An American Marriage: A Novel by Tayari Jones
A Review
I remember the day I spotted Tayari Jones’s An American Marriage on the new releases table at Phoenix Books in Burlington, Vermont. I was captivated by the cover. Yes, I often judge books by their covers. Sue me. I put it on my TBR list that day, but it took me more than a year and a half to get around to reading it. Silly me.
I almost turned away from the book very early, because I could see what was coming. At least, I thought I could. I hate foreshadowing and predictability and I thought I had been suckered into a bad case of both by a beautiful cover. I was wrong. I held on for a few more pages and the next then I knew, hours had passed.
Without gratuitous heart-string pulling or any predictability at all, Jones delivers a stirring account of life, love, relationships and the realities of not just one but several marriages. The characters are endearing, but real. The situations they find themselves in are, in turn, heartbreaking and heartwarming. There are no easy answers and no single villain to blame.
This novel gets an unqualified five stars from me. If like me, you are late to this party, do yourself a favor and pick up this gem now. You will thank me later.