Reviews with content warning for Violence - An American Marriage

Reviews tagging 'Violence'

An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

79 reviews

jessv's review

challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

I knew after reading the first chapter that I would enjoy this book. I think it is beautifully written and so interesting to switch perspectives amongst the chapters. The story doesn't shy away from the uncomfortable situations in which you both empathise with a character while wishing they would stop what they're doing or make another decision. There isn't any "right decision" (in my opinion) and the emotions felt very raw and realistic.

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leahthebooklover's review against another edition

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challenging emotional sad tense

3.5

An intimate look at how one marriage is affected by a miscarriage of justice and incarceration. Told from alternating points of view. It was a 4 star read for me until the ending, when all the conflict seemed to resolve a little too conveniently.

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moriahleigh's review

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dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

3.5

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lay_kone's review

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emotional reflective sad medium-paced

4.5

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sar_willow's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

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agiecummings's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.5

There were parts of the book that I was literally moved to tears by. Like I actually had tears streaming down my face as I read it, but my only frustration was the end. It felt just a little unsatisfactory. Not bad per se but just not exactly what I wanted. But I can’t even tell you what I would have rather had happen, I just was left feeling a bit hollow and sad and unsatisfied.

But wow, what a heartbreaking look at the injustice of incarceration on everyone in the incarcerated person’s life, including themselves. I was absolutely broken up over Roy’s story. There was not a moment of light for him until the very end. I thought it was so heartbreaking that the thing that gave him hope on the inside was actually what broke his heart on the outside. Just a heartbreaking story. Beautifully and hauntingly written, Tayari tells a raw and emotional story like no one else.

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rzh's review against another edition

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emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.75

i did really enjoy this but i felt like it lost a bit of momentum about 1/3 through - the author tried to keep it going for a little too long i think. re: the audiobook: i thought it was really well read but the person reading roy’s perspective made all of celestial’s speech in those parts sound really simpering and patronising which grated on me after a while. the writing was fantastic and i really enjoyed it for the most part

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ljtademy3's review against another edition

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challenging emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

A very entertaining premise for a story. This book was a quick and easy read. The twists kept me wondering what would happen next, though I can’t say I was always itching to get back to the book. I enjoyed the drama of it all and feel there was a happy ending (or rather the happiest ending available given the context). I also appreciated the inclusion of how race and socio-economic status impacted the characters without that being the whole focus of the book. They were key factors in driving the plot, but i felt the book was ultimately about the relationships between the characters. Overall, I found the book engaging but not exciting/thrilling. It was thought-provoking though! I would recommend this book to a few people.

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nick_00's review

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emotional medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

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michaelion's review against another edition

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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!

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