, and the storyline was expertly crafted, making for an enjoyable reading experience.
I really enjoyed reading this book. The male narrator did a fantastic job, while I felt the female narrator could have brought more personality to her performance. However, despite that, I still found it enjoyable.
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