An American Marriage

Cruel Joke Of Fate

Tayari Jones’s An American Marriage comes with Oprah Winfrey’s recommendation, which will undoubtedly help the wonderful novel get a wider readership.

The title sounds dull, but Jones has written a very moving book about a love triangle between three people, whose lives are devastated by a cruel twist of fate.

Roy is an ambitious black man, who rose to corporate success from an impoverished background; his unwed mother was offered love and a name for her child by the kind Roy Sr. Roy Jr. falls in love with and marries Celestial, a rich black woman and artist on her way to success. Celestial has a childhood friend, Andre, who was heartbroken when she married another man, but stood by her regardless.

The 18-month-old marriage is shattered when Roy is arrested for a rape he did not commit and sentenced to twelve years in prison. Because of the inherent racism in the system, Celestial’s testimony is not even taken seriously and neither is DNA analysis sought. Celestial’s Uncle Banks, a lawyer, pursues an appeal, but warns the two that it will take time and money.

For some time, Celestial visits and writes to Roy—their letters form a large section of the book-- but her despair slowly eats into her, and she turns to Andre for support.  Her career takes off, and Roy is saddened to note that she never mentions him; it is as if she is ashamed that her husband is incarcerated, even though she knows he is innocent.

Roy’s cellmate Walter (and there’s a surprise here) becomes his friend and protector, as he tries to keep his spirits up and wait for Banks’s efforts to come through. He does not know what to believe of the existence of his marriage when Celestial stops visiting, but does not initiate divorce proceedings. Then, five years later, he is suddenly released and now comes the dreadful price all three have to pay for their love, hope and patience.

Roy had his life wrecked by a racist justice system, and even though he is was wrongly convicted, no man comes out of the prison hellhole mentally or physically intact. Celestial had not been prepared for the emotional turmoil caused by the incident, and Andre makes up for losing her to Roy by being there for her, and for him like a true friend. But when Roy is released, he does not know what is expected of him.  Their story is full of anguish, but also unexpected love.  Celestial’s imperious father, who had not quite approved of Roy, pays his legal fees and chooses to stand by him, berating his daughter for letting down her husband.  

Roy meets a woman who unselfishly helps him heal. There can be no happy ending when a man has suffered such a senseless tragedy, but there is acceptance and recovery. A story about romance-separation-infidelity could have been banal, but Tayari Jones writes with empathy and without moral judgment, giving reader all three points of view to let them decide right and wrong. This is a book that will remain with the reader for a very long time.

An American Marriage

By Tayari Jones

Publisher: Algonquin

Pages: 306