An American Marriage (Paperback)
Tayari Jones (author)- Save £2.00
- In stock online
A tender and humane dissection of what happens to a relationship when unforeseen events conspire to sabotage it. Tayari Jones’ handling of her protagonists’ emotions is a masterclass in authentic characterisation whilst the story subtly probes issues of race and justice with a piercing emotional intelligence and colossal heart.
Shortlisted for the Women's Prize for Fiction 2019
'A moving portrayal of the effects of a wrongful conviction on a young African-American couple.' - Barack Obama
Newlyweds Celestial and Roy are the embodiment of the American Dream. He is a young executive, and she is an artist on the brink of an exciting career. Until one day 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.
Devastated and unmoored, Celestial finds herself struggling to hold on to the love that has been her centre, taking comfort in Andre, their closest friend. When Roy's conviction is suddenly overturned, he returns home ready to resume their life together.
A masterpiece of storytelling, An American Marriage offers a profoundly insightful look into the hearts and minds of three unforgettable characters who are at once bound together and separated by forces beyond their control.
Publisher: Oneworld Publications
ISBN: 9781786075192
Number of pages: 320
Dimensions: 198 x 129 x 23 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
'Haunting...beautifully written.' - The New York Times Book Review
'It's among Tayari's many gifts that she can touch us soul to soul with her words.' - Oprah Winfrey
'Powerful...The story...is both sweeping and intimate- at once an unsparing exploration of what it means to be black in America and a remarkably lifelike portrait of a marriage.' - The New Yorker
'Another incredible love story, though fraught with greater challenges for the couple at the centre, which makes the story all the more moving. Jones's prose is chock-full of lyricism, grace and wisdom. You will never forget the story of Celestial and Roy.' - Attica Locke, The Observer
'The story is a blend of thoughtful drama and social issues... Obama described it as "a moving portrayal of the effects of a wrongful conviction on a young African American couple."' - Independent
'Compelling...spun with tender patience by Jones, who cradles each of these characters in a story that pulls our sympathies in different directions. She never ignores their flaws, their perfectly human tendency toward self-justification, but she also captures their longing to be kind, to be just, to somehow behave well despite the contradictory desires of the heart.' - The Washington Post
'Tayari Jones is blessed with vision to see through to the surprising and devastating truths at the heart of ordinary lives, strength to wrest those truths free, and a gift of language to lay it all out, compelling and clear. That has been true from her very first book, but with An American Marriage that vision, that strength, and that truth-telling voice have found a new level of artistry and power.' - Michael Chabon
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Awesome reading could not put this Book down- I guess that is why Miss Jones is a writer. I loved the ending. What can I say I simply loved reading this Book and it happens to be one of 8 books suggested as good... More
“a beautifully raw portrait of American life”
Tayari Jones’ novel is one that explores love in a variety of forms. Roy and Celestial have a marriage that feels real, with mistakes, misunderstandings, but most overwhelmingly, love. They navigate their respective... More
“Truly incredible!”
Tayari Jones writes absolutely beautifully, and this is an epic tale of a marriage beset by extenuating forces. The characters Jones creates are immediately believable and I found myself immediately captivated by... More
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