Reviews with content warning for Self harm - An American Marriage

Reviews tagging 'Self harm'

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

8 reviews

jordyfrombookclub's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This is a beautifully written book about the damage years in prison can do to a person, their loved ones, and the rest of their life. It’s a story about the equally impossible and necessary task of moving forward. Throughout the book, I felt myself empathizing and feeling frustrated by each of the characters in equal measure as they worked through their uprooted lives.

Content Warnings

phoenix115's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Content Warnings

michaelion's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark emotional hopeful tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Presents itself as a book about the inner turmoil of being the center of a love triangle, but really it's about the horrors of the American "justice" system and what American prison does to not just a person but the people they love.

I got emotional twice. Twice!!! That's a great feat. That really doesn't happen often. What beautiful writing too. There were several moments I had to gasp, pause the audiobook, pull back the book, and reread the line. My goodness. Wow. The ending lost me a little bit that's why it's not a 4.75 rating but still. Wow!

Content Warnings

jg34's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

This felt very real and emotional and brings up very important questions. I felt a bit unsatisfied by the ending but thats just my opinion because I was hoping it would go another way.

I was rooting for Roy, Andre and celestial just didn’t do it for me either because the story didn’t sell it or because my early bias. Though I suppose the author did not need to sell it, that’s not really what the story is about. Either way JUSTICE FOR ROY

Content Warnings

ericageorge91's review against another edition

Go to review page

dark reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

“That’s your fate as a black man. Carried by six or judged by 12.”

Personal feelings aside, Tayari Jones wrote a story that was equal parts beautiful and ugly. An American Marriage explores the effects of incarceration on a black man and his loved ones on a molecular level.

This was a difficult read for a multitude of reasons. What repeatedly brought me to tears was the thought of how much this man has lost as a result of a fucked up criminal justice system. This story never should have happened, and yet it’s happened to thousands of black men in America.

An American Marriage is a contemporary, character-driven novel. You’re following three characters: Roy, his wife, Celestial, and their friend, Andre. Their stories were painfully flawed and human. More than once, their words gave me visceral reactions. I don’t think I’ve felt this conflicted about a cast since Akwaeke Emezi’s, You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty. I definitely enjoyed Emezi’s work more.

This book did suffer from outdated thoughts about gender roles that was grating and made me feel how painfully heterosexual this story was: “A man should do this. A man needs a woman to-“ ✋🏾Just stop.

Then, these characters were making the worst choices 🤦🏾‍♀️ I know it was realistic. I know a lot of it was circumstance, but my goodness the amount of times I had to pause to scream to myself was unreal.

The rational, objective part of the review has concluded. If you have no interest in reading this book, you may proceed.

TW: Major - Incarceration, infidelity, death, grief, violence, sexism, self-harm, violence; Minor - Sexual assault, abortion, past age gap relationship, cancer, suicide, police brutality

Rep: Black characters

Spoilers ahead!

Let me break down the things that pissed me off the most about each character:

Celestial: I am super fucking irritated at your hypocrisy. Obviously, you’re not completely at fault for Roy going to jail, but it is so fucking wild to me that you threw the biggest tantrum over Roy not telling you that his dad is actually his stepfather and saying “Secrets! There should be no secrets!” And then what happens?! While he was in prison you start dropping all these bombs—confessing about your parents nasty ass relationship and how you yourself was fucking a married man and got knocked up by him and Oh! This abortion wasn’t your first rodeo. Like…WHAT?!? So what was the point of the fight That Night then?!? WHAT WAS THE REASON?!? I’m—

And then!! You’re like, “Uwu! I couldn’t POSSIBLY send divorce papers while Roy’s in jail! Not more state papers giving him bad news 🥺” BITCH….AS OPPOSED TO THE ALTERNATIVE?! You acted like he was sentenced to life in jail. It was 12 years!! He would have had to find out eventually!! So what? Were you hoping it would be after you and Andre popped some kids and were years “married?” You should have sent them when he was done talking to you and said don’t contact him anymore. THAT was the time.

Roy: If you thought that I didn’t catch that something sexual went down while you were in jail, you’re mistaken. It was noted. So, riddle me this, why THE FUCK did you insist on having sex with Davina without a condom?! That was so fucking foul.

Also foul? Your behavior with Celestial that night you came back. I understand you were eager for your life back but you scratching your head being fake deep, “Yes means yes and no means no, but what is the meaning of silence?” Mmm, assault. That’s…that’s what silence means. That’s what it would have been if her asking for a condom didn’t give you pause. And then, not you making her feel bad for being sensible for asking for one?! And the CHERRY on top, did you want a cookie for stopping?! Bitch, please!

Andre: I don’t even want to waste my breath on you. You were the ultimate “nice guy” who patiently waits at their crush’s side for a chance to pounce 🥴

WHICH 👏🏾 YOU 👏🏾 DID 👏🏾

AND WHAT A TIME IT WAS. Not you and Celestial, choosing the day that she sung at her mother-in-law’s funeral, and the day that you helped carry her body, to fuck each other. I am past the point of DISGUSTED. I was not sad that you got your ass beat and I hope nothing good touches the two of you.

Let me just say that I wish Uncle Banks and Big Roy nothing but the best. Everyone else? They can choke 😌

Content Warnings