Silver Sparrow

by Tayari Jones

Wives can afford to let themselves go. Concubines must be vigilant.”

“God knows everything,” I said. “He’s got the whole world in his hands.” “That’s true,” my mother said. “And so do we.”

‘Your pride or your man. You can’t have them both.’ ”

“You need to get a handle of what you really look like before you start playing pretend.”

‘The more I’m trusting you, the more you’re letting me down.’ ”