Literary Fiction by People of Color discussion
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Discussion: An American Marriage
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ColumbusReads
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Jul 09, 2018 03:49PM
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This time I had already read the book since I waited for it for quite some time with Oprah's Book Club. I'll be ready.
Beverly wrote: "FYI - If your library system is a Hoopla subscriber- An American Marriage is available for download as an audio book or ebook."Thank you! I downloaded this book from Hoopla and devoured it in about 2 days! I can't wait for the discussion.
Melyssa wrote: "Beverly wrote: "FYI - If your library system is a Hoopla subscriber- An American Marriage is available for download as an audio book or ebook."Thank you! I downloaded this book fro..."
wow, two days.
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I finished it months ago and enjoyed it immensely. Has anyone else read it? Are you currently reading it or plan to? What’s your thoughts on the author, her writing and how does this book compare to her previous books? Particularly interested in the comparison to Silver Sparrow.
Let’s discuss...
I read this in May, within 2 or 3 days, because I found it gripping & heartwrenching & beautiful.I have not yet read of her any other books. But I plan to. :-)
This book was wonderfully written. I was pulled in immediately, and I ended up devouring it.
I read this one in March and I thought it was excellent. It was a 5 star book for me. I'm looking forward to discussions before I leave for a trip with no Internet mid-August.
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Actually, my book club chose this one several months ago,, and we read this in May.
I read the book before attending a Tayari Jones interview here in Melbourne. (She's amazing in person as well as on the page!)
Since two of the books clubs that I like to participate in are readings this book this month, I will definitely be reading now. I’m glad I picked it up when I did. I’m excited for it.
I have read this book as well as her other three novels. She is, without a doubt, one of my favorite authors. I have followed her since she published Leaving Atlanta and I was a regular reader of her blog years ago. Even her blog posts were carefully written, informative and interesting, and she was always supportive of other African American authors. I think that I have attended more of her book readings than I have of any other author. I live in SW Atlanta where all of her books are set and I love the way that she writes about this part of town. I think that her books have grown stronger with each publication and I think that she took a giant leap with this one.In other words I am a big, big fan.
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I do think this is the best book she has written and it is a timely topic affecting the AA community.
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Part One: Aug 4-10
Part Two: Aug 11-22
Aug 23rd entire book open
I read An American Marriage in March. I had read Sliver Sparrow prior to American Marriage and I really love her writing. I think I enjoyed reading Sliver Sparrow more but I really think her writing and themes are brilliant. It was an excellent read for me.
I have not read her other work. Only American Marriage in May. I plan to check out Silver Sparrow. I have a copy somewhere.
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Same here, Rebecca. I liked them both but I preferred SS to An American Marriage. I just thought that story was so unique. Maybe the writing in Marriage is superior, to that I’ll agree.
It definitely wasn’t Oprah’s endorsement that made me want to read this book. I stopped following her list, because too often I’ve ended up not liking her picks. In addition to hearing good things about this book, this is one of my other book club's selection for the month of August. So I'm basically killing 2 birds with 1 stone.
I wasn't aware this was an Oprah pick until one of my fellow book club members told me about it. She read it and enjoyed, then shared with me. I get quite a few ARC via my blog and don't often have time to read books that are on my own personal TBR list; however, after hearing my co-member rave about it, I carved out some time. I didn't need to carve out much time because it only took me two days to read it, which is really fast for me. I am still thinking about it - such a powerful message told through a beautifully written story. A solid 5-stars for me. Having said, that I have enjoyed some of Oprah's picks like The 12 Tribes of Hattie, but I digress.
I had no idea Ms. Jones had a blog. I am going to have to go find it and start following!
Yes I read the book because I am in Oprah's book club on Goodreads. Second reason is that I saw on an African American book club speak about the book via video. I reviewed while at work to see if it would be a good read on our catalog list for circulation, or book club read at work.
Yes I read the book because I am in Oprah's book club on Goodreads. Second reason is that I saw on an African American book club speak about the book via video. I reviewed while at work to see if it would be a good read on our catalog list for circulation, or book club read at work.
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I think that this one was an exception, Bill. Sticking with 6 months sounds good
Adrienna wrote: "Melyssa wrote: "Beverly wrote: "FYI - If your library system is a Hoopla subscriber- An American Marriage is available for download as an audio book or ebook."Thank you! I download..."
I finished this book yesterday, and I loved it. It broke my heart and it won't leave my mind. Jones knows how to write a story that holds tension(s) without creating a clear victim and perpetrator.
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Yes, Wilhelmina, I agree. I think this particular book might be an outlier.
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Q. Why the title, "An American Marriage?"
A. You know it's funny, titles have never been my strong suit so I'm used to working with my editor at the end of the project to get a title. I said jokingly, "We should call it 'An American Marriage' because whenever you have the word, 'American,' it makes it sound like it's important.
Q. You still weren't sold on the title, so what made you change your mind?
A. I told my editor, 'An American Marriage,' sounded like a novel about some white people in Connecticut experiencing feelings. He said, "Connecticut is a really small state so why do you feel that what happens in Connecticut is more American than what happens to your characters?" It was really because I had never heard myself referred to as 'American' without, 'black' or 'African' in front of the 'American.' When I heard the term 'American' generically I didn't think it pertained to me. I talked to my mentor Pearl Cleage, who was my teacher at Spelman College. She said, "You know we are Americans. This is our home. We built this country. Why can't we claim it? And the things that happens to your characters are uniquely American. This is a uniquely American prison system. It's not the fact that Roy (the main character) goes to prison that makes these characters American. They are American because they are American." She was right.
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https://electricliterature.com/read-m...
Columbus wrote: "Tayari would like you to read more books by black women:https://electricliterature.com/read-m..."
Thanks, Columbus. It is awesome to see the books she recommends based on who inspired her. I just read one of her suggested books, but I will have to check out the others.
I love that Electricliterature.com has begun to feature recommendations twice a month from women authors on 5 women writers who inspired, influenced or delighted (their words) them. I will definitely have to follow these features.
Just wondering what everyone's initial thoughts were about Celestial and Roy.
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I felt that the marriage between Celestial and Roy was headed for them to split up/separate/divorce - those were the vibes I got from the first pages.
Beverly wrote: "Wilhelmina wrote: "Just wondering what everyone's initial thoughts were about Celestial and Roy."I felt that the marriage between Celestial and Roy was headed for them to split up/separate/divorc..."
That's interesting, Beverly. I know they did argue quite a bit before his imprisonment, but I felt like they would have worked it out as their marriage matured. The sad thing is we will never know because of what was stolen from them. :-(
Personally, I didn't find Celestial to be that likable. I think her parents may have spoiled her a bit as she was growing up.
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I felt that the marriage between Celestial and Roy was headed for them to split up..."
I think that one of the themes here is what I call the "after the event affects" and how those who are associated with the "event" (in this case with the husband being imprisoned) expect those that were close to the "victim of the event" (in this case Roy) should act/behave. And how we (as a society/culture) react when others do not act/behave as we expect.
Beverly wrote: "Wilhelmina wrote: "Just wondering what everyone's initial thoughts were about Celestial and Roy."I felt that the marriage between Celestial and Roy was headed for them to split up/separate/divorc..."
So did I. Their early interactions didn't feel to me like they'd be able to stay together long term,
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I felt that the marriage between Celestial and Roy was headed for them to split up..."
I thought that Roy knew how to "guilt" Celestial when she was "unhappy" in the marriage. I am not saying that Roy's feelings were not genuine but he wanted to stay married to Celestial. I thought that the "image" and future that they each had for their marriage were different.
I read this book a while ago so do not want to say much as we are just at the beginning of the discussion for book and I don't remember what happened when.
Am I the only one who wasn't thrilled by this book? For me it was a well-written book about characters I never grew to like. I certainly had sympathy for Celestial and Roy's situation, but I couldn't move past the way their personalities rubbed me the wrong way. This is likely due to my very personal biases (they, Roy especially, reminded me of people I know), but that impression didn't allow me to fully enjoy the story. Melyssa wrote: "Beverly wrote: "Wilhelmina wrote: "Just wondering what everyone's initial thoughts were about Celestial and Roy."
I felt that the marriage between Celestial and Roy was headed for them to split up..."
The marriage was still pretty new. I felt like they were still just finding their way. Marriage isn't always easy.
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I was underwhelmed...but I have no specific problems with it..although it seemed a bit saccharine..like a lifetime movie. Roy and Celestial's cute meet in NYC and his subsequent rescue of his damsel in distress...Chasing the burglar and of course she then fell hopelessly..eck
I loved Celestial because she is absolutely not a strong Black woman. She isn't even close. I started out thinking that she was spoiled, but I actually think that she's just a fragile person. And she's trying to own what she can manage as best she can. You have to be a little bit brave to do that.
I liked Celestial. I didn’t feel she was spoilt; rather, she was raised with love. I think she was self-protective.
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Jones’ style isn’t steeped in metaphor, and I think that she’s a skilled and good writer, conveying complicated feelings and motivations in a very readable style. No doubt, her work could be looked down at by people who want the complicated stylings of some other writers. I tend to admire writers who write concisely and don’t dress up their prose for dressing’s sake.
I think along the same lines as you Wihlemina. For me Celestial impressed me. Rather than thinking she was spoiled I thought she was just aware of her privilege but I didn't think she was bragging about it. I felt like she was more grateful in a way. @ Columbus I think so she is defiantly no Toni Morrison but for me I still find her writing very moving compelling. But I do think it is more readily to see and is seen as more profound in works by Toni Morrison. That is a shame to me.
Wow. I've hit a note with the term spoiled. Celestial was never satisfied. When Andre was interested, she wasn't. Then, while Roy was imprisoned, so she ran back to Andre. (I'll stop there so as not to continue discussing too far into the book.) Overall, I found her personality very sophomoric - always wanting what she couldn't have. Having said that, I do think I would have viewed her more positively had she began a relationship with someone totally new.
I found her character to be weak, and I don't think she had many redeeming qualities.
@Columbus I would say that the Toni Morrison comparison is unfair to many authors of color. This is true in the YA publishing world as well. Popular genre authors who are white can write less than literary work and be popular, but it takes something more to break through for authors of color. It’s definitely unfair. I saw some improvement over my time working as a librarian, but it’s still an issue in YA and Adult books.
Melyssa wrote: "Wow. I've hit a note with the term spoiled. Celestial was never satisfied. When Andre was interested, she wasn't. Then, while Roy was imprisoned, so she ran back to Andre. (I'll stop there so as ..."
I am 116 pages in, and I am bored to tears. I agree with you on this. The characters are not sympathetic, and Celestial remains largely unknown after all these pages. So far I find her whiny and wishy-washy. I am not invested in any of them, but will continue to plod along to get it read for my book club.
Underwhelmed.
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I would not say that Jones work is overlooked by "critics" per say - in light that a general statement can be made that Black writers are often overlooked and the criteria is often higher and harder to get recognition.
Tayari Jones' work has won awards, she is respected in her profession and has a dedicated following.
The reasons you stated for liking her writing is why she has a dedicated following, but as I like to say - every book is not for everybody but every book is for someone.
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Celestial was never satisfied. When Andre was interested, she wasn't. Then, while Roy was imprisoned, so she ran back to Andre. (I'll stop there so as ..."
My initial word for Celestial was also spoiled but after reading your comment I am thinking now having a "privileged" attitude along with a somewhat shelter/protected upbringing.
But as much as I did like Celestial - I do know people like her so in that sense she was "realistic".
There were many times I just wanted to "shake her".
But she really did not know who she wanted to be or what she wanted but just did not take time to know herself.
I too thought - why didn't see get with someone she didn't know/Roy didn't know/her family didn't know.
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Literary Fiction by People of Color
Books mentioned in this topic
Leaving Atlanta (other topics)The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness (other topics)
Silver Sparrow (other topics)
Upstate (other topics)
Writing My Wrongs (other topics)
More...
Authors mentioned in this topic
Kalisha Buckhanon (other topics)Kirsten Imani Kasai (other topics)
Bryan Stevenson (other topics)
Leesa Cross-Smith (other topics)
